Phytoplankton Culture for Corals

Keeping coral in an aquarium can be a tricky task. One of the main aspects of live coral is that it must have a consistent, workable food source. Phytoplankton serves as a food source for fish, crustaceans and even whales in the wild. It can be easily kept and cultured as a food source for coral in captivity.

  1. Coral Facts

    • Coral and its closely related cousin the anemone are often thought of as plants but are actually microscopic animals. A coral reef is a colony of hundreds to thousands of tiny creatures who have set up shop together. The animals live in tiny calcium-based shells, which make up the physical structure we see. As live animals, coral in the wild or alive in tanks and aquariums need to be supplied with a constant source of food.

    Phytoplankton Facts

    • Phytoplankton are a natural, important part of marine life. They provide the base of the food chain in the ocean and can affect the entire environment. They are small plants and require sun and nutrition for growth. Their existence as plants makes them greenish in color, and their presence can cause clear water to turn green. One of the main ingredients of phytoplankton is algae.

    Phytoplankton for Coral

    • Phytoplankton are a natural and logical food source for coral. They are microscopic forms of nutrition that can be easily caught by the coral's reaching tentacles and pulled into the animal's mouth for consumption.

    Growing Phytoplankton

    • Fish enthusiasts often grow phytoplankton to maintain a constant supply of food for fish and coral. Phytoplankton is usually grown in an external tank to control its environment. Phytoplankton cultures are available at aquarium supply shops and need only sunlight and nutrition to start. Once a culture is successfully established, it can continue to grow and regenerate indefinitely.

    Considerations

    • Other aspects to take into consideration when growing coral is water temperature, circulation, pH and alkalinity. Coral is acidic and may be detrimental to some types of fish.