What are they? Copepods fall under the classification of Crustacea and are reminiscent of very small one-eyed lobsters (measuring less than 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm in length). They are a form of zooplankton that occurs naturally in many freshwater ecosystems (copepods can also exist in saltwater ecosystems). There is a wide variety of copepods…
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1. Start Your Aquarium Correctly When setting up your tank for the first time, there are many things you can do to ensure that the water stays as clean as possible. When adding each component into your tank, be mindful of where the water came from. Even the most trusted aquarium shops can harvest unwanted…
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For so many aquarists, the green mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) is a must-have species. Its endearing personality, exquisite finnage, and intense coloration rarely fail to impress. Given these highly desirable traits, it has for long been among the most popular marine aquarium fishes. Thus, many thousands of specimens of this species are sold in the…
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Marine aquarium hobbyists are increasingly coming to understand what professional aquaculturists have known for decades—copepods are a superfood. This should not at all be surprising, though, in light of the major ecological role that they play in nearly every marine environment. The copepods are an astoundingly diverse group, being represented in all major aquatic biomes…
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Small plastic detritus, commonly known as ‘microplastics’, are a widespread and ubiquitous contaminant of marine ecosystems across the globe. Ingestion of microplastics by marine biota, including; mussels, worms, fish, and seabirds, has been widely reported. However, despite their vital ecological role in marine food-webs, the impact of microplastics on zooplankton remains under-researched. What are Microplastics?…
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With the new year approaching very soon, many people may be wondering about what New Year’s Resolutions are worth considering. At Aquatic Live Food, we think the aquaria hobby can be an important part of a hobbyist’s life. So, we have put together a list of the New Year’s Resolutions for your Aquarium hobby! …
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Zooplankton – Daphnia (or Daphnids) are members of a collection of animals that are broadly termed as “water fleas”. These are predominantly small crustaceans, and Daphnia belongs to a group known as the Daphniidae (which in turn is part of the Cladocera, relatives of the freshwater shrimp, Gammarus et al, and the brine shrimp, Artemia…
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At Aquatic Live Food, we love plankton! So, we have compiled a list of 10 things you need to know about plankton – both zooplankton and phytoplankton! Check the list to make sure you know everything there is to know about these fascinating creatures… 1. Aquatic Live Food (ALF) supply the very best zooplankton at…
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Aquatic Live Food loves all things aquaria and while we know most activities are fun to do, they can also be somewhat complicated. So, we are here to uncomplicate one of the most questioned methods – culturing algae. We also have video tutorials on this which you can watch via YouTube (see links at the…
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Zooplankton may be referred to as “animal plankton” — they are organisms that are often at the mercy of the ocean’s currents, but unlike phytoplankton, are not capable of photosynthesis. Background on Plankton Plankton are largely at the mercy of the ocean’s currents, winds and waves, and don’t have much (if any) mobility. Zooplankton are either…
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