Reef nutrition live phytoplankton… is it really “living” I’m confused.

[alexanderthefishlover]

As the title says,

I just bought Reef Nutritions’ Live Phytoplankton and I’m wondering if it’s actually “Alive” or not. I’m confused, will it multiply in my aquarium long after feedings then?

https://reefnutrition.com/products/...u1XUl57jKw07OAyv7wdFtot_pdcrUJc044w1SzZSZfPrd

 

[SaltySqueeble]

It’s alive and you should be able to see tiny dots swimming around in the bottle. It will be eaten by filter feeders and copepods, establishing their population, increasing your overall biome.

 

[alexanderthefishlover]

It’s alive and you should be able to see tiny dots swimming around in the bottle. It will be eaten by filter feeders and copepods, establishing their population, increasing your overall biome.

That’s so cool! I’ll see if I can see swimming in the bottle! Will it multiply in the tank forever??

 

[WvAquatics]

From my knowledge it will not multiply in the tank. You have to make your own cultures and add to the tank. Photo will be consumed by all filter feeders and copepods.

 

[taricha]

phyto in a system gets munched by everything.
but live phyto can be cultured up by people interested in doing so.

 

[alexanderthefishlover]

phyto in a system gets munched by everything.
but live phyto can be cultured up by people interested in doing so.

My nitrates have dropped since dosing the Live Phyto! Is this common!? I had 4.5 before and now I can’t get above 0.0 on my Hanna checker!?

 

[alexanderthefishlover]

phyto in a system gets munched by everything.
but live phyto can be cultured up by people interested in doing so.

This is while dosing neonitro too I can’t get it above 0.0

 

[pocketsand]

Did you reduce other feeding while adding phyto?

 

[alexanderthefishlover]

Did you reduce other feeding while adding phyto?

No i increased actually to try and combat the low levels. The Hanna checker didn’t even turn a light pink tint at all. Crystal clear even with dosing neonitro! I’m so confused!

 

[alexanderthefishlover]

Did you reduce other feeding while adding phyto?

I have added more corals though more softies. I also added more hermits today. I cleaned my skimmer. My tanks a 25p AIO water box so it’s not huge either.

It’s so odd because my LPS look so happy more open than I’ve ever seen even the leathers look happier except my encrusting gorgonian which wasn’t opening. only opens after I dose neo nitro.

 

[taricha]

My nitrates have dropped since dosing the Live Phyto! Is this common!?

phyto addition wouldn't necessarily increase NO3. It could depend on what the nutrient composition of the phyto is. If it were heavy on C and P, you might find it lowers testable NO3 in practice.

 

[VintageReefer]

Hmm just wanted to add this here. I wanted to buy what @alexanderthefishlover bought but apparantly there’s two versions and only one is live.

Looks like live version says live and has black top, and then there’s this

What good does the non live version do?

 

[alexanderthefishlover]

phyto addition wouldn't necessarily increase NO3. It could depend on what the nutrient composition of the phyto is. If it were heavy on C and P, you might find it lowers testable NO3 in practice.

So would the phos be elevated? I’m going to test I didn’t test that

When you say treatable NO3, you’re suggesting it’s still present but not testing on a test? I usually have some alage growth it’s halted. That’s why I suspect its truly bottoming

 

[taricha]

What good does the non live version do?

If you dose to a tank as food, you don't need the cells to be viable.
You only need "live" if you are trying to start your own phyto cultures.

When you say testable NO3, you’re suggesting it’s still present but not testing on a test?

Phyto obviously has nitrogen in the cells, but that doesn't show up as NO3 until later, right. Tank organisms have to eat it, break it down, etc.