Texas Tea Live Phytoplankton

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Live phyto blend; coral food phytoplankton

Synonyms

Live phyto; phytoplankton blend

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Cosmopolitan (marine microalgae, worldwide oceans)

Habitat

Open ocean and coastal marine waters as free-floating single-celled algae; cultured commercially in photobioreactors for the aquarium trade

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Macroalgae

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Floating

Water

Temperature

72 – 80 °F (22 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.026 SG

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Low

CO₂

Not needed

Planting

Substrate

Not needed

Feeds from

Water column

Fertilizer needs

Low

Colors

Green, Brown

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Care guide

Overview

Texas Tea is a multi-species live phytoplankton blend combining Dunaliella bardawil, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Chaetoceros calcitrans with added PNSB bacteria for a broader nutritional and microbial profile. Refrigeration and gentle, gradual dosing keep the culture viable and avoid clouding the water. Best suited to reef keepers targeting filter feeders, NPS corals, and overall microbiome support rather than as a standalone feed.

Care

This is a liquid suspension of live single-celled marine microalgae rather than a rooted plant, dosed directly into the water column to feed filter-feeding invertebrates and corals. Shake the bottle before use and keep it refrigerated to preserve cell viability, since ultra-micro phytoplankton cells die off quickly at room temperature. Because it is a living product with a limited shelf life, buy in quantities that will be used within a few weeks and rotate between different phytoplankton species for a broader nutritional profile.

Fertilizing

Dose around 5 mL per 15 gallons of tank water, three times per week, adjusting based on nutrient export capacity and visible response from filter feeders. Overdosing can cloud the water and spike nitrate and phosphate, so it is best introduced gradually while monitoring water parameters. Many reef keepers target-feed it near NPS corals, clams, and feather dusters, or dose broadly to support the tank's microbiome and pod populations.

Propagation

Commercially cultured in controlled photobioreactor systems rather than propagated by the hobbyist; not typically grown at home due to contamination risk and the need for sterile technique.

Problems

Because it is alive, the product can crash or lose potency if stored warm, exposed to light for extended periods, or left unrefrigerated after opening. Overdosing risks a bacterial bloom or nutrient spike, particularly in smaller or lightly stocked systems. Always smell and inspect the bottle before use, as a foul odor or discoloration indicates the culture has died and should be discarded.

Sources

1. Texas Tea Live Phytoplankton - Bulk Reef Supply
2. Home Brew Live Feeds Combines Multiple Species Of Phyto With Hydrospace's PNSB | Reef Builders
3. Home Brew Texas Tea Phytoplankton 15oz - Something Fishy