Phytoplankton for corals

Phytoplankton Corals

Mixture of marine microalgae (Tetraselmis suecica 20%, Nannochloropsis gaditana 30%, Isochrysis galbana 30%, Phaeodactylum tricornutum 20%)

Food for all aquarium zooplankton, and this mixture is specially designed for feeding corals.

DESCRIPTION

General characteristics

These four species of microalgae complement each other perfectly due to their difference in size, mobility and nutritional composition. We have Tetraselmis suecica, with a size of 10-14µm and mobility through flagella. Nannochloropsis gaditana, with a much smaller size, around 2 µm, without mobility on its own, small and rounded cells, without DHA content but with a high content of EPA, proteins and carbohydrates. Isochrysis galbana is a microalgae with ovoid cells of 5 to 7 µm, with two flagella and rich in DHA, which is very beneficial for the growth and development of larvae and growth of zooplankton. Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a diatom with sizes ranging from 24-29 µm x 4-5 µm. It can take on different shapes: triradial, fusiform or oval. It is considered coastal marine, planktonic and benthic depending on the form it takes and contains a high amount of EPA and DHA.

Phytoplankton is the base of the ocean food chain and, therefore, of vital importance for all the organisms that live in our aquarium directly or indirectly.

Feeding correctly from the most initial links allows us to have a more balanced and better nourished ecosystem. We must try to “imitate” as much as possible what organisms find in their natural environment and phytoplankton is an essential part for this purpose.

Nutritional value

Microalgae contain proteins/amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3), vitamins, minerals, chlorophylls and other pigments, antioxidants, enzymes,…

The composition in general terms is usually: proteins (30-50%), carbohydrates (20-40%) and lipids (8-15%). All these percentages are variable depending on the microalgae in question and the cultivation conditions that we apply to them.

Advantages they present as food

It directly feeds the filter-feeding organisms and invertebrates that live in the aquarium, so that it will strengthen their immune system, reflecting their color and awakening the predatory instincts of those who feed on it.

The results will not be visible immediately but little by little we will see how life in our marine aquarium improves over time.

When to use phytoplankton and why

Microalgae that are not consumed at that time will disappear with some time, it is important not to add more than necessary. A part of them will remain attached to the living rock and the substrate, serving as food for organisms found here.

It is important to note that the phytoplankton that we put in the aquarium cannot reproduce in it over time. Phytoplankton require elements for their growth and reproduction that we do not find in the aquarium. Mainly, a eutrophic environment (with a high amount of nutrients) is essential and what we seek to have in our aquarium is an oligotrophic environment (low amount of dissolved nutrients).

We must always start with a low dosage and increase little by little depending on the needs of our aquarium.

It contributes to the reproduction and maintenance of the zooplankton that we have introduced.

Corals (Tetraselmis suecica 20%, Nannochloropsis gaditana 30%, Isochrysis galbana 30%, Phaeodactylum tricornutum 20%)

It is important to differentiate between hermatypic and ahermatypic corals. Not all corals feed in the same way and that is why we must learn the basics to know how to try to feed each one of them as best as possible.

Ahermatypic: Soft corals that do not generate a skeleton; They feed directly on plankton and microorganisms (phytoplankton and zooplankton). It is important to control some factors in the water such as calcium, magnesium and trace elements since corals feed on them.

Hermatypic: Hard corals that do generate skeletons; They obtain their main source of energy from zooxanthellae (very small algae that live within the coral tissue in symbiosis; they are actually dinoflagellates that live in symbiosis with the polyp colonies). Thanks to photosynthesis, these algae produce sugars that serve as food and a source of energy for the coral itself. In turn, these algae are what give the coral itself its color. Therefore, light is very important in these corals since they partly feed on it and thus obtain their own food. Polyps feed on bacteria, diatoms,... An example of hermatypic coral would be acroporas (SPS corals).

Kingdom: Eukaryota

Class: Eustigmatophyceae

Order: Eustigmatales

Family: Monodopsidaceae

Genus: Nannochloropsis

Species: Nannochloropsis gaditana

Size 2-3 µm

Devoid of flagella

Very resistant cell wall

Fast growth

Feeding of rotifers and copepods

Used in green water technique to establish initial phases in aquaculture

High protein and lipid content. Its high content of EPA (omega 3 eicosapentaenoic fatty acid) stands out.

Nutritional profile:

Proteins: 52%

Carbohydrates: 12%

Lipids: 28%

EPA: 37%

ARA (arachidonic fatty acid): 5%

Kingdom: Eukaryota

Class: Chlorodendrophyceae

Order: Chlorodendrales

Family: Chlorodendraceae

Genus: Tetraselmis

Species: Tetraselmis suecica

Size 10-12 µm

It has 4 isodynamic flagella that are grouped at an apical vertex.

Being larger and more mobile makes it more palatable to certain organisms (such as hard corals).

Feeding of small organisms such as copepods, rotifers and Artemia salina. Widely used for feeding mollusks and crustaceans.

Nutritional profile:

Proteins: 36%

Carbohydrates: 12%

Lipids: 10%

EPA: 4%

ARA (arachidonic fatty acid): 10%

Linoleic acid: 12%