Product Care
Product Labels:
Our Labels are "Multi Labels" which means, we use one label for all our bottles. When you receive your product look on the left side of the label for the actual content of your bottle. On the right side of label you will find general care instructions for quick reference, but note; Care Instructions does not indicate bottle contents. Example: If you purchased Phytoplankton then the right side of label has generic care instructions for Phytoplankton. If you purchased Copepods then on right side of label you will find generic care instructions for Copepods, and so on.
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Ice Packs:
We ship with ice packs most of the year to slow down metabolic rate of live items so they consume less oxygen and food in transit, which ensures they have enough food and oxygen for the trip. It is not expected that the ice pack will be cold upon arrival and a warm ice pack does Not mean there is an issue with your product, the ice packs are only intended to last 24-36 hours on average for most shipping.
* In some cases like extreme heat or cold or if shipping coral then insulated coolers will be used in which temperature will be expected to be maintained the entire trip.
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Chaeto:
Each order if precisely measured using wet measuring cups. During Shipping, Chaeto may “deflate” during shipping and appear stressed. We always recommend dipping/soaking your Chaeto in low salinity water (even fresh RODI water works Great!) for 2-3 min then dump and rinse then introduce to your sump/refugium. Your Chaeto should bounce back within 5-7 days assuming you have a nutrient rich environment for them (never 0 nitrates or 0 phosphates)
Phytoplankton:
Your phytoplankton may arrive warm or room temperature and this is perfectly normal. We culture all our phytoplankton at room temp so do not be alarmed. Be sure to lightly shake your bottle daily and store in refrigerator.
Dosing: 5ml per 10g every 3-4 days
Phytoplankton does have a noticeable odor, and it is normal that the odor is sulfurous. This is due to the fact that a type of sulfide, dimethyl sulfide is produced by some phytoplankton and is associated with cryoprotection. Sulfides produced by living phytoplankton: A small number of sulfides are produced by phytoplankton that is always in the product. Sulfides are very volatile, and they come out of solution and build up in the air within the bottle even at low temperatures. If the phytoplankton is kept at a temperature in the 40’s instead of the 30’s it will have more odor. If it warms up for even a short time, say during shipping, it will have more odor. Best to keep at temps of 35-38 to preserve its nutritional value.
We have tested our product throughout its shelf life and beyond. The levels found were very low ranging from 17 to 20 ppm (ppm = parts per million). These levels are very low and were also very consistent from just packaged phytoplankton through phytoplankton that was more than 5 months old (beyond the shelf life). People are extremely sensitive to sulfides, which are detected at the very low levels of 0.5 ppb (parts per billion). Any odor from the phytoplankton is most noticeable in the air that is trapped in the bottle, and it builds up over time. That is why a half empty bottle smells more than a full bottle, and a large bottle smells more than a small bottle. While odor intensity is almost impossible to describe; it is normal for the odor of sulfides to be strong, particularly in phytoplankton that has been in storage for a while.
Copepods:
Our copepods are a 25 micron mix from juvenile to adult (shipments do vary in density). You should always be able to shine a flashlight up through the bottom of the bottle/pouch and see movement within the water. They are tiny but adults are visible with the naked eye. Once they arrive, open the container and allow air for 10 min at room temperature before checking.
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Copepods feed on phytoplankton so if you plan to keep yours longer than a couple days after arrival you should dose 1ml phytoplankton every 2 days to ensure they have food to eat. They will need phytoplankton as well as most need detritus to survive long term in your reef system. You can store in fridge for a couple weeks with the lid off if you dose small amounts a few times a week. If in a gallon bag, be sure to exchange oxygen in bag before storing.
Rotifers:
Our rotifers are visible by the naked eye as tiny white specs. You should always be able to shine a flashlight up through the bottom of the bottle/pouch and see what looks like a ”snow globe” effect. Rotifers feed on phytoplankton so if you plan to keep yours longer than a couple of days after arrival you should dose 1ml every 2 days to ensure they have food to eat. Rotifers will smell upon arrival, this does not mean they are dead or unhealthy, they just produce a lot of waste!
Coralline Algae:
You will receive flakes that you can crush up or use as they are. Turn off pumps/wave makers and pour contents over rocks or into sump and allow 10 minutes to settle. Remove Filter media (socks/floss) and turn pumps back on, after 20 minutes put filter media back. The Algae will begin to produce tetraspores and you should start to see growth in 2-8 weeks; all depends on water quality and lighting.
Starter Culture Kit:
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Add vial to 32oz of sterile culture water.
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Add entire F/2 pipette provided to the 32oz of sterile culture water.
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Place sterile rigid airline in bottle so slow rolling bubble.
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Ensure proper light coverage for 12-14 hours a day.
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Harvest after 7-10 days (based on color, density, existence of nitrates)
*Test Tube and pipette are combined into 32oz fresh sterilized saltwater around 30ppt. After 7 days of air and light you can split or culture the 32oz to a larger vessel 1-3 gallons. In general, we recommend 8ml of f/2 per gallon if you decide to use your harvest to create more…
Phyto Puck - (petri dish)
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Add sterilized salt water (typical culture water you would use to culture phytoplankton) in petri dish so all algae is covered.
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Place under light or on windowsill with sun light for 24 hours.
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** After 24 hours **
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Take a sterile cotton swab lightly rub it around disk to release phytoplankton cells (being careful not to disturb gel, but know the gel will not hurt culture if gets transferred)
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Pour into your new sterile culture vessel.
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Add F/2 based on culture size (We recommend 6-8ml per gallon)
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Place sterile rigid airline in culture vessel so slow rolling bubble.
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Ensure proper light coverage for 12-14 hours a day.
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Harvest after 7-10 days (based on color, density, existence of nitrates)