What is a Plankton Reactor?

Well according to Aqua Medic:

“The importance of an appropriate feed web within a captive reef system has become clearer every year, as we better understand the complex ecosystem that we are all here to recreate. The prevalence of bottled plankton solutions for sale in this hobby is a testament to the understanding that photosynthetic corals are healthiest when they receive the natural balance of energy, both from light and from plankton predation. And in this new era of breeding marine fish in captivity, sources of appropriately sized and sufficiently high-quality food for newly hatched larvae and juvenile fish is proving to be the limiting factor for success. There is no substitute for fresh, high-quality plankton reared at home; never refrigerated, frozen or processed.”

So basically, this is a machine that grows plankton for your fish and corals. As was said above, this is THE best way to get natural food into your marine aquarium. What’s more natural than growing your own?

The system above actually works in 1, 2 or even 3 stages. The first stage grows microscopic phytoplankton. This is the bottom of the food chain, so they won’t bite. The first stage uses a fluorescent light to make it multiply and within a couple days you have a full culture of phytoplankton. Using the phytoplankton, you can then pump some directly into your tank, and also some into another reactor (no light required) to feed even larger planktons, called zooplankton. Feed that into a third to feed even larger cultures or pods. This sytem would pretty much feed most types of corals and filter feeders as well as some small-mouthed fish like blennies and dragonettes.

These units run for around $100.

Read more info and product documentation here.