1 - 30µm Phytoplankton Suspension for Soft Corals, Clams, Sponges, and Other Filter-Feeders.
Overview:
Technical Background:
Brightwell
Aquatics PhytoChrom is a concentrated suspension of six different
species of marine algae ranging in size from 1 - 30µm and having an
extremely diverse nutritional profile, rich in a number of fatty acids
including the omega-3 fatty acids EPA, ARA, and DHA, as well as in
chlorophyll, carotenoid pigments, vitamins, minerals, and several
important amino acids. Of particular interest are omega-3 fatty acids
and pigments, for these substances have been shown to provide tremendous
benefit to the overall health and coloration of filter feeding and
planktivorous organisms.
The
algae in PhytoChrom fall within three size classes of plankton:
picoplankton (0.2 - 2.0µm), nanoplankton (2.0 - 20.0µm), and
microplankton (20.0 - 200.0µm). They are the proper size for feeding
many species of soft corals (particularly those with short tentacles),
as well as clams and other bivalves, sponges, tunicates (sea squirts),
plumed worms (Christmas tree worms, feather dusters, etc.), bryozoans,
larval invertebrates such as those of many crustaceans and bivalves, and
juvenile fishes.
PhytoChrom
may be used in conjunction with other planktonic suspensions to provide
a complete range of sizes to filter-feeding and planktivorous
organisms. PhytoChrom does not require refrigeration, however storage in
a cool, shaded area will prolong the activity of the vitamins.
Refrigeration will maximize the shelf-life of the product.
Instructions and Guidelines:
Shake
product well before using. Turn protein skimmer and other forms of
mechanical filtration off prior to adding food suspensions to aquaria,
and allow 10 - 15 minutes after feeding before resuming operation of
filtration.
Target Feeding (recommended):
Target feeding may be carried out with a lengthy piece of rigid air
tubing, plastic syringe, pipette, dropper, or similar device; pour 5 ml
(1 capful) into a small container and suck a portion of this into the
feeding device, then slowly discharge the contents of the device 2 - 4”
upstream of the target organism(s). Repeat these steps as deemed
necessary. Rinse the portion (inside and outside) of the feeder that was
placed into aquarium water before placing it into this bottle (if
feeding directly from the bottle rather than from a separate container);
failure to do so will contaminate the product and encourage it to
decompose.
Broadcast Feeding:
Add up to 5 ml per 50 gallons of water in the entire aquarium system in
an area of rapid water movement daily for the first four weeks of use;
thereafter, the dosage may be increased as desired.
Notes:
Add no more than 5 ml total of liquid food suspensions per 50 gallons
of water in the entire aquarium system daily for the first four weeks of
use; thereafter, the dosage may be gradually increased as desired.
Starting out at a low dosage and gradually increasing it with time will
allow the biological filtration in the aquarium to adjust to the
increase in nutrients and prevent water quality from deteriorating.
Planktonic
food suspensions (such as this one) are best utilized by target feeding
specific invertebrates in an aquarium; in doing so, the majority of the
food may be consumed by the intended organisms rather than ending up in
filtration media or indirectly impacting water quality (as often occurs
when indescriminately “broadcast feeding” by adding liquid food
suspensions to a stream of water and allowing the contents to disperse
randomly throughout the aquarium system).
Guaranteed Analysis: Moisture (max) 97.10%, crude protein (min) 0.45%, crude fat (min) 0.23%, crude fiber (min) 0.85%, ash (max) 3.10%.
Ingredients:
Purified water, Haematococcus sp., Nannochloroposis sp., Tetraselmis
sp., Isochrysis sp., Pavlova sp., Thalassiosira sp., Ascorbic acid,
Citric Acid
Size: 250 mL