BioPlankton is a preserved algae feed that meets the needs of the most demanding saltwater aquarist and mariculture professional. Through the dynamic of the marine food web, BioPlankton provides nutrient rich phytoplankton to direct and indirect consumers in the captive marine food web.

Hobbyists seek to grow the diversity of animals found in the coral biome, but our saltwater aquariums are barren of the planktonic food that starts the marine food web. Mariculturists report that the three most important concepts to feeding are:

• Acceptance and Digestibility
• Food Diversity
• Feed Density

Acceptance and Digestibility

To properly feed an inhabitant of the marine aquarium, the food particle must accurately match the size of the capture mechanism in order to be ingested. Flakes, Pellets, and Frozen food are good options for organisms that can ingest them. However, the sizes of food found in standard aquarium feeds does not match the acceptable size range for zooplankton and filter feeders who need a micron sized diet. Aquarists who pulverize or break up food often believe that they are indeed able to feed smaller organisms. However, this make do approach is only acceptable to a limited number of feeders. Corals, clams and zooplankton are specialized feeders with specific digestive systems. To provide the best diet possible, use BioPlankton to supply to correct feed size and nutritional profile.

In the marine environment, zooplankton has a fast generation cycle. When present in sufficient numbers, zooplankton provides an optimum diet for carnivorous feeders. Depending on the organisms present when a plankton feeding regime is begun, zooplankton can be made available in sufficient quantities to provide an optimum feed for carnivorous marine aquarium inhabitants to include corals, finfish and crustaceans. This is why using BioPlankton as the start of your food web provides optimum nutrition to the entire saltwater food web.

Food Diversity

BioPlankton contains three different strains of marine algae. A one cell size fits all approach only allows you to feed a limited number of planktonic consumers. The table below describes the variety of size particles contained within the three strains of algae. Mariculture professionals use multiple algae in order to maximize the growth and reproductivity of target organisms. BioPlankton's formulation insures that you can provide the necessary planktonic nutrition to a range of direct and indirect consumers.

Feed Density

Mariculturists describe the amount of food present in two terms, Feed Density and Contact Time. To evoke a feeding response algae must be present in sufficient quantities to alert the target organism to begin food capture activity. When algae is present in sufficient numbers, organisms come into greater contact with food and the chances of capturing and digesting a passing cell increase. If the energy expenditure of capturing a passing cell is greater than the amount of nutrition taken in from feeding, the organism is in a deficit situation. In order for a feed to be of benefit to the marine food web, it must be present in sufficient numbers to insure that the energy spent on food capture is replaced by a nutritional adequate feed.

However, there is an inverse relationship to overfeeding. BioPlankton is a powerfully concentrated algae feed. Currently, our feed has the highest cell concentration available among retail algae feeds. As with any food, overfeeding can cause excessive nutrient buildup and fouling. Because BioPlankton is a professional grade feed, we advise that aquarists start slowly and increase the amount of feed available through a period of weeks. As your aquarium becomes accustomed to planktonic food, you will increase your population density and diversity of filter feeders, zooplankton and their consumers.

Use the food chart below to indicate how much algae to feed your reef:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your algae alive?

No, BioPlankton is a preserved feed. Live algae has a life cycle. To continue to grow algae, it must be given a specific type of fertilizer to provide optimum growing conditions. The fertilizer used to grow algae would have a negative impact in the aquarium. By preserving our algae, and then centrifuging the growing medium out, we eliminate the fertilizer from the algae. In addition, the quality of live algae changes weekly. Live algae cells continue to engage in their biological processes. Algae that is stored with no light and food available to maintain their growth, algae is known to consume its own energy reserves to stay alive. Algae that has consumed its own energy is nutritionally less valuable than a live algae. By preserving our BioPlankton, we insure that its nutritional profile is left intact. Therefore, when you purchase our product, and store it in your freezer, you are assured of feeding a nutritionally sound algae diet to your saltwater aquarium.

How does BioPlankton compare to Live Algae?

Aquarist who actively grow their own micro algae have the best possible nutrition. Unfortunately, growing your own algae is time intensive and requires specialized skills in culture protocols, and sterilization. Most hobbyists that culture their own algae usually culture one species. However, because of the special procedures and equipment needed to get maximum cell concentrations, they may not be providing enough algae to have a positive impact on their aquarium. Because BioPlankton contains three different types of algae, your reef will receive a greater benefit from the variety of nutritional profiles that can feed a larger range of consumers.

In the 2002 Marine Reef Annual, Dr. Rob Toonen and researchers at the University California Davis published their findings on the benefits of marine algae feeds. BioPlankton was compared to a variety of both live and preserved algae feeds. A comparative test was done on the culturing of rotifers in a closed environment. BioPlankton was shown to be superior in its ability to culture the highest number of rotifers in a specific time frame. BioPlankton was compared to very good and established products. We believe that the positive results came because our algae has the highest cell count of any products in the test and our frozen storage.

How do I avoid nuisance algae blooms?

The type of foods that you feed an aquarium are the largest contributor to nuisance algae. The next reason is the quality of water used. Should you experience an algae bloom, we suggest that you reduce the amount of foods and additives that you use. BioPlankton starts the marine food chain. In an established reef, with a history of feeding BioPlankton, it is possible to create the food web that an aquarist mimics when they feed Flakes, Pellets, and Frozen Food.