Phytoplankton: What is it, Why use it?

Phytoplankton has a wide array of benefits for our reef systems, but what is it?

Phytoplankton refers to unicellular organisms that are capable of photosynthesis which includes both algae and bacteria (that utilize photosynthesis to produce their own food). Out of the thousands of types of phytoplankton there are 3 main types of, dinoflagellates, Cyanobacteria, and diatoms. Phytoplankton is responsible for over 50% of the world’s oxygen supply! People tend to get algae and phytoplankton confused. All phytoplankton are algae, but not all algae are phytoplankton! Phytoplankton is the base food of all marine food webs making them essential to our reef tanks.

Any animal or coral, sponge, small fish, clams, oysters, zooplankton (pods) and crustaceans that filter feed all consume phytoplankton. These consumers help export the nutrients the phytoplankton used in photosynthesis in your reef tank.

How does phytoplankton move? Most species will rely on the current (or flow in our tanks) to move. Dinoflagellates species can move on their own using their flagella. Phytoplankton can even move up and down the water column to absorb more light and avoid predation by zooplankton.

The real world applications of phytoplankton are constantly being explored. Currently they are used in beauty products, nutritional supplements, filters, foods, the list goes on and on. Now they are being studied for potentially helping reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. In our hobby we are barely scratching the surface of what it can do for our tanks. The nutritional benefits alone for our corals and fish make it worthy of a daily dose on all systems.

Certain phytoplankton strains are being used in the real world as industrial water cleaners due to how well they metabolize heavy metals, phosphates, and nitrates. This is a huge benefit to our reef tanks as high nutrients are a problem for a large amount of reefers at one point or another.

Diatom strains of phytoplankton are not only great for their fat and acid content, but they can also be used to outcompete dinos, cyano, and nuisance diatoms. They will compete for the same resources/ nutrients and eventually starve out the dinos/cyano/diatoms.

Think of phytoplankton as your tanks daily vitamin! There are 3 main colors green, brown/golds, and red:

Greens are like vitamins packed with all sorts health like benefits (vitamin and antioxidant content) as well as pigments that can help enhance certain colors by whatever coral filter feeds it or fish that eat the zooplankton that consumes the phyto.

Browns/golds are loaded with essential fats and aminos. Certain strains are diatom strains that feed on silicates.

Reds are coveted for the pigments they contain to enhance colors of your aquarium fish and corals!

These are just a few examples of what phytoplankton can do for your tank! Let us know how we can help you fix an issue in your system!

We have the only of their kind customizable phyto blends, let us know what’s going on in your system and we will customize a blend from our line of species to help get your reef back on track!