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You are here: Home / Beginners Education / Phytoplankton
A Falkland Island Phytoplankton Bloom

Phytoplankton

by greg.chernoff

The first link in a food chain is always a primary producer, like phytoplankton (i.e. algae, plants, various types of bacteria). This is because all other living things—consumers—are incapable of synthesizing organic substances from inorganic ones. Primary producers rely on inorganic sources of energy (sometimes chemical, but usually from light). Using this energy, they take substances such as ammonium and phosphate and convert it into biomass—biomass that may be consumed by herbivores and subsequently passed down the chain. Consumers generate metabolic wastes such as carbon dioxide and ammonium, which are readily taken up and recycled by the growing producers.

Phytoplankton are basically tiny (generally unicellular), plant-like organisms. Most of the phytoplankton are from a large group of distantly related primary producers referred to as the algae. Though they do not share similar lineages, they are strikingly similar in form and habit; all are miniscule, photosynthetic organisms that live suspended in the water column. It is believed that they carry out most the planet’s primary production. Indeed, life on Earth wouldn’t be even remotely the same without them. And almost as importantly? They can improve the health of a marine aquarium system.

The Green Machine

The world’s oceans are crisscrossed by steady surface water currents. When they collide into landforms or into each other, some are driven to the depths. This action pushes deep waters up to the surface in a process called upwelling. These waters from the deep are laden with nutrients. Why? Because when anything dies in the water column, it sinks to the sea bottom. There, nutrients accumulate, since mixing between different ocean water layers is minimal. Minimal, except, in areas of strong upwelling! This critical ecological process is known as the biological pump.

[Phyto]

Other than dissolved nutrients, there is a lot of something else in the shallows of an upwelling zone: light! This means that photosynthetic plankton may thrive there. These areas sometimes produce vast pastures of phytoplankton that may be observed from space. Massive blooms produce a heady amount of microalgae that spread out into the rest of The Ocean.

That last part is critical—this is a major source of the phytoplankton on coral reefs which are notoriously nutrient-poor environments. Plankton simply washes in from the open ocean via the tides. Though phytoplankton species claim only a modest portion of primary production on the reef itself, they are nevertheless important in that they serve as a major source of vital nutrients such as omega fatty acids.

Using Phytoplankton in ReefAquaria

Various products are available for home aquarists that wish to use phytoplankton. These might supplement the diets of disparate invertebrates including certain corals, clams, tube worms, sponges, and other such fine-particle filter-feeders. They also promote large populations of pods, which depend upon phytoplankton during certain (especially larval) life stages.

These may be live or preserved products. The idea with all of them is to add just a little at a time, but frequently, rather than adding a whole lot on rare occasions. Some aquarists even feed continuously by way of dosing equipment. It’s just fine, though, to pour in a small amount once each evening. Think of it as replenishing with the tidal cycle. You only need to use enough to impart a barely discernible greenish or yellowish tint to the water (this will go away very quickly as the phytoplankton is consumed).

What Makes a Good Phytoplankton-based Aquarium Feed?

There are a handful of “phyto” aquarium foods in the marketplace. They can vary quite significantly from one another in many respects. The best phyto product has the following attributes:

  • It is a live (rather than dead and preserved) product.
  • It is nutritionally balanced.
  • It contains a wide range of cell sizes.
  • It is easy to use.

Live products are vastly superior for a number of reasons. First, a product made up of intact, living cells is a lot cleaner as a feed than those that are made of dead stuff. So, it’s much harder to pollute your tank from overdosing when using live phyto. In fact, live and growing phyto actually removes waste products from the aquarium water! Also, it stays up in the water column where filter-feeders can get it, unlike some dead or artificial formulas that quickly settle out over the tank bottom.

Mixed-species phytoplankton products are preferable. Why? Because no single species of phyto is perfect. The right blend of species, however, can result in an ideal nutritional profile. It also provides a wider range of cell sizes; this is great because it makes sure that all different types of filter-feeders get their share.

Is phyto easy to use? It can be, and it should be. The best products come in a resealable container that is suited for multiple use. Some even come in a bottle with a dosing neck for easy measurement. Your dosing routine can be really simple by setting up a subscription for regular, automatic shipments of live phyto by mail. As many successful reef aquarium hobbyists will attest, adding phytoplankton is well worth the small investment in effort and time!

[Phyto]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robert Espinosa says

    March 4, 2019 at 6:58 pm

    The phytoplankton I have a crush on which I learned about from AlgaeBarn is OceanMagik. Thank you, Greg, for turning me onto this product that has made my tank diamond clear and kept my corals vibrant and absolutely gorgeous. When setting up my RedSea 170 I struggled with excess slime and stringy brown algae. OceanMagik has helped make my tank a spectacular showpiece. Thanks Greg!! Get your OceanMagik and witness the transformation for yourself!

    Reply
    • cliff says

      May 6, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      sweet

      Reply
    • Karen says

      May 13, 2019 at 5:37 pm

      I love my culture

      Reply
    • knarf083 says

      March 5, 2020 at 12:57 pm

      Nice

      Reply
  2. Jeremy says

    March 4, 2019 at 7:48 pm

    phydo is the bomb

    Reply
    • Edwin Boston Jr. says

      May 6, 2019 at 5:38 pm

      Not a big fan. I tend to always over feed…somehow.

      Reply
  3. Jeremy says

    March 4, 2019 at 7:48 pm

    phydo rocks

    Reply
    • Gary says

      May 6, 2019 at 3:25 pm

      I love phyto

      Reply
  4. Richard says

    March 5, 2019 at 7:00 pm

    So if my bottle of ocean magik is outdated by a few weeks but does not smell like sulfur or anything foul, can my tank still benefit?

    Reply
  5. Joanna Idiaquez says

    March 7, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I’ve used phyto in the past. I noticed results quickly. I’ve regretted the day I stopped using it. Need to get back in it since I’ve got more corals now.

    Reply
    • Luis Ruiz says

      August 22, 2019 at 11:59 pm

      Get back in

      Reply
  6. Joanna Idiaquez says

    March 7, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    I’ve used phyto in he past when I had a few corals. Now that I have more, I need to start using it more. Noticed a difference with the few corals I had. Phyto is awosme.

    Reply
  7. Brandon says

    March 11, 2019 at 5:11 pm

    Phytoplankton is so important to our reef tank’s and I don’t think most people realize that. I try to spread the message. Great job Algaebarn!

    Reply
  8. Andrew says

    March 11, 2019 at 7:56 pm

    Worked really well corals loved it and made my pod population thrive

    Reply
  9. Angel Alcay says

    March 26, 2019 at 10:37 pm

    Feeding phyto helps keep my algae in check

    Reply
  10. Robert Blevins says

    March 29, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    Phyto is best applied prior to weekly water changes yes?

    Reply
    • mcc says

      May 29, 2019 at 1:09 am

      I think it is better to dose you tank with phytoplankton after water changes, so that copepods and invertibrats can continue to feast on it. If like bacteria, you should start with small doses of phytoplankton until the population of pods increases during the first few weeks then increase dosing to the recommended phytoplankton doses for your tank size.

      Reply
  11. Julia Burr says

    May 6, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    Do you need in a non reef tank?

    Reply
  12. Joseph Post says

    May 6, 2019 at 3:54 pm

    I need to start purchasing phyto!

    Reply
  13. seitzjh says

    May 6, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    interesting

    Reply
  14. Kenta Asazu says

    May 6, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    SUperb!!

    Reply
  15. Jose Davila says

    May 6, 2019 at 3:59 pm

    The phytoplankton is good and helped to keep my corals healthy

    Reply
    • Luis Ruiz says

      August 22, 2019 at 11:51 pm

      Got it ?

      Reply
  16. ponygirl112 says

    May 6, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    Wish I could grow my own phytoplankton

    Reply
  17. brennanlottes says

    May 6, 2019 at 5:30 pm

    I want to try and grow phyto can I use oceanmagik for this?

    Reply
  18. Rhonda L Swetnam says

    May 6, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    Very useful information! Thank you!

    Reply
  19. Manuel A Ferro says

    May 6, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    love the info thanks!

    Reply
  20. Charles Wheeler says

    May 6, 2019 at 6:11 pm

    Thanks for the info, I’ve been doing quite a bit of research on phyto recently.

    Reply
  21. Rich Knox says

    May 6, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Awesome info, you guys rock!!

    Reply
  22. Kelly Huntamer says

    May 6, 2019 at 6:30 pm

    This is pretty interesting and makes plenty of sense. I think I will try live once I’m out of my current supply. Thanks Algae barn!

    Reply
  23. Chad Sosby says

    May 6, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    Healthiest pods money can buy right here at Algae Barn!

    Reply
  24. Tanya BAZALDUA says

    May 7, 2019 at 4:53 am

    Good info

    Reply
  25. Jon Andrianos says

    May 7, 2019 at 4:58 am

    Ocean magic is awesome

    Reply
  26. Leslie Pustilnik says

    May 7, 2019 at 5:53 am

    Phyto is a great addition to the health of your reef – thanks for helping to spread the word, AND the phyto!

    Reply
  27. Richard Quickley says

    May 7, 2019 at 6:37 am

    Good read

    Reply
  28. Rudy Brambier says

    May 7, 2019 at 8:59 am

    Good info.

    Reply
  29. Christopher Burns says

    May 7, 2019 at 10:35 am

    good read

    Reply
  30. Chris G. says

    May 7, 2019 at 11:46 am

    great info

    Reply
  31. Victoria Brewer says

    May 7, 2019 at 3:58 pm

    My pods love phyto

    Reply
  32. jordan16leblanc says

    May 7, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    Looking forward to getting my phyto in

    Reply
  33. jamesdylanmccraw says

    May 7, 2019 at 9:20 pm

    Love that info

    Reply
  34. Menerd The Menace says

    May 8, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    nice

    Reply
  35. Ricky J Gronwall says

    May 9, 2019 at 7:24 am

    I definitely need to order some more soon. It’s great in my tank.

    Reply
  36. Robert says

    May 9, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    Is it hard to cultivate phyto i know for you chemists it’s not but what about for a regular me

    Reply
  37. Jack Goldstein says

    May 12, 2019 at 6:18 pm

    My tank is doing great thanks to phyto.

    Reply
  38. Wesley Paulson says

    May 13, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    Great stuff!

    Reply
  39. Ken Ishiki says

    May 13, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    I dose daily for my copepod population

    Reply
  40. Douglas Campbell says

    May 14, 2019 at 6:52 am

    I need to feed phyto more often always forget to get some

    Reply
  41. Adrien says

    May 14, 2019 at 2:45 pm

    I will forever use them in all my tanks

    Reply
  42. Debra Scoggins says

    May 15, 2019 at 9:06 am

    Is it beneficial to start dosing phyto after the tank has cycled, but before adding corals to get a good population going in the tank?

    Reply
    • Sean Tadjeran says

      May 15, 2019 at 10:41 am

      Hi Debra,

      Yes, we recommend adding phytoplankton and copepods to your tank after the cycle so that you can build up a huge population!

      Reply
  43. Savoury Kem says

    May 20, 2019 at 6:39 pm

    Interesting

    Reply
  44. [email protected] says

    May 20, 2019 at 7:07 pm

    Great info, thanks!!

    Reply
  45. Diana Aliprandi says

    May 20, 2019 at 7:17 pm

    Yet another item I need to get from you. Love the bottles that I had the past.

    Reply
  46. Compy Ginorio says

    May 20, 2019 at 7:41 pm

    I need phytoplankton for my upgrade.

    Reply
  47. Carol Mauch says

    May 20, 2019 at 11:37 pm

    Gotta get an order in this week!

    Reply
  48. Jonathon Berry says

    May 21, 2019 at 9:09 am

    Great info

    Reply
  49. Dwayne Newell says

    May 21, 2019 at 1:42 pm

    This stuff is like magic, turns the tank in to a heather Environment.

    Reply
  50. Krish says

    May 21, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    Awesome stuff

    Reply
  51. Jose Ponciano says

    May 27, 2019 at 11:47 am

    Thanks for the reading material while I wait at Sephora
    Wife shopping for make up .. but you phyto is awesome love it..

    Reply
  52. Robert Vice says

    May 27, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I’ve been dosing daily for a couple weeks now and the pod population have I creased I switched from cheato and Kent marine concentration to sea lettuce and ocean magic and I thinks it’s working my nitrates have gone down significantly

    Reply
  53. Jorge says

    May 29, 2019 at 10:21 pm

    Good basic info on plankton!

    Reply
  54. Nelly Acevedo says

    June 3, 2019 at 11:30 am

    Thanks for the info

    Reply
  55. Alyssa says

    June 3, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    Was originally going to buy pods from my local fish store, but they said nothing about the pytho. I started doing some searches and when I found this site I was happy about how much information they provided, and also the bundle packs that included what benefits eachother and your tank. Love this company

    Reply
  56. Andrew B says

    June 3, 2019 at 4:30 pm

    plankton ftw!

    Reply
  57. chris head says

    June 3, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    plankton, the green power machinew!

    Reply
  58. Kris Kasarda says

    June 3, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    Great post!

    Reply
  59. cgault99 says

    June 3, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    Good read.

    Reply
  60. Andrew says

    June 3, 2019 at 6:12 pm

    Informative

    Reply
  61. Nick says

    June 3, 2019 at 6:28 pm

    This was a nice read glad I found it on your page!

    Reply
  62. Carrie Harvey says

    June 3, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    So much to think about

    Reply
  63. Kenneth Showman says

    June 3, 2019 at 11:00 pm

    Thank you Algae Barn.

    Reply
  64. Pat says

    July 5, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    My claim loves this stuff like crazy

    Reply
  65. Luis Ruiz says

    August 9, 2019 at 9:14 pm

    Awesome products

    Reply
  66. David Williams says

    April 10, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    You have the phyto so the next logical step is to work on rotifiers. Breeders and coral owners are both consumers and it would fit in well with your niche portfolio.

    Reply

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