Description
Provide your reef with the foundational nutrition of the ocean. ESV Dried Marine Phytoplankton is a highly concentrated, spray-dried formula designed to feed the diverse array of filter-feeding organisms in your aquarium. From sponges and tunicates to bivalves and gorgonians, this phytoplankton provides the essential proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates necessary for a thriving, biodiverse reef ecosystem.
The "Time-Release" Advantage Unlike many liquid or frozen foods that decompose rapidly if not immediately consumed, ESV’s unique spray-drying process creates a "time-release" effect. When added to the water column, the particles hydrate at different rates, ensuring that food remains available to your livestock for a longer period. This mimics the constant availability of plankton in natural reef environments and reduces the risk of sudden nutrient spikes caused by rapidly decaying uneaten food.
Key Features & Benefits
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Optimal Particle Size: Ranging from 2 to 20 microns, these particles are the perfect size for a wide variety of filter feeders, including many SPS corals and micro-fauna.
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Shelf-Stable Convenience: No refrigeration is required. Unlike live phytoplankton cultures which can crash or lose nutritional value over time, ESV Dried Phytoplankton maintains its nutritional integrity at room temperature.
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Encourages Micro-Fauna: Regular feeding supports the growth of copepods, amphipods, and other beneficial zooplankton, which in turn serve as a natural food source for fish and larger corals.
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High Nutritional Density: Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), essential for the health and cellular repair of marine invertebrates.
Usage & Dosing Instructions
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Preparation: For best results, "target feed" or broadcast feed by first mixing the desired amount of powder with a small cup of aquarium water. Stir or shake vigorously to hydrate the particles before adding to the tank.
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Dosing: Start with 1 level teaspoon per 100 gallons of system volume, 2 to 3 times per week.
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Pro Tip: If you run a protein skimmer, consider turning it off for 30–60 minutes during feeding to allow maximum contact time between the phytoplankton and your livestock.
Why ESV? ESV has been a leader in reef chemistry and nutrition for over three decades. Their dried phytoplankton is processed with the same commitment to purity and effectiveness as their world-renowned B-Ionic line, offering a reliable, mess-free way to boost the biological health of your aquarium.
Dried Phytoplankton Amino Enhanced TR (DPAE-TR) is the new and improved amino acid enhanced version of the Dried Marine Phytoplankton Time Released (DMP-TR). In addition to the same species of phytoplankton found in the older DMP-TR, DPAE-TR contains other non-gmo cultured aquatic celled organisms which raise the protein level by 56%. DPAE-TR supplies larger particles which gradually break down into single cells (6-8 microns) as the material passes through the circulation pumps of the aquarium. The particles exhibit excellent buoyancy characteristics. This makes DPAE-TR the most versatile food available to the reef aquarist.
DPAE-TR effectively eliminates the need for purchasing or culturing live phytoplankton cultures for your reef aquarium. Phytoplankton is an important first step in the food chain. Daily addition of DPAE-TR will not only directly feed the larger inhabitants of your reef aquarium. but also promote the production of zooplankton which in turn can be a valuable food source for your reef inhabitants. Depending on the feeding method employed, DPAE-TR functions as a filter-feeder food for corals and other invertebrates, fish food, larval fish food, larval invertebrate food, and an enrichment food for Artemia and rotifer culture.
The abundance of HUFA's found in DPAE-TR causes the foam in protein skimmers to collapse briefly allowing the algae cells longer residence time in your aquarium before being exported by skimming.
Although the very high levels of HUFA's (especially Docosahexaenoic Acid shown to be critical for proper marine larval development) makes DPAE-TR unique, it also functions as a source for the following trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals: Cobalt, Copper, Iodide, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Selenium, Silicon, Tin, Vanadium, Zinc, Vitamins A, E, B12, C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Choline, Niacin, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Gylcine, Alanine, Cystine, Valine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Lysine-HCL, Histidine-HCL, Arginine-HCL, Tryptophan, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Magnesium, Sulfur, and Chloride.
