Overview

• Provides phytoplankton ranging in size from 8 – 20µm.
• Ideally-sized for many soft corals, clams, sponges, tunicates, tube worms, and larval invertebrates.
• Formulated to provide over 50-million phytoplankton cells per ml.
• Does not require refrigeration.
• Supplemented with a proprietary amino acid to aid in coloration of invertebrates.
• Formulated by a marine scientist.

Technical Background

Brightwell Aquatics PhytōGold-M is a concentrated suspension of Thalassiosira sp., a unicellular marine algae ranging in size from 5 – 20µm and having a diverse nutritional profile; it is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids ARA and DHA, as well as in several important amino acids. Thalassiosira falls within the size class of plankton known as nanoplankton (2.0 – 20.0µm), which is sometimes considered microplankton. It is 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.

Though Thalassiosira provides a number of amino acids, one that is not naturally present has been added to PhytōGold-M; this proprietary amino acid has been shown in studies to increase coloration of corals and other marine invertebrates. Additionally, a small percentage of vitamin-C is present to increase the benefits of PhytōGold-M, particularly to corals and their allies that have recently undergone fragmenting or propagation.
PhytōGold-M may be used in conjunction with other planktonic suspensions to provide a complete range of sizes to filter-feeding and planktivorous organisms.

PhytōGold-M 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).

Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Not for human consumption.

Guaranteed Analysis

Moisture (max) 94.23%, crude protein (min) 0.52%, crude fat (min) 0.27%, crude fiber (min) 1.27%, ash (max) 6.25%.

Ingredients

Purified water, Thalassiosira sp. (phytoplankton), proprietary amino acids, Ascorbic acid, Citric acid