Phytoplankton 500 ml SEACHEM

REEF Phytoplankton™ 500ml SEACHEM

- Concentrated blend of green and brown marine phytoplankton
- Size ranges from 1 to 20 μm
- Enhanced to increase the bioavailability of important nutrients

Overview

Reef Phytoplankton™ is a concentrated blend of green and brown marine phytoplankton designed to provide essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, amino acids, and biological carotenoids for feeding invertebrates. The size ranges from 1 to 20 μm to feed a wide range of filter feeders and invertebrates in tropical marine aquariums.

Reef Phytoplankton™ contains a natural source of carotenoids that provide essential proteins as well as a more bioavailable source of pigmentation compared to other natural sources and synthetic pigments. Carotenoids offer the added benefit of antioxidant activity.

Additionally, Reef Phytoplankton™ is enhanced to increase the bioavailability of important nutrients such as proteins, lipids, B vitamins, and other organic pigments, thus corals expend less energy to derive nutritional benefits.

It is blended to contain the right ratio of fatty acids, carbohydrates, and proteins. The phytoplankton mix provides better nutritional value. Studies* show an increase in phytoplankton consumption in filter feeders when using mixed cultures compared to a single phytoplankton culture.

* Villa, B. Rico, Le Coz, JR, Mingant, C., and Robert, R. (2006). Aquaculture. 256, 377-388.

Sizes: 250 ml, 500 ml, 2 L, 4 L

Instructions

Shake well before use.

Add 1 capful (5 ml) per 200 L (50 US gallons) of water twice a week or as needed to maintain coral growth.

For best results, dose directly into the aquarium; target feeding can overwhelm corals and negatively impact them.

Refrigeration after opening is recommended but not required.

FAQ

What is the difference between Reef Phytoplankton™ and Reef Zooplankton™?

Reef Phytoplankton™ is a blend of algae-based plankton sources and is particularly recommended for feeding soft coral species. Reef Zooplankton™ is a blend of protein-based plankton such as brine shrimp and rotifer species and is recommended for feeding LPS and SPS corals.

Do I need to refrigerate Reef Phytoplankton™ after opening?

It is not necessary to refrigerate this product as it contains preservatives that help the product maintain its integrity even if not refrigerated. As long as it is stored at room temperature, it should be suitable for use.

Do you have food for copepods?

We do not have a specific copepod food, but we do have Reef Zooplankton™ and Reef Phytoplankton™ that can be used for feeding purposes. Some people have reported that Reef Phytoplankton™ can also be used to feed rotifer cultures.

Can I spot feed with Reef Zooplankton™ or Reef Phytoplankton™?

With all concentrated supplements such as Reef Zooplankton™ or Reef Phytoplankton™, it is best to disperse them in the aquarium and "broadcast feed" rather than feeding directly because the components or even the force applied from localized feeding can induce stress in sensitive coral tissue. They are really designed to be dosed into the tank itself and for the plankton sources to be absorbed by coral polyps from the water column rather than from target feeding.