Do Corals Eat Plankton?
Have you ever wondered, "Do corals eat plankton?" The answer is yes! Corals eat plankton to stay healthy, even though they also get some of their energy from tiny algae living inside them, called zooxanthellae. Understanding how corals eat plankton can help reef keepers take better care of them in home aquariums. Since corals eat plankton, providing them with the right diet is essential for their growth and survival.
How Corals Eat Plankton
Corals have tiny tentacles with stinging cells that help them catch food floating in the water. They eat plankton, which can be divided into two types:
- Live Phytoplankton – Tiny plants in the ocean that are at the base of the food chain.
- Live Zooplankton – Tiny animals like copepods and rotifers that corals eat directly.
Phytoplankton: An Indirect Food Source for Corals
Do corals eat plankton like phytoplankton? Not in large amounts directly, but it’s still very important. Phytoplankton is food for zooplankton, which corals do eat. Having plenty of phytoplankton in an aquarium helps grow a healthy population of zooplankton, providing a steady food source for corals. Since corals eat plankton, maintaining a stable ecosystem with phytoplankton is beneficial.
At Reefphyto, we have available Live Phytoplankton here. Adding phytoplankton to your aquarium supports a natural food chain that keeps corals healthy.
Phytoplankton also helps maintain water quality by balancing nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can prevent unwanted algae growth. Since corals eat plankton, ensuring a stable phytoplankton supply benefits their overall health.
Zooplankton: A Direct Food for Corals
Do corals eat plankton like live zooplankton? Absolutely! Corals actively eat live zooplankton like live copepods and live rotifers because they are full of important nutrients. These tiny creatures help corals grow, stay colorful, and extend their tentacles more. Since corals eat plankton, feeding them zooplankton regularly ensures they get the nutrition they need due the plankton in the gut.
At Reefphyto, we offer Live Copepods here and Live Rotifers here. These make great natural food for corals and other small marine animals in your tank. Since corals eat plankton, adding live zooplankton to your tank helps maintain a thriving coral population.
Other Natural Coral Foods
In addition to phytoplankton and zooplankton, corals in the wild also consume other organic matter such as detritus and bacteria. These microscopic food sources provide essential nutrients that contribute to coral growth. Some species of corals even trap small organic particles in their mucus layers, absorbing nutrients over time. For reef keepers, maintaining a well-balanced ecosystem with diverse food sources helps mimic the coral's natural feeding habits and ensures their longevity.
Zooplankton Multipack
£23.72
Zooplankton Multi Pack: A Complete Boost for Your Marine Aquarium Zooplankton Multi Pack, a nutrient-rich trio featuring 5 Species Phytoplankton, Enriched Live Rotifers, and 100ml Live Copepods. Available in various sizes, this pack delivers a balanced diet for fish, corals,… read more
Boosting Coral Nutrition with Oyster Relish
For extra nutrition, corals can also be fed Oyster Relish Concentrated Coral Feed available here. This special food provides corals with proteins and fatty acids that help them grow and stay strong. Since corals eat plankton, offering a combination of live and prepared foods helps them thrive.
Giving corals a variety of foods, including zooplankton and prepared coral feeds, ensures they get all the nutrients they need to grow and flourish in an aquarium environment.
Water Flow and Lighting for Coral Feeding
To help corals catch their food, it’s important to have the right water flow in your aquarium. Water movement helps plankton stay suspended so corals can grab it with their tentacles. Since corals eat plankton, good water flow improves their ability to capture food efficiently.
Light is also important because corals get energy from their symbiotic algae. Using the right type of light will help corals grow and stay healthy while still allowing them to capture food from the water.
How Often Should You Feed Corals?
Do corals eat plankton daily? Feeding frequency depends on the coral species and the overall balance of your tank. Soft corals and some large polyp stony (LPS) corals benefit from regular feeding, ideally two to three times per week. Small polyp stony (SPS) corals may require less direct feeding but still benefit from a nutrient-rich environment. Observing coral behavior and polyp extension can help determine when and how often to feed.
Signs of a Well-Fed Coral
Well-fed corals display vibrant colors, open polyps, and active growth. If corals appear dull, show poor extension, or exhibit tissue recession, it may be a sign of inadequate nutrition. Providing a well-balanced diet, ensuring proper water conditions, and supplementing with targeted coral foods can help improve their overall health.
Conclusion: Helping Corals Get the Best Nutrition
Even though corals don’t eat much phytoplankton directly, they still benefit from it because it supports the zooplankton they do eat. Since corals eat plankton, maintaining a steady supply of phytoplankton and zooplankton in your aquarium helps them stay strong and healthy.
Since corals eat plankton, supplementing their diet with Oyster Relish, ensuring diverse food sources, and making sure they have good water flow and lighting will help them grow, stay colorful, and live longer. A well-fed coral is a happy coral!
At Reefphyto, we offer a variety of live marine foods to help your reef aquarium thrive. Check out our full range of products here to give your corals the best care possible.
Happy Reefing!