Is Phyto-Feast Really Alive?

Phyto-Feast has been induced to become "quiescent", having minimal outward signs of life. This allows the algae to stay alive in a state of "suspended animation" without depleting their reserves and nutritional value.

Claims:

1. All the microalgae that goes into Phyto-Feast are grown at our farm in California and are harvested live and packed and shipped "farm fresh" every week.
2. Once harvested the algae are induced to become "quiescent" in "suspended animation." At the time of bottling 95% or more of the algae are alive.
3. In this quiescent state metabolic activity and respiration are reduced to minimal levels and the nutritional value of the algae and the integrity of the cell membranes are preserved. The process is similar to cryopreservation where alga can be frozen live for years and remain viable.
4. Not all of our algae species are equally hardy and after a few weeks some of the more delicate cells begin to expire. However some cells will remain viable for two months or more.
5. Because of the unique quiescence process that is applied to the algae, the cells remain intact and they retain their full nutritional value long after they have ceased metabolic activity. Properly stored, a bottle of Phyto-Feast will provide the same value at two-plus months that it did on the first day.

Can I see Phyto-Feast swimming under my microscope?

No. Algae typically "swim" using either cilia or flagella, depending on the species. As a survival technique algae lose their cilia or flagella under certain conditions - such as during the harvesting process. The cilia and flagella don't grow back so you won't see any of the algae swimming.

Will microalgae add phosphate and nitrate to my system?

Yes - in very small amounts.  There are no added phosphate and nitrates in Phyto-Feast, however these are critical components of all plants so its impossible for any microalgae product not to contain some amount. If you have a refugium with some seaweed (Macro-Feast), the seaweed should pull every bit of P&N out of your system. If you don't have a refugium you will probably see an increase of P&N for a short period, but your system should quickly start absorbing these components as the metabolism increases and and rapid growth begins.

Phyto-Feast will add much less phosphate and nitrate than algae you grow at home. The algae in Phyto-Feast is separated from the growing media by centrifuges, so the only P&N is the small amount actually in the cells, not the media.

We will have more information about this soon. There is also a very good article about this by Eric Borneman at http://www.reefkeeping.com.

Why is a complete Omega-3 fatty acid profile important?

Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA, and ARA) are considered essential fatty acids, which means that they are essential to animal health but cannot be manufactured by animals. For this reason, omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish and certain plant oils, especially marine microalgae. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development.

Green microalgae produce EPA while brown algae produce DHA and ARA, so it is very important to feed your tank a mixture of both green and brown algae species for complete nutrition.

Will Phyto-Feast decompose and foul my system?

No.  Phyto-Feast cells are intact and not broken so bacteria cannot quickly break them down and cause them to decompose.

Do I need to worry about bacteria or algae blooms if I use Phyto-Feast?

Typically No. Bacteria blooms would be caused if a significant amount of biomass remained in your system for several days. Your protein skimmer will quickly remove any excess Phyto-Feast from your system.

Will soft corals and clams, and other bivalve shellfish feed on Phyto-Feast products?

	Phyto-Feast	Live Zooplankton
Soft Corals	~80% of their diet	~20% of their diet
Hard Corals	~20% of their diet	~80% of their diet
Tridacnid Clams	Juveniles ~80% of their diet Adults ~20% of their diet	Juveniles ??? Adults YES
Sponges	YES	YES
Ascidians	YES	???
Rotifers	YES
Copepods	YES
Cleaner Shrimp	Juveniles - YES	YES
Worms (feather dusters)	YES	YES