The Two Little Fishies PhytoPlan 30g is a powdered, spray-dried blend of marine phytoplankton used as a food source for filter-feeding marine invertebrates in reef aquariums. It is known for its convenience, nutritional value, and ability to improve coral growth and coloration.
Features & Benefits:
- Ingredients: A spray-dried blend of several strains of phytoplankton.
- Nutritional profile: Rich in vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA).
- Convenience: The dried, concentrated powder is economical and easy to store compared to live phytoplankton.
- Versatility: Can be used to enrich other aquarium foods, such as dried and frozen fish foods or live Artemia.
Benefits for Reef Tanks:
- Direct invertebrate food: Provides a food source for filter-feeding invertebrates like soft corals, clams, sponges, feather dusters, and zooplankton.
- Boosts copepod population: Feeds and supports populations of copepods and other microfauna, which serve as a continuous live food source for fish like mandarins.
- Nutrient control: Phytoplankton consumes excess nutrients like nitrates and phosphates. This helps to reduce the growth of nuisance algae.
- Improves coral health: While the direct benefit to corals is debated, it provides essential fatty acids and vitamins that can improve coloration and growth, especially for soft corals.
How to use
- Dosing: Use small amounts frequently rather than large, infrequent doses.
- Mixing: Mix the powdered PhytoPlan with aquarium water before adding it to the tank.
- Visual guide: Use just enough to cause a slight, barely visible tint in the water, which will be consumed quickly by your tank's inhabitants.
- Monitoring: Some aquarists advise caution with dosing, especially in low-nutrient systems, as it can affect nitrate and phosphate levels.
