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?…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Acclimation Guide The purpose of acclimation is simple: One of the most important aspects of a healthy aquarium is the proper acclimation of your new arrivals. The water used to pack the animal is going to be different than the water in your aquarium. For creatures used to living in a vast and stable ocean,…
You may or may not have heard of the use of sieves in aquaculture. Sieves can be useful in many ways but many people still are not sure why and how they can use them. Here at Aquatic Live Food, we love to share our knowledge and help you find the best possible ways to…
What are Chitons? Chitons have a shell on their back made up of eight separate shell plates or valves. On different species, the plates have different colours, patterns, and textures. These plates are made from calcium carbonate and overlap a little at the front and back edges. The plates can still move separately. This means…
There are many reasons to buy Copepod from Aquatic Live Food (ALF) as food for Mandarin fish and corals. Ocean animals like Mandarin fish, seahorses, corals, squid, cuttlefish, shellfish, clams, all the way up to the our exciting whales, depend on eating those lovely live copepods as an integral part of their diet. Live copepods and Phytoplankton…
An Introduction on Microplastics The destruction of aquatic ecosystems including micro-plastics is a major issue facing aquatic conservationists globally. This issue includes microplastic pollution, acidification, and over-fishing. Microplastics are defined on Wikipedia as very small pieces of plastic that pollute the environment. We here at aquatic live food have produced a new survey net…
Why would you culture at home when you can buy a cultured product online and have it delivered to your home? Well, there are many reasons you would culture at home with a Home Culture System whether it’s a Marine or Freshwater culture. The benefits of having a ready supply of cultured product at…
Is there live SPIRULINA (Cyanobacteria) in the food you feed your Fish? Cyanobacteria what is it? Is it a micro or macro algae is it a bacteria? Spirulina is an organism that grows in both fresh and salt water. It is a type of cyanobacteria, which is a family of single-celled microbes that are often…
