Hey everybody! One of our supporters mentioned that it would be handy to have everything you need for reference in a single place. So let's talk about dosing, storage, and sizing!
Dosing Phytoplankton
If this is your first time dosing phyto in your tank, we suggest starting with 5 ml per 10 gallons of system volume (tank + sump). After a couple weeks, if you're seeing positive results and your nutrient levels are where you want them, we suggest increasing your dosage to 10 ml per 10 gallons of system volume. We suggest dosing live phyto every day - your coral will enjoy the consistency. All orders ship out with syringes to help with dosing!
What does live phyto do to my nutrient levels? Most people report that adding our live phyto causes their nutrient levels to drop (phyto consumes nitrates and phosphates, then the phyto gets eaten by your coral, causing your levels to drop). However, reef tanks are extremely complex ecosystems, and every tank is different.
Do I need phytoplankton if I don't have coral? Our live phyto can help your tank even if you don't have much or any coral. Phytoplankton feeds your microfauna, such as copepods, which keep your tank ecosystem balanced and keep your tank clean. Also, our six species blend of phytoplankton consists of living algae cells, so you're also adding biodiversity to your tank. Some have reported that adding good algae (phytoplankton) causes bad algae to be out-competed in their tanks. Phyto is also important for other filter feeders, such as clams and feather dusters.
Dosing Copepods
We suggest turning off all flow in your tank and adding your entire bottle or jug of copepods all at once. This gets them into your tank immediately, where they can begin consuming detritus and reproducing. After about an hour, it's safe to turn your flow back on. The copepods we sell tend to cling to surfaces, so relatively few will be swept into your overflows. As such, filter socks, skimmers, and UV sterilizers aren't usually a problem. While your filtration will likely remove a small percentage of your pod population, most will be clinging to rocks and sand and won't be bothered.
We suggest dosing half your pods into your tank and half in the refugium area of your sump, if you have one. Otherwise, just add them all to the tank. A sump is not necessary in order to create a self-sustaining population of copepods, although it does help.
Storage
Our live phytoplankton will last about 3-4 months in the fridge if shaken every couple days. Shaking the phyto is important; over time the living cells will tend to settle to the bottom, where they can be smothered by other cells becoming layered on top of them. Shaking your phyto periodically helps keep all the cells suspended. Phytoplankton is comprised of living plant cells, and like most plants, when put in the cold and dark, they go into dormancy. This allows them to last for months before dying.
We do not suggest storing our copepods, as they have a relatively short shelf life. Unlike phytoplankton, these are living animals and most of them don't go "dormant." They continue to need food and oxygen, and if left in the bottle they will eventually die due to lack of those resources. If you absolutely must keep your pods in their bottle for a few days, please take the lid off and feed them a few drops of phyto each day.
Sizing
The amount of phytoplankton and copepods you need will depend on the size of your tank. We have a handy guide here:
Sizing Guide
Dosing Phytoplankton
If this is your first time dosing phyto in your tank, we suggest starting with 5 ml per 10 gallons of system volume (tank + sump). After a couple weeks, if you're seeing positive results and your nutrient levels are where you want them, we suggest increasing your dosage to 10 ml per 10 gallons of system volume. We suggest dosing live phyto every day - your coral will enjoy the consistency. All orders ship out with syringes to help with dosing!
What does live phyto do to my nutrient levels? Most people report that adding our live phyto causes their nutrient levels to drop (phyto consumes nitrates and phosphates, then the phyto gets eaten by your coral, causing your levels to drop). However, reef tanks are extremely complex ecosystems, and every tank is different.
Do I need phytoplankton if I don't have coral? Our live phyto can help your tank even if you don't have much or any coral. Phytoplankton feeds your microfauna, such as copepods, which keep your tank ecosystem balanced and keep your tank clean. Also, our six species blend of phytoplankton consists of living algae cells, so you're also adding biodiversity to your tank. Some have reported that adding good algae (phytoplankton) causes bad algae to be out-competed in their tanks. Phyto is also important for other filter feeders, such as clams and feather dusters.
Dosing Copepods
We suggest turning off all flow in your tank and adding your entire bottle or jug of copepods all at once. This gets them into your tank immediately, where they can begin consuming detritus and reproducing. After about an hour, it's safe to turn your flow back on. The copepods we sell tend to cling to surfaces, so relatively few will be swept into your overflows. As such, filter socks, skimmers, and UV sterilizers aren't usually a problem. While your filtration will likely remove a small percentage of your pod population, most will be clinging to rocks and sand and won't be bothered.
We suggest dosing half your pods into your tank and half in the refugium area of your sump, if you have one. Otherwise, just add them all to the tank. A sump is not necessary in order to create a self-sustaining population of copepods, although it does help.
Storage
Our live phytoplankton will last about 3-4 months in the fridge if shaken every couple days. Shaking the phyto is important; over time the living cells will tend to settle to the bottom, where they can be smothered by other cells becoming layered on top of them. Shaking your phyto periodically helps keep all the cells suspended. Phytoplankton is comprised of living plant cells, and like most plants, when put in the cold and dark, they go into dormancy. This allows them to last for months before dying.
We do not suggest storing our copepods, as they have a relatively short shelf life. Unlike phytoplankton, these are living animals and most of them don't go "dormant." They continue to need food and oxygen, and if left in the bottle they will eventually die due to lack of those resources. If you absolutely must keep your pods in their bottle for a few days, please take the lid off and feed them a few drops of phyto each day.
Sizing
The amount of phytoplankton and copepods you need will depend on the size of your tank. We have a handy guide here:
Sizing Guide
