Phytoplankton Strains Info

 

    • Nannochloropsis 
      • One of the smallest microalgae strains available making it easy to digest for all. It is so prolific that it can even uptake nutrients in the tank making it great for dealing with heavy bioloads. 
        • 2-5 microns
        •  Nonmotile
        • High in photosynthetic pigments, fatty acids, and protein
    • Tetraselmis
      • The high lipid content is important for fueling growth in marine organisms. A staple feed used in zooplankton cultivation and shellfish (clams, scallops, oysters). Capable of enhancing its nutritional profile in nutrient limited aquaria. 
        • 10 - 14 microns 
        • Motile
        • High in lipids, amino acids, vitamins
        • Antimicrobial properties suitable for reef infections
    • Isochrysis 
      • The gold standard in live food cultivation. Its nutritional profile is essential for enriching zooplankton and rearing most larval invertebrates. The compounds it contains greatly enhance photosynthetic reactions.  It can remain in the water column on its own as long as there are nutrients to consume.  
        • 3 - 8 microns
        • Motile
        • High in lipids, acids, proteins
        • Rich in pigments including fucoxanthin (essential feed in photosynthetic coloration)
    • Thalassiosira
      • A beneficial diatom that can take up trace metals, excess silicates, and ammonia spikes to speed up the cycling process. Having such a large range in size makes it a great food source for filter feeders and copepods. 
        • 4 - 32 microns
        • Nonmotile
        • Variable cell size allows feed to be utilized in multiple stages of larval development
        • Consumes silicates in aquaria which can accelerate the cycling process 
    • Porphyridium
      • One of the few red marine microalgaes making it an exclusive source for red pigments used by filter feeders. The fatty nature of this algae can help boost immune response in marine organisms.
        • 6 micron
        • Nonmotile
        • High in fatty acids, lipids, red pigment (phycoerythrin)
    • Rhodomonas
      • Very high in fatty acids and protein that when deprived of nitrogen, become even more nutritious, making it an excellent feed for cultivating copepods, brine shrimp, and rotifers
        • 4 - 7 microns
        • Motile
        • High in fatty acids, lipids, red pigment (phycoerythrin)
        • Thrives in intense blue light which makes it ideal for reef aquaria
    • Symbiodinium (Zooxanthellae)
      • The symbiotic cells that feed a coral via photosynthesis in exchange for a safe place to stay. Commonly used to enhance coloration in clams, restore bleaching in corals and anemones.
        • 2 - 4 microns
        • Symbiotic dinoflagellates that exist in the photosynthetic tissues of cnidarians (corals, anemones, clams, etc)
        • Coral bleaching is when the zooxanthellae separate from the coral; dosing zooxanthellae can help restore lost pigments and reverse this process.