Zooplankton Multi Pack Consists of:
1. 5 Species Phytoplankton
2. Live Rotifers (Enriched)
3. Live Copepods (now delivered in a pouch)
Various pack sizes are available, please choose from the options above eg. 500ml Pack - 100ml copepods = 500ml 5 Species Live Phytoplankton + 500ml Live Rotifers + 100ml Live Copepods
What Are Copepods?
Copepods are small crustaceans that can be used as live food for saltwater aquarium fishes, corals and other invertebrates. Who Should Use Copepods? Almost any marine aquarium will benefit from the addition of copepods, but tanks with mandarin fish, anthias and seahorses may well require the regular addition of copepods for optimal results. Aquarists that maintain refugium as a part of their overall system should definitely add copepods directly to their refugium on a regular basis.
How To Use Copepods
We ship our copepods (Tigriopus Californicus) in a 100ml bottle. To add them to your system, simply pour the bottle directly into the Aquarium. To add them to your system, simply pour the bottle directly into the aquarium or use a sieve witch is available as an option above if you require one. Purchasing a sieve with your copepods is cheaper than if you purchased both items separately. If a refugium is present, it may be best to add at least some of the copepods to the refugium where they will not be eaten. If no refugium is present, you may add all of the copepods directly to the sump (consider shutting off the protein skimmer for a time if one is present). If the system does not have a refugium or a sump, consider adding at least some of the copepods when the aquarium lights are off.
What Are Rotifers?
Rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) are very tiny animals measuring between 150-360 micrometers. Rotifers are often raised as food for live corals and fish larvae. They are the ideal starter food for species of fish such as clownfish fry which have tiny larvae with very, very tiny mouths.
Who Should Use Rotifers? Almost any marine aquarium will benefit from the addition of rotifers, Their size and excellent nutritional value (50% to 65% protein) make them the perfect live food for all (freshwater and marine) fry, anemones, sponges etc.
How To Feed Rotifers?
To add them to your system, simply pour the bottle directly into the aquarium or use a sieve to strain them.
Feed as little or as much as required. Rotifers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Rotifers are perfect for a reef's food source because they multiply very rapidly and they are just the right size for almost all filter feeders and clown fish fry.
5 Species Phytoplankton
This premium phytoplankton contains the following:
1.Nannochloropsis sp
2.Tetraselmis sp
3.Isochrysis
4.Pavlova
5.Thalassiosira weissflogii
Our 5 species phytoplankton is our own premium product. We have combined 5 different species of phytoplankton bringing essential nutrition & benefits to a reef aquarium.
Most of the animals on a coral reef are very effective at capturing either zooplankton, phytoplankton or both from the water that passes over them. Many of these animals can and do capture phytoplankton directly, and the ones that cannot, such as the fishes still take advantage of the nutritional quality of these tiny algae by preying on small animals that do eat them (such as copepods, rotifers and mysids). Why? Because there are a number of essential nutrients provided by marine algae, especially phytoplankton, which cannot be synthesised by animals, and are therefore extremely important components of a healthy diet Shelf Life - 6 weeks if stored in the fridge.
The benefits of live phytoplankton are:
• Brighter coloured corals
• Faster coral growth
• Greater polyp extension
• Increased number of micro fauna
• Increased zooplankton and copepod populations
• Mysid populations will bloom due to the increase in copepods
