Why use Phytoplankton?

The Benefits of Phytoplankton in Your Reef Aquarium

Phytoplankton might be microscopic, but its impact on your reef tank is massive. At FastPhyto, we specialize in culturing fresh, high-quality phytoplankton to help you build a healthier, more stable ecosystem for your corals, inverts, and fish.

Here’s why dosing live phytoplankton is one of the best things you can do for your saltwater tank:

🌿 1. Natural Nutrition for Filter Feeders

Phytoplankton is the primary food source for many filter-feeding invertebrates, including:

  • Clams

  • Feather dusters

  • Copepods

  • Sponges

  • Soft and non-photosynthetic corals

These organisms rely on microscopic suspended food to thrive—and nothing beats the bioavailability of live phyto.

🦠 2. Boosts Copepod Populations

If you're culturing or dosing live copepods, phytoplankton is essential. It serves as a sustainable food source, allowing pods to reproduce, grow, and maintain their population within your tank.

More pods = more natural cleanup + healthier fish (especially picky eaters like mandarins).

💧 3. Improves Water Quality

Live phytoplankton consumes nitrates and phosphates as it grows. While it’s not a miracle fix for dirty water, regular dosing can help balance nutrient levels and support better water quality—especially in tanks with low biodiversity.

🌊 4. Enhances Coral Health & Coloration

Some corals (especially LPS and NPS species) can directly consume phytoplankton, absorbing nutrients and boosting tissue growth, color, and polyp extension. Even photosynthetic corals can benefit from the increased biological diversity and stable nutrient cycling that phytoplankton promotes.

🔬 5. Mimics Natural Reef Conditions

In the ocean, phytoplankton is everywhere—floating freely and supporting entire ecosystems from the bottom up. By adding it to your tank, you’re replicating what nature already perfected: a balanced, food-web-driven ecosystem.

Why Choose FastPhyto?

At FastPhyto, we culture our phytoplankton in-house under strict quality controls. Every bottle is freshly harvested and packed to order—no preservatives, no shortcuts, and no sitting on shelves.

And because we handle everything ourselves, we’re able to offer top-tier quality at the lowest prices online.

Ready to give your reef a boost?

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