-
Bio Marine is an aquaculture boutique; a small enterprise offering highly specialized biological products and livestock that are exclusively cultured for the saltwater aquarium.
Learn More-
Bio Marine is an aquaculture boutique; a small enterprise offering highly specialized biological products and livestock that are exclusively cultured for the saltwater aquarium.
Learn More
A live food and natural biological additive that can help promote ecological stability in your aquarium while providing critically important nutrition for a variety of marine organisms. Microalgae are a major part of the ocean’s phytoplankton. Phytoplankton create an essential foundation to the ocean ecosystem and will serve a similar function in the home aquarium.
Each type of Bio Marine Microalgae Green, Red, Gold, Brown are concentrated monocultures of particular single-cell algal species, each with its own distinctive cell size and nutritional profile.
Bio Marine Microalgae Fusion is a blend of four different microalgae species, which offers a broader range of benefits in an aquarium ecosystem.
Aquarium ecosystems are highly variable, so an optimum dosage will differ depending on the kind of environmental factors in a tank, like the number, size, and types of organisms, age and maturity of the system, etc. The recommended starting point is to add about 15 mL of Bio Marine Microalgae for every 20 gallons of aquarium water daily. Observe how organisms in the tank respond to feeding for one or two weeks. After two weeks, you may gradually increase the daily dosage if desired.
For best results, turn off all aquarium filters for 20 minutes while feeding with Bio Marine Microalgae. You can leave wave or circulating pumps on if you have rheophilic species. If you are target feeding however, it is best to keep all pumps turned off for at least a few minutes.
Microalgae Grow-out mono-cultures – (Intermediate Scale)
Isochrysis galbana, Nanochloropsis sp., Porphyridium cruentum, Tetraselmis chuii
These cultures are maintained in the “exponential growth phase” over extended periods of time, which requires frequent, regular partial harvesting. The harvested microalgae are then transferred to incrementally larger bulk culture systems.
Starter Mono-cultures
Starter mono-cultures of microalgae are held in reserve under special conditions for long-term storage. They are used to restart cultures that may enter the crash phase. Pure starter cultures are obtained using a serial dilution isolation technique.
Microalgae mono-culture in stationary stage - (Bulk Scale Temporary Holding)
Bio Marine Microalgae
Packaged in a convenient 16 ounce (500mL) Bettix bottle for easy measuring and dispensing in the aquarium.
Bio Marine “Green” Microalgae Tetraselmis chuii – The highly motile green (Chlorophyta) microalga Tetraselmis chuii is characterized by four (two pairs) of flagella, which give rise to the genus prefix “tetra.” Individual cells are ovoid and about 12 – 14 µm in length. It is widely utilized as an aquaculture feed, especially for rotifers. Tetraselmis chuii is known to have an excellent nutrient profile with a range of proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Tetraselmis cultures are a bright green owing to the photosynthetic pigment Chlorophyll a.
A variety of marine aquarium filter-feeding invertebrates, zooplankton, and mesofauna can use Tetraselmis chuii as a suitable food.
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/tetraselmis
Bio Marine “Red” Microalgae Porphyridium cruentum – This red (Rhodophyta) marine microalga contains a high percentage of polysaccharides and proteins. The high polysaccharide (carbohydrate) content comes primarily from the sulfated polysaccharides surrounding the cell. The proteins in P. cruentum include the pigment phycoerythrin, which provides cells their distinctive red color. Additionally, P. cruentum contains a high percentage of unsaturated fats, such as EPA, DHA, and AA (Eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid). It is thought that the sulfated exopolysaccharides of the P. cruentum cell envelope make it easier for filter-feeding organisms (e.g. bivalves) to digest, and the pigment phycoerythrin may enhance red coloration.
P. cruentum are spherical cells measuring 6-10 µm in diameter. This makes them suitable food for brine shrimp or copepods. The nutritional benefits of P. cruentum may be passed on to larger marine aquarium fish and invertebrates through bioencapsulation. Bioencapsulation can be accomplished by feeding P. cruentum to zooplankton, such as brine shrimp or copepods, and in turn feeding the zooplankton to larger fish and invertebrates in the aquarium.
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/porphyridium-cruentum
Bio Marine “Gold” Microalgae Isochrysis galbana – Isochrysis galbana is a golden-brown (Haptophyta) marine microalga that has high lipid and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) content. Isochrysis spp. owes its golden-brown color to the pigment fucoxanthin. Isochrysis galbana has long been used as an animal feed for use in aquaculture (especially bivalves and shrimp) due to its size (4-6 µm) and excellent nutritional profile.
More recently, Isochrysis galbana has become popular among many marine aquarium enthusiasts as a supplemental feed or additive to their reef aquariums. Isochrysis galbana can be utilized by a variety of marine aquarium filter-feeding invertebrates, zooplankton, and mesofauna. It may also help enhance the coloration in some corals.
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/isochrysis-galbana
Bio Marine “Brown” Microalgae Nannochloropsis spp. – Nannochloropsis spp. are classified as brown (Ochrophyta) microalga. The genus is widely distributed throughout the world in both fresh and saltwater environments. There are about a half dozen species of Nannochloropsis, but they are physically indistinguishable, so the exact species can only be identified using genomic analysis techniques. Although classified as brown algae (Ochrophyta), the dominant pigment in Nannochloropsis is chlorophyll. Subsequently, concentrated Nannochloropsis cultures appear dark green. Individual cells of Nannochloropsis are very small, 2-5 µm, and when viewed with a microscope they appear spherical or slightly cylindrical in shape. While the main pigment is chlorophyll a, Nannochloropsis also contains several xanthophylls, as well as beta-carotene. Nannochloropsis is rich in lipids, fatty acids, and carotenoids.
Nannochloropsis can be utilized by a variety of marine aquarium filter-feeding invertebrates, zooplankton, and mesofauna.
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/nannochloropsis
Bio Marine “Fusion” Microalgae – This is a mixture with roughly equal proportions of Porphyridium, Isochrysis, Nannochloropsis, and Tetraselmis. Owing to the broad spectrum of nutrients, pigments, and range of cell sizes, Bio Marine Microalgae Fusion is probably the best choice for general feeding in most community reef aquariums.
Microscope view of Porphyridium
A type of red alga. Note the cluster of cells at the end of the pointer.
Microscope view of Nanochloropis
A type of brown alga. The cells appear green instead of brown due to the dominant chlorophyll pigment.
Lysmata wurdemanni
These shrimp are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning individuals are able to produce both male and female gametes. However, they do not self-fertilize, so two shrimp are required to produce viable eggs. The eggs are held under the abdomen (see photo) by special appendages called swimmerets until they hatch.
Click here for more information.
Click here for more information.
• Bio Marine Zooplankton (Copepods)
• Bio Marine Zooplankton (Rotifers)
Click here for more information.
In 1976, nearly 50 years ago, I set up my first saltwater aquarium in my living room, right here in Michigan, while attending Michigan State University as a zoology major. At that time, I didn’t know that the simple act of setting up an aquarium would ignite my lifelong passion for the marine aquarium hobby and propel me into a gratifying career as a marine biologist. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy both academic and professional success, all based around my favorite pastime!
Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to live and work in a number of interesting places such as Key West, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas. I have not only been a hobbyist, but a professional marine life collector, retailer and wholesaler. However, I worked most of my career with, and for, aquarium institutions and have experience with marine aquaculture, coral reef keeping, exhibit design and aquarium construction. As a marine biologist, I have been able to go diving in the Atlantic Ocean/Caribbean Sea/Gulf of Mexico (Bahamas, Florida, Caymen Islands, Belize, Cuba), Red Sea (Egypt, Israel), and the Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, Ecuador).
Additionally, I have always been interested in education; sharing knowledge about marine life in particular. I spent a good portion of my time, when I was an aquarium director, developing and implementing education programs for local schools and educators. Now that I reside in Michigan, I have been teaching biology classes, including marine biology, at Oakland University for more than a decade. I recently have reduced my teaching load, so I now have the time to pursue one of my primary interests: ornamental marine aquaculture. I am just as excited now about my new venture, resurrecting my old company Bio Marine Tropicals, as I was when I first started my career so many years ago!
Click here for complete biography information.