Phytoplankton Dosing Calculator

Enter your aquarium details to calculate your phytoplankton dosing needs.

Gallons Liters
Phytoplankton Dosing Results

    Dosing Guidelines: Shake bottle before use. Shut off return pumps, skimmers, and UV sterilizers for 20 minutes after feeding. Can be broadcast fed, drip fed, or target fed. Can be combined with frozen or powdered feeds. All TSA Live Phyto is single species, uncontaminated, and preservative free. TSA Live Phyto bottles can also be used to start home microalgae cultures.

    Phytoplankton Dosing Calculator

    Phytoplankton is the foundation of marine food webs, a live microalgae that supports everything from tiny zooplankton to corals and clams. In reef aquariums, dosing live phytoplankton helps mimic natural ocean conditions, providing nutrition for filter feeders, boosting microfauna populations, and improving overall water quality.

    This calculator helps you determine the right phytoplankton dose for your system, factoring in tank volume, livestock needs, and the number of strains used so you can nourish your reef effectively and safely.

    Why Dose Phytoplankton?

    In the wild, corals and filter feeders rely on a steady supply of microscopic plankton drifting through the water column. In a closed aquarium, these natural food sources are often missing. By dosing live phytoplankton, you help:

    • Feed corals, especially non-photosynthetic species, clams, sponges, feather dusters, and other filter feeders
    • Support copepods, amphipods, and other microcrustaceans, which in turn feed fish and corals
    • Improve nutrient export by fueling beneficial bacterial and zooplankton populations
    • Enhance biodiversity, stability, and resilience in your tank ecosystem

    Supported Phytoplankton Species

    Live Green Phytoplankton (Tetraselmis chui)
    A green microalgae rich in fatty acids, amino acids, and antioxidants. Excellent for soft corals, clams, feather dusters, and boosting copepod populations.

    Live Red Phytoplankton (Rhodomonas salina)
    A red microalgae known for its high phycoerythrin and omega-3 content. Especially beneficial for SPS corals, non-photosynthetic corals, sponges, and bivalves.

    Live Golden Phytoplankton (Tisochrysis lutea, T-ISO)
    A golden-brown microalgae with a small cell size and high DHA content. Ideal for delicate filter feeders, larval stages, clams, and zooplankton enrichment.

    Best Practices for Dosing Phytoplankton

    • Refrigerate and shake well before each use to maintain cell suspension
    • Target feed using a pipette or broadcast dose depending on livestock needs
    • Turn off protein skimmers and UV sterilizers for 20 to 60 minutes after dosing to maximize availability
    • Start with small, regular doses and adjust gradually while monitoring nutrient levels
    • Test nitrate and phosphate periodically to avoid unintended nutrient spikes