{"title":"Reef Shots","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"zooplankton-live-food-mix","title":"Zooplankton Live Food Mix","description":"\u003ch1\u003eZooplankton Live Food Mix: Copepods, Rotifers \u0026amp; Phytoplankton\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour tank is maintained, not alive. The water is clean, the equipment is dialled in, but something fundamental is absent. Corals sit half-extended. Fish pick at food without enthusiasm. The microfauna that should be moving through every layer of the water column simply are not there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA reef is not fed from the top down. It is fed from the bottom up. Without phytoplankton feeding the base of the food chain, rotifers feeding filter feeders and larval fish, and copepods sustaining the hunters, the ecosystem stalls at every level. Feeding fish alone while the rest of the food web goes without is why so many carefully maintained tanks never fully come alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zooplankton Live Food Mix brings all three together in a single order: one Reef Shot pouch of live Tigriopus californicus copepods, one of live Brachionus plicatilis rotifers, and one of live Nannochloropsis phytoplankton. Particle sizes span 1 to 400 microns, covering every feeder in the tank from coral polyps and filter feeders up through microfauna and fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDose it once and you will see the tank respond. Corals extend. Filter feeders become visible and active. The water develops the kind of biological energy that cannot be replicated with dry or frozen food alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReefphyto has been culturing these three species from our specialist facility in Wales since 2008. Everything in this mix is produced fresh and dispatched live. Darren is available personally if you have questions about dosing or want to build this into a regular feeding routine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you want a single, broad-spectrum live food addition that covers both copepods and rotifers in one culture, the Zooplankton Live Food Mix is the right decision.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eZooplankton Live Food Mix UK: Feed Your Entire Reef Food Web in One Dose\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost reef keepers feed their fish. Far fewer feed their reef. The Reefphyto Zooplankton Live Food Mix is designed to close that gap in a single addition, delivering live Tigriopus californicus copepods, live Brachionus plicatilis rotifers, and live Nannochloropsis phytoplankton together in one order, covering particle sizes from 1 to 400 microns and feeding every level of your reef simultaneously. For keepers who want to understand what live food can do before committing to larger culture volumes, or who want a simple, regular whole-reef dose without managing multiple separate orders, this is where to start.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Whole Food Web Matters, Not Just the Fish\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe most common misconception in reef keeping is that feeding the fish is the same as feeding the reef. It is not. A functioning marine ecosystem depends on nutrition being present and moving through every trophic level, from the microscopic phytoplankton that forms the base of the food chain, through the rotifers and copepod nauplii that feed filter feeders and larval fish, up to the adult copepods that sustain hunters like mandarin dragonets, wrasses, and seahorses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen only the fish are fed, the lower levels of the food web are starved. Filter feeders struggle to capture enough nutrition. Coral polyps extend only partially, deprived of the planktonic particles they evolved to intercept. Microfauna communities remain sparse, and the biological depth that characterises a truly healthy reef never develops. The tank functions, but it does not thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeeding live phytoplankton, rotifers, and copepods together changes this. Each organism feeds a different set of animals and fills a different nutritional role. Together, they create the kind of planktonic richness that wild reefs maintain continuously and that captive systems are almost universally deficient in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is in the Zooplankton Live Food Mix\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLive Tigriopus californicus Copepods\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTigriopus californicus is a harpacticoid copepod measuring 1 to 3mm at adulthood, making it the largest organism in the mix and the most nutritionally dense. Rich in EPA and DHA essential fatty acids and the carotenoid astaxanthin, copepods are the prey that reef fish evolved to hunt. In the mix they serve as the top of the zooplankton range, feeding carnivorous fish, triggering natural hunting behaviour, and contributing the carotenoid pigmentation that brings out the full colour of reef fish over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLive Brachionus plicatilis Rotifers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBrachionus plicatilis L-strain rotifers measure 90 to 360 microns, sitting in the middle of the particle size range and bridging the gap between phytoplankton and copepods. They are consumed by filter-feeding invertebrates, tube worms, feather duster worms, and the smaller mouthed fish that cannot take full-sized copepods. In fish breeding programmes they are indispensable as a first-feed for larvae, but in a mixed reef they play a quieter and equally important role in sustaining the filter feeding community and contributing to microfauna diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLive Nannochloropsis Phytoplankton\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNannochloropsis is a single-celled microalgae measuring 2 to 10 microns, which makes it the smallest component in the mix and the most fundamental. It is the dietary base for rotifers, copepod nauplii, and the entire filter feeding and coral community. Corals, sponges, bivalves, and many invertebrates consume phytoplankton directly. Feeding live phytoplankton also sustains any copepod population present in your refugium, which in turn sustains the hunters that depend on them. Without phytoplankton, the base of the food chain in a captive system is permanently absent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho the Zooplankton Live Food Mix Is For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eReef keepers trying live food for the first time\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe mix is the lowest-commitment way to understand what live food does. Rather than committing to a full culture volume of a single product, the mix delivers a working dose of all three organisms in one order. The difference in coral extension, filter feeder activity, and general tank behaviour following a first live food dose is often visible within 24 to 48 hours. For keepers who have been sceptical about whether live food makes a measurable difference, this is the most straightforward way to find out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKeepers who want a simple, regular whole-reef feeding routine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNot every reef keeper wants to manage multiple separate culture bottles on a regular schedule. The Zooplankton Live Food Mix allows a single regular addition to cover the whole food web without tracking three separate products, three separate stock levels, and three separate order timings. Dosed once or twice a week alongside regular fish feeding, it provides a consistent planktonic input across all size ranges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMixed reef systems with diverse feeding requirements\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA mixed reef containing SPS and LPS corals, soft corals, filter feeders, and a variety of fish species has feeding requirements across a very wide particle size range. A single dose of the mix addresses that range in one addition rather than requiring separate products for each feeding niche. The 1 to 400 micron range covers virtually every organism in a diverse mixed system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSupplementing an existing live food routine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor keepers who already run live copepods regularly but want to add the phytoplankton and rotifer layers without committing to additional full culture volumes, the mix provides both in a convenient combined format. It works as a supplement to an established copepod programme or as a standalone feeding addition during periods when full culture reorders are not yet due.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Dose the Zooplankton Live Food Mix\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEach component of the mix is supplied as a Reef Shot pouch: ready to use, with no preparation required. Turn off your skimmer and powerheads before dosing to prevent the live organisms being immediately removed from the water column before they can be consumed. Dose the phytoplankton first, the rotifers second, and the copepods last, allowing a few minutes between each addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor best results, dose into an area of gentle flow rather than directly into a powerhead outlet. Corals and filter feeders will typically respond within minutes of phytoplankton and rotifers entering the water column. Copepods will distribute naturally through the tank and refugium over several hours, with any that reach the refugium potentially establishing and beginning to reproduce if conditions support it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor a mixed reef of 100 to 300 litres, weekly dosing of the full mix provides a meaningful planktonic input. Larger systems may benefit from more frequent additions or supplementing the mix with larger culture volume orders of individual products as required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow the Zooplankton Live Food Mix Compares to Other Reefphyto Products\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding where the mix sits in the Reefphyto range helps clarify which product is right for your specific situation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-zooplankton\" title=\"Live Zooplankton\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Zooplankton\u003c\/a\u003e full culture is a larger volume copepod and rotifer blend suited to regular feeding of well-established reef systems, refugium stocking, and keepers who dose live food frequently and need a larger volume per order. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zoo-shot-live-zooplankton\" title=\"Zoo-Shot\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZoo-Shot\u003c\/a\u003e is a single 50ml pouch of live copepods and rotifers designed specifically as a convenient coral-feeding addition with no phytoplankton component. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zooplankton-multipack\" title=\"Zooplankton Multipack\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZooplankton Multipack\u003c\/a\u003e is the full food web system: full culture volumes of copepods, rotifers, and phytoplankton together for keepers who want to feed at scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zooplankton Live Food Mix sits alongside Zoo-Shot in the Reef Shot range as a convenient, entry-level format but uniquely includes all three components, making it the only single product in the range that covers the entire food web from phytoplankton to copepod in one dose. It is the broadest possible live food addition in the smallest, simplest format.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About the Zooplankton Live Food Mix\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use the mix if I already dose live copepods separately?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The mix complements an existing copepod programme by adding phytoplankton and rotifers to the feeding routine without requiring additional full culture orders. The phytoplankton component will also benefit any copepod population already established in your refugium by sustaining their food source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow often should I dose the mix?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor most reef systems, weekly dosing provides a consistent and meaningful planktonic input. Heavily stocked tanks with high filter feeder density or a large coral population may benefit from twice-weekly dosing. Darren is happy to advise on dosing frequency for specific tank setups. Contact the team directly if you want a recommendation for your system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill the copepods in the mix establish in my refugium?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAny copepods that reach your refugium and survive are capable of establishing and reproducing if the refugium supports a suitable habitat with available food. A single Reef Shot dose is not designed as a refugium stocking product. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-copepods\" title=\"Live Copepods\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Copepods\u003c\/a\u003e full culture or the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/copepod-culture-pack\" title=\"Copepod Culture Kit\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCopepod Culture Kit\u003c\/a\u003e is a better choice for that purpose, but incidental establishment can occur and is a benefit of using live rather than frozen or dried zooplankton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this suitable for a new tank setup?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe mix is suitable for any established reef system. For a new tank in the early cycling stages, wait until the system has completed its cycle and parameters are stable before introducing live food. The live organisms in the mix are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, and will not survive in an uncycled system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow does this differ from the Zoo-Shot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zoo-Shot contains live copepods and rotifers only, in a 50ml pouch, with a focus on coral and filter feeder feeding. The Zooplankton Live Food Mix adds live phytoplankton as a third component, making it the more complete whole-reef feeding addition. It is the better choice when you want to feed across all trophic levels including the phytoplankton base, rather than targeting corals and filter feeders specifically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBuild Your Complete Live Food Routine\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zooplankton Live Food Mix works best as part of a consistent live food feeding routine. Keepers who want to scale up from Reef Shot portions to full culture volumes can explore the Live Copepods, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-rotifers\" title=\"Live Rotifers\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Rotifers\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/5-species-phytoplankton\" title=\"Live Phytoplankton\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Phytoplankton\u003c\/a\u003e pages for larger quantity options. For the full food web in a single multipack order, the Zooplankton Multipack provides all three at full culture volumes with a saving over buying separately. To establish a self-sustaining copepod population in your refugium, the Live Copepods full culture or the Copepod Culture Kit is the natural next step from the mix.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reefphyto","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":17948282631,"sku":"2328973212","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1202\/2604\/files\/ZooplanktonMix.jpg?v=1691573696"},{"product_id":"pod-shot-live-copepods","title":"Pod-Shot - Live Copepods","description":"\u003ch2\u003ePod-Shot: Live Copepods\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe moment you added a mandarin to your tank, the feeding pressure on your copepod population changed. What was a healthy refugium culture a month ago is now visibly thinner, and your mandarin is spending more time searching and less time finding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor reef keepers with active copepod hunters, the refugium can only do so much. Mandarins, scooter blennies, and seahorses consume live prey at a rate that most home refugiums struggle to keep pace with on their own. Without a reliable way to top up the population between culture orders, the gap between what your fish needs and what your tank provides quietly widens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pod-Shot is a concentrated pouch of live Tigriopus californicus copepods, freshly cultured at Reefphyto's specialist facility in Wales and ready to pour directly into your tank, sump, or refugium the moment it arrives. No mixing, no preparation, no equipment. Available in 50ml, 100ml, and 250ml sizes, each Pod-Shot delivers active, highly visible copepods packed with EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin directly into the water column where your fish are hunting right now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe response is immediate. A mandarin that has been restlessly searching locks onto the movement and begins hunting with focus. Seahorses fix and strike. The water column comes alive in a way that frozen food simply does not produce, because what triggers these fish is not nutrition on a label but prey that moves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReefphyto has been culturing live copepods from our specialist facility in Wales since 2008. Every Pod-Shot is produced fresh on the day of dispatch. Darren is available personally if you need advice on feeding frequency or which combination of products will work best for your specific fish and setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf your fish need live copepods today and you do not want to manage a culture, grabbing a Pod-Shot is the right decision.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePod-Shot Live Copepods UK: Ready-to-Use Live Copepods Delivered Fresh From Wales\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome reef keeping problems need a long-term solution. Others need something that works today. The Pod-Shot is built for the second kind. A concentrated, ready-to-use pouch of live Tigriopus californicus copepods, the Pod-Shot is designed for reef keepers who want live copepods in their tank right now without preparation, without equipment, and without committing to a full culture volume. Available in 50ml, 100ml, and 250ml sizes, it is the fastest and most convenient way to put live, active copepods into the water column.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Problem the Pod-Shot Solves\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaintaining a steady live copepod presence in a reef tank with active predators is one of the more quietly frustrating challenges in the hobby. A refugium copepod population helps, but it has limits. Mandarin dragonets, scooter blennies, seahorses, and active wrasses consume copepods at a rate that most refugiums, especially smaller or newer ones, cannot fully sustain. The population thins, the fish spend more time searching, and the keeper finds themselves needing to restock before the next full culture order is due.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pod-Shot exists specifically for this moment. It is not a refugium-stocking product. It is not a culture replacement. It is a fast, affordable, no-fuss live copepod top-up that keeps the water column populated with live prey between larger additions and gives specialist feeders what they need without the logistics of a full order every time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis distinction matters because the Pod-Shot and the full \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-copepods\" title=\"Live Copepods\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Copepod\u003c\/a\u003e culture are solving different problems. The full culture is about building a population. The Pod-Shot is about feeding fish today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Makes the Pod-Shot Different From a Full Culture Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFormat and Convenience\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA full Live Copepod culture is optimised for volume and refugium stocking. The Pod-Shot is optimised for immediacy and simplicity. The sealed pouch format means no decanting, no measuring, and no risk of spillage. Shake gently, open, pour. The entire process takes thirty seconds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor reef keepers who want to feed live copepods daily or several times a week, the Pod-Shot format makes this practical in a way that repeatedly opening and pouring from a larger bottle is not. It is also easier to store multiple pouches in a refrigerator than multiple open culture bottles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSize Options for Every Tank and Feeding Frequency\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 50ml Regular Pod-Shot suits nano and smaller reef tanks, or any system where a single specialist feeder needs a daily live food top-up. The 100ml Large is well suited to medium systems or keepers who prefer less frequent but slightly larger additions. The 250ml Extra Large provides a more substantial volume for larger tanks, multi-fish setups, or keepers who want to combine a meaningful refugium top-up with direct water column feeding in a single addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSubscription for Consistent Live Nutrition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor keepers who feed live copepods regularly, the Pod-Shot is available on subscription, ensuring a fresh pouch arrives on schedule without the need to remember to reorder. Consistent live copepod availability is one of the most important factors in keeping demanding fish like \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/keeping-mandarins-alive\" title=\"Keeping Mandarins Alive\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003emandarin dragonets\u003c\/a\u003e in long-term good health, and a subscription removes the single most common cause of gaps in that supply.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhich Reef Animals Respond to Pod-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMandarin Dragonets\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mandarin dragonet is the most common reason reef keepers search for live copepods in the UK. Mandarins are obligate live feeders that hunt continuously throughout the day and will not accept frozen or dried food under normal circumstances. A Pod-Shot released near the substrate or rockwork where a mandarin is actively patrolling produces an immediate and visible hunting response. For tanks where the refugium population is established but not yet dense enough to fully sustain daily predation, regular Pod-Shot additions bridge the gap and keep the mandarin in condition while the refugium population continues to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSeahorses and Pipefish\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeahorses are ambush predators that depend on prey moving within striking range. A Pod-Shot released near where seahorses are hitched gives them a concentrated supply of live targets without requiring them to hunt across the tank. For juvenile seahorses or newly introduced animals that are still settling in, the Pod-Shot provides reliable live prey at a scale and frequency that supports their condition through the most vulnerable period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eScooter Blennies and Dragonets\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScooter blennies and other dragonet species patrol substrate and rock surfaces in search of live benthic prey. A Pod-Shot directed toward the substrate in areas where these fish are actively searching delivers copepods exactly where they are hunting. For keepers of multiple dragonets, the Pod-Shot makes daily live feeding genuinely practical rather than logistically demanding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAnthias\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnthias feed constantly on zooplankton in the wild and are among the most visibly responsive fish to a Pod-Shot addition. The copepods moving through the water column trigger immediate and energetic feeding behaviour in anthias schools, and regular live food additions help maintain the condition and coloration that makes these fish so striking in a well-managed reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCorals and Filter Feeders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven in tanks without specialist live feeders, the Pod-Shot delivers value. The active swimming behaviour of Tigriopus californicus copepods triggers polyp extension and feeding responses in LPS and NPS corals that prepared foods do not produce. Feather duster worms, fan corals, and other filter feeders respond to the live particle movement in the water column, and the copepods contribute to the tank's microfauna community as they graze on microalgae and detritus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Get the Most From Your Pod-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShake the pouch gently before opening to distribute copepods evenly. Turn off the protein skimmer and reduce mechanical filtration for 30 to 60 minutes before adding to give the copepods time to disperse and be consumed rather than being removed from the water column immediately. Add in the evening when fish are less actively hunting and copepods have more opportunity to find substrate and spread naturally through the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor target feeding a mandarin or seahorse, use a pipette or small syringe to direct a concentrated stream of copepods close to the animal. This is particularly effective for newly introduced fish that have not yet established their territory and may not be encountering copepods released into the general water column.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor refugium top-ups, pour directly into the refugium after lights out. The copepods will begin grazing on microalgae and substrate material and integrate into the existing population. Adding phytoplankton to the refugium at the same time provides immediate food for the incoming copepods and supports faster population integration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About Pod-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow is Pod-Shot different from the full Live Copepod culture?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe full Live Copepod culture is designed for refugium stocking and population establishment. It provides a larger volume suited to seeding a refugium and building a self-sustaining colony from the ground up. The Pod-Shot is designed for convenience, regular top-ups, and immediate water column feeding. Most keepers use both: the full culture for initial refugium stocking and periodic large additions, and the Pod-Shot for daily or weekly feeding between those additions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow often should I use Pod-Shot for a mandarin dragonet?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a mandarin in a tank without a well-established refugium population, daily additions provide the most reliable coverage. Once a refugium is established and producing consistently, two to three Pod-Shot additions per week typically maintain good copepod density in the display tank alongside natural refugium output. Darren is happy to advise on frequency for your specific setup, contact us directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use Pod-Shot in a nano reef tank?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The 50ml Regular Pod-Shot is well suited to nano tanks. The volume is appropriate for smaller water bodies and the concentrated format means a meaningful number of live copepods are introduced with each pouch. The Pod-Shot is one of the most practical live food options available for nano reef keepers who want to feed live copepods regularly without the space commitment of a larger culture volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow does Pod-Shot compare to Roti-Shot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePod-Shot contains Tigriopus californicus copepods at 1 to 3mm, larger, faster prey suited to fish that actively hunt zooplankton in the water column and on substrate. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/roti-shot-live-concentrated-rotifers\" title=\"Roti-Shot Live Rotifers\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRoti-Shot\u003c\/a\u003e contains Brachionus plicatilis rotifers at 90 to 360 microns, smaller, slower prey suited to coral feeding, filter feeders, and marine fish larvae. Both are in the same ready-to-use pouch format and can be used together to cover a wider range of tank inhabitants and particle sizes in a single feeding session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill the copepods in a Pod-Shot survive in my tank long term?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTigriopus californicus is a robust species that will establish in a refugium given the opportunity. However, the Pod-Shot is primarily a feeding product rather than a population-establishment product. Copepods added to a display tank with active predators will be consumed relatively quickly. For long-term population establishment, pair Pod-Shot use with a full culture addition to the refugium and supplement with our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/5-species-phytoplankton\" title=\"5 Species Phytoplankton\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5 Species Live Phytoplankton Blend\u003c\/a\u003e to sustain the population between additions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBuild Your Complete Live Food System Around the Pod-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pod-Shot works best as the regular feeding layer of a complete live food approach. Pair it with our full Live Copepods for refugium stocking and population establishment, our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/reefphyto-live-copepods-podhide-combo\" title=\"PodHide \u0026amp; Copepod Bundle\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePodHide\u003c\/a\u003e copepod breeding shelter to give your refugium population a protected structure to reproduce in, and our 5 Species Live Phytoplankton Blend to sustain the copepod population between additions. For broader reef nutrition that adds rotifers alongside copepods, our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-zooplankton\" title=\"Live Zooplankton\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Zooplankton\u003c\/a\u003e blend covers the full particle size range in a single addition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reefphyto","offers":[{"title":"Regular 50ml","offer_id":18040516039,"sku":"2328973234","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large 100ml","offer_id":18040526919,"sku":"2328973235","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Xtra Large 250ml","offer_id":44827102609705,"sku":"2328973236","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1202\/2604\/files\/Pod-Shot.jpg?v=1691572483"},{"product_id":"phyto-shot-nannochloropsis-phytoplankton","title":"Phyto Shot - Nannochloropsis Phytoplankton","description":"\u003ch1\u003ePhyto Shot: Live Nannochloropsis Phytoplankton Pouch\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou know phytoplankton matters. You have a bottle in the fridge, or you had one, and somewhere between meaning to dose it daily and actually doing it, the routine never quite stuck. The bottle is nearly empty, or it ran out a week ago, or you are going away and there is no one to measure and dose while you are gone. The intention is there. The consistency is the part that keeps slipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe problem with bottled phytoplankton for many keepers is not the product. It is the friction. Finding the bottle, measuring the dose, remembering to turn the skimmer off, remembering to turn it back on. For a busy keeper or a smaller system that does not need large daily volumes, that routine is easy to deprioritise. And once the habit breaks, the copepod population quietly declines, the filter feeders pull back, and the tank settles into a nutritionally poorer state that is hard to attribute to any single missed dose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhyto Shot is live Nannochloropsis phytoplankton in a single-use ready-to-dose pouch, available in 50ml and 100ml, cultured fresh at the Reefphyto facility in Wales as a high-density live culture. Snip the corner, add it to a high-flow area of your tank or sump with the skimmer off for 30 to 60 minutes, and the dose is done. No measuring, no bottle to manage, no routine to maintain. It fits through a standard letterbox, which means it arrives whether you are home or not, and it is ready to use the moment it does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tank gets what it needs. Copepods in the refugium have their food source maintained. Filter feeders stay active. The biological input that so often gets skipped is delivered without the friction that causes it to be skipped. For keepers who travel, for nano systems that need small precise doses, or simply for anyone who wants live phytoplankton available on demand without committing to a bottle and a routine, Phyto Shot removes every barrier that stands between the intention and the action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReefphyto has been culturing Nannochloropsis in Wales for 18+ years. Every Phyto Shot pouch is produced fresh and dispatched at peak cell density. If you want guidance on how Phyto Shot fits alongside a regular phytoplankton programme or a live culture setup, contact us directly. Darren responds personally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the pouch runs out or the routine breaks, Phyto Shot is there. If you are not sure which phytoplankton product suits your system, our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/phytoplankton-finder\" title=\"Phytoplankton Finder\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePhytoplankton Finder\u003c\/a\u003e will point you to the right one in under a minute, and the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/phytoplankton-dosing-calculator\" title=\"Live Food Dosing Calculator\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Food Dosing Calculator\u003c\/a\u003e will work out the exact dose for your tank volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you want a single-dose phytoplankton top-up without committing to a full pouch, a Phyto Shot is the right decision.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Phyto Shot Contains and How It Works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach Phyto Shot pouch contains live Nannochloropsis phytoplankton cultured fresh at the Reefphyto facility in Wales as a high-density live culture. Nannochloropsis cells measure 1 to 5 microns, placing them within the feeding range of fine filter feeders, sponges, tunicates, clams, and the smallest coral polyps. Their high EPA content makes them one of the most nutritionally significant phytoplankton inputs available at this cell size, and their ability to absorb dissolved nitrate and phosphate from the water column provides a measurable water quality benefit alongside their direct feeding role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pouch format is not a compromise on quality. The cell density is the same as the larger bottled \u003ca href=\"\/products\/nannochloropsis-phytoplankton\" title=\"Nannochloropsis Phytoplankton Mix\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNannochloropsis Phytoplankton Mix\u003c\/a\u003e. The culture stock is the same. The dispatch standard is the same. The difference is purely in the delivery format, which is optimised for convenience, immediate use, and letterbox compatibility rather than for large-volume or ongoing programme dosing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho Phyto Shot Is For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhyto Shot suits several distinct keeper situations, each of which involves the same underlying need: live phytoplankton available on demand without the commitment of managing a regular dosing routine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeepers who travel regularly or have unpredictable schedules find Phyto Shot particularly useful because it can be ordered for delivery on a specific date, arrives through the letterbox without requiring someone to be home, and is ready to dose immediately without any preparation. A pouch ordered to arrive on the day you return from a trip means the tank gets a live phytoplankton addition the moment you are back, regardless of whether the bottle in the fridge has run out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNano reef keepers whose small tank volume means they only need 50 to 100ml of phytoplankton per dose find the pouch format more practical than managing a large bottle with daily small draws. A single 50ml pouch doses a 50-litre tank with enough phytoplankton for a meaningful biological input without the waste or storage management of a larger product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeepers who are new to phytoplankton and want to try a single dose before committing to a full bottle find Phyto Shot a low-commitment entry point. One pouch, one dose, immediate observation of how the tank's filter feeders and copepod population respond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeepers who run a regular bottled phytoplankton programme and want a convenient top-up option for when the bottle runs out between orders use Phyto Shot to bridge the gap without interrupting their dosing consistency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePhyto Shot Versus Bottled Nannochloropsis: Choosing the Right Format\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhyto Shot and the Nannochloropsis Phytoplankton Mix contain the same live culture at the same cell density. The choice between them is purely about how you want to dose and how much you need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhyto Shot is the right format when convenience and immediacy are the priority. Single doses, on-demand use, travel-friendly delivery, no routine required. It is not designed for large daily volumes or for keepers whose system requires more than 100ml per dose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Nannochloropsis Phytoplankton Mix in 250ml, 500ml, or 1000ml is the right format when you are dosing daily at volume, running a copepod or rotifer culture that requires regular phytoplankton input, or managing a larger system where the cost per millilitre of a larger bottle is more economical over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany keepers use both. The bottle for the daily programme, Phyto Shot for the days when the routine slips, the bottle is empty, or a quick supplemental dose is needed without opening and measuring from the main stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Use Phyto Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemove the pouch from the fridge. Turn off your protein skimmer, UV steriliser, and any ozone equipment. Snip the corner of the pouch. Add the contents directly to a high-flow area of your sump or display tank. Replace the skimmer and UV after 30 to 60 minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is the entire process. The pouch is single-use and does not require rinsing, measuring, or any additional preparation. Store refrigerated until use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does a Phyto Shot pouch stay fresh?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStore refrigerated from delivery and use within the freshness period indicated on the pouch. As with all live phytoplankton products, cell viability is highest at dispatch and declines gradually over time. Using the pouch promptly after delivery gives the best results.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use half a pouch and save the rest?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pouch is designed as a single-use format. If you want to use it in two doses, reseal the opened pouch tightly and refrigerate immediately, using the second half within 24 hours. For ongoing partial-dose applications a small bottled product is a more practical format.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this the same quality as the bottled phytoplankton products?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The cell density, culture stock, and freshness standards are identical to the Nannochloropsis Phytoplankton Mix. The pouch format is a delivery and convenience choice, not a quality compromise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill this fit through my letterbox?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The pouch format is designed to be letterbox-compatible, meaning it can be delivered without requiring a signature or someone to be home. This is particularly useful for keepers who want to schedule delivery for a specific date or who are away when the order arrives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use this to feed a copepod or rotifer culture?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Nannochloropsis is the primary food source for rotifers and a key feed for copepod cultures. A Phyto Shot pouch added to a culture vessel provides an immediate phytoplankton input to sustain the culture between regular bottled product deliveries or when the main culture feed has run low.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReefphyto: Live Phytoplankton Cultured in Wales for 18+ Years\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReefphyto has been producing and supplying live Nannochloropsis to reef keepers, marine fish breeders, and public aquariums across the UK for 18+ years. Every Phyto Shot pouch is cultured fresh at our Wales facility and dispatched at peak cell density. If you have questions about how Phyto Shot fits into your existing phytoplankton programme or want advice on the right format for your system, contact us directly. Darren responds personally to every enquiry.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reefphyto","offers":[{"title":"50ml","offer_id":18039656903,"sku":"2328973313","price":3.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"100ml","offer_id":18039900999,"sku":"2328973314","price":5.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1202\/2604\/files\/Phyto-Shot_cf381cc9-acf7-41b0-92af-582b069f7f8b.jpg?v=1691573518"},{"product_id":"roti-shot-live-concentrated-rotifers","title":"Roti-Shot - Live Rotifers","description":"\u003ch1\u003eRoti-Shot Live Rotifers UK: Brachionus plicatilis, Concentrated and Ready to Use\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou have a spawn happening and you need live rotifers today, not after you have set up a culture vessel, sourced a starter culture and waited for it to establish. Or you keep seahorses and want to add live prey a few times a week without the commitment of running a full culture. The moment is now, not after the setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLive rotifer cultures take time, space and regular attention to maintain. For keepers who want the benefit of live rotifers without the infrastructure of a home culture, or who need a reliable on-demand addition to complement an existing system, there was no practical solution until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot is a concentrated ready-to-use live rotifer pouch in 50ml and 100ml formats, containing Brachionus plicatilis L-strain at 90 to 360 microns and 200 to 300 rotifers per millilitre. Protein content of 50 to 65%. Cultured at 1.019 specific gravity and enriched with phospholipids before dispatch to maximise nutritional density on arrival. Snip the pouch and add directly to your breeding vessel, seahorse tank, coral feeding chamber or reef display. No equipment, no preparation, no setup time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour larvae begin feeding within minutes. Your seahorses have live moving prey on demand. Your corals and filter feeders receive a concentrated pulse of exactly the small-particle live nutrition they evolved to intercept.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReefphyto has been culturing live marine foods from our specialist facility in Wales since 2008. Roti-Shot is prepared fresh to the same standard as every culture we dispatch, 18+ years of live food production in every pouch. Darren is available personally if you have questions about dosing for your specific species or setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you need a quick rotifer top-up for breeding or small filter feeders without committing to a full culture, a Roti-Shot is the right decision.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is Roti-Shot and How Is It Different from Live Rotifers?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot is Reefphyto's concentrated ready-to-use live rotifer format. It contains the same species, Brachionus plicatilis L-strain, cultured under the same aquaculture conditions at our Welsh facility and enriched to the same nutritional standard as our full-volume \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-rotifers\" title=\"Live Rotifers\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Rotifers\u003c\/a\u003e range. The difference is entirely in format and purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLive Rotifers in 100ml to 2500ml volumes are designed for breeders establishing larval rearing systems, keepers running home rotifer cultures, and those who need volume. Roti-Shot in 50ml and 100ml is designed for keepers who need live rotifers now, in a small and ready-to-use format, without any preparation, equipment or commitment to ongoing culture management.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe two products serve different customer moments. Roti-Shot is the on-demand addition, for the spawn that was not planned for, the seahorse tank that needs feeding today, the coral feeding session where live prey makes the difference, the breeder who wants to supplement an established culture with a fresh concentrated addition. If you need live rotifers regularly at volume, Live Rotifers is the right product. If you need them now, conveniently and reliably, Roti-Shot is the answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Nutritional Profile of Roti-Shot Live Rotifers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecies and Size\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot contains Brachionus plicatilis, L-strain. The L-strain designation refers to the larger of the two commonly cultured rotifer strains, with individual rotifers measuring 90 to 360 microns across the full size distribution of a healthy culture, from freshly hatched juveniles up to gravid adults carrying eggs. This size range makes them suitable for a broad range of applications, large enough to carry meaningful nutritional content, small enough to be captured by newly hatched marine fish larvae, juvenile seahorses, coral polyps and a wide range of filter-feeding invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eProtein and Enrichment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eProtein content is 50 to 65%, reflecting the high nutritional density of a phytoplankton-fed, enriched rotifer culture. Every batch of Roti-Shot is enriched with phospholipids before dispatch, a step that significantly increases the fatty acid content of the rotifers and ensures the nutritional value at point of use reflects a genuinely prepared live food rather than a basic culture addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSalinity\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot is cultured at 1.019 specific gravity, within the standard range for marine aquarium use and compatible with reef tanks, marine breeding setups, and seahorse systems maintained at normal marine salinity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Can You Use Roti-Shot For?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMarine Fish Larvae and Breeding\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe most critical use case for Roti-Shot is larval feeding in marine fish breeding. Newly hatched clownfish fry, dottyback larvae, goby fry and the larvae of most reef fish species require live moving prey within the first 24 to 48 hours after hatching. The window is short and unforgiving. Without adequate live food at the right particle size from the earliest days, starvation sets in silently and losses mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot delivers 10,000 to 30,000 live, enriched Brachionus plicatilis directly into the rearing vessel within seconds of receiving your order. For breeders who do not run permanent rotifer cultures, or whose culture has crashed at the wrong moment, Roti-Shot provides a reliable emergency supply. For breeders who do maintain cultures, a Roti-Shot addition provides a fresh population boost and introduces enriched rotifers at peak nutritional density precisely when larvae need them most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSeahorses and Pipefish\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJuvenile seahorses and pipefish present one of the most demanding feeding challenges in the reef hobby. Their small size, high metabolism and instinct to pursue live moving prey make the early weeks of their lives precarious without a reliable live food source. Roti-Shot provides an immediate, on-demand supply of live rotifers sized appropriately for juveniles, without the need to maintain a permanent culture between feeding sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor adult seahorses and pipefish, Roti-Shot complements a copepod-based diet by providing additional live prey at a smaller particle size, contributing to feeding variety and ensuring animals that have not yet established feeding on larger prey have something they can actively pursue and consume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCoral Feeding and Filter Feeders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLive rotifers in the water column trigger a feeding response in corals, feather duster worms, tube worms, bivalves and a wide range of filter-feeding invertebrates that frozen or dried alternatives do not reliably produce. Their slow, rotating swimming motion and small particle size make them accessible to coral polyps across a broad range of species, including delicate SPS corals that benefit from regular small-particle planktonic feeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdding a Roti-Shot pouch to a reef tank or coral feeding chamber after lights-out, with flow reduced and skimmer off for 30 to 60 minutes, provides a concentrated planktonic pulse that mimics the natural evening bloom of zooplankton on a wild reef. The improvement in polyp extension and feeding response is often visible within minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSupplementing a Home Rotifer Culture\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKeepers who run their own Brachionus plicatilis cultures will recognise the situations where a culture crashes, density drops unexpectedly, or a large demand arises before the culture has recovered. Roti-Shot provides a fresh, dense, enriched addition that can restart a depleted culture or supplement it during a high-demand period, particularly useful during an active breeding project where culture volume and quality matter simultaneously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Use Roti-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTurn off mechanical filtration, protein skimmer and powerheads for 30 minutes before adding Roti-Shot to give the rotifers time to distribute and be encountered by target animals before being removed by filtration. For larval rearing, add the pouch contents directly to the rearing vessel with gentle aeration running to maintain oxygen and distribute food evenly. For reef tanks and coral feeding, add to the display tank or sump after lights out in a low-flow area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 50ml pouch is designed for single-use addition to a rearing vessel of up to 30 litres, or as a supplementary dose to a larger reef system. The 100ml pouch suits larger rearing vessels, higher-demand breeding setups, or keepers who want to dose a full reef display and sump simultaneously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have any rotifers remaining after use, they can be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours with the lid slightly open for gas exchange. For best results, use within 24 hours of delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRoti-Shot vs Live Rotifers: Which Do You Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot is the right choice if you need live rotifers on demand without managing a culture, if you have an occasional breeding project rather than a continuous one, if you want a reliable emergency supply for when a culture fails, or if you want to supplement an existing culture with enriched rotifers at peak density.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLive Rotifers in larger volumes are the right choice if you breed marine fish regularly and need volume, if you are establishing or maintaining a home rotifer culture and need a starter or top-up culture, or if your system has a high continuous demand for live rotifers from seahorses or filter feeders that a small pouch cannot adequately supply.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMany serious breeders use both. Roti-Shot for the first critical days of a new spawn when fresh enriched rotifers are most important, and Live Rotifers in larger volumes to maintain culture volume through the rearing period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About Roti-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many rotifers are in a Roti-Shot pouch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt a density of 200 to 300 rotifers per millilitre, a 50ml pouch contains approximately 10,000 to 15,000 live rotifers and a 100ml pouch contains approximately 20,000 to 30,000. This is sufficient to raise the rotifer density in a 20 to 30 litre rearing vessel to a useful first-feed level for marine fish larvae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAre the rotifers enriched?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Every batch of Roti-Shot is enriched with phospholipids before dispatch. This increases the fatty acid content of the rotifers and ensures they carry meaningful nutritional value at the point your larvae or corals consume them, rather than being nutritionally depleted basic culture animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use Roti-Shot directly in a reef tank with fish?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Rotifers are a natural component of the marine food web and are entirely safe to add to a healthy reef system. Turn off the skimmer and reduce flow for 30 to 60 minutes after adding to allow corals and filter feeders time to feed before the rotifers are exported. Fish will also consume rotifers, which is not harmful and provides additional nutritional diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Roti-Shot suitable for clownfish breeding?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Brachionus plicatilis L-strain at 90 to 360 microns is the standard first-feed rotifer used in clownfish larval rearing worldwide. Roti-Shot provides a fresh, enriched supply suitable for the first 10 to 14 days of larval development before the transition to Artemia nauplii. Darren is happy to advise on rotifer densities and feeding schedules for clownfish larvae specifically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between Roti-Shot and the rotifer culture kit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot is a ready-to-use live rotifer addition requiring no equipment or preparation. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rotifer-culture-kit\" title=\"Rotifer Culture Kit\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRotifer Culture Kit\u003c\/a\u003e provides everything needed to establish and maintain a permanent home rotifer culture, including a starter culture, culture vessel, feed and instructions. If you breed fish regularly and need a continuous rotifer supply, the culture kit is the more economical long-term solution. If you need live rotifers occasionally or as a supplement, Roti-Shot is the more practical choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eComplete Your Live Food System\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRoti-Shot pairs naturally with other Reefphyto live food products. For breeders, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brine-shrimp-eggs-90-hatch-rate\" title=\"Brine Shrimp Eggs\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eArtemia hatching eggs\u003c\/a\u003e and the rotifer enrichment provide the next stages of a complete larval feeding programme beyond the first rotifer phase. For reef keepers, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/reef-flourish-super-concentrated-phytoplankton\" title=\"Reef Flourish Super Concentrate\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eReef Flourish Super Concentrate\u003c\/a\u003e phytoplankton and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zoo-shot-live-zooplankton\" title=\"Zoo-Shot Live Zooplankton\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZoo-Shot\u003c\/a\u003e live zooplankton complement the small-particle rotifer addition with phytoplankton and larger zooplankton to complete the food web. For seahorse keepers, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-copepods\" title=\"Live Copepods\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Copepods\u003c\/a\u003e provide the larger live prey that adult syngnathids require alongside the smaller rotifers that Roti-Shot delivers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reefphyto","offers":[{"title":"50ml","offer_id":56554211967360,"sku":"3434822341","price":3.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"100ml","offer_id":56554212000128,"sku":"3434822342","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1202\/2604\/files\/Roti-Shot.jpg?v=1691572936"},{"product_id":"zoo-shot-live-zooplankton","title":"Zoo-Shot - Live Zooplankton","description":"\u003ch1\u003eZoo-Shot Live Zooplankton\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour corals are open but not thriving. Your SPS aren't extending the way they should. The tank looks maintained but it doesn't look alive. You're feeding regularly but something in the water column is still missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe problem is that most reef feeding routines focus on what you can see. What drives a truly healthy reef is what you can't see: the constant movement of live zooplankton through the water column, triggering feeding responses in corals, nourishing filter feeders, and sustaining the microfauna community that underpins everything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eZoo-Shot delivers a concentrated 50ml pouch of live Tigriopus californicus copepods and Brachionus plicatilis rotifers, covering a particle size range of 90 to 400 microns. It's the same zooplankton blend as our full-size bottles, in a single ready-to-use pouch. Shake, open, pour directly into your tank or refugium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe moment Zoo-Shot hits the water, your corals respond. Polyps extend toward moving prey. Filter feeders become visibly more active. The tank shifts from static to alive in a way that no frozen or prepared food can replicate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReefphyto has been culturing live marine foods from our specialist facility in Wales since 2008. Every Zoo-Shot is produced fresh and dispatched on the day it's prepared. Darren is available personally if you need advice on dosing frequency or how Zoo-Shot fits alongside your existing feeding routine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you want to target-feed your corals with live zooplankton without any preparation or equipment, a Zoo-Shot is the right decision.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eZoo-Shot Live Zooplankton UK: Ready-to-Use Copepods and Rotifers for Reef Tanks\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zoo-Shot is Reefphyto's compact, ready-to-use live zooplankton pouch, a simple no-preparation format for reef keepers who want to add live copepods and rotifers to their tank regularly without the commitment of managing a full culture volume. Each 50ml pouch contains a concentrated blend of live Tigriopus californicus copepods and Brachionus plicatilis rotifers, freshly cultured at our specialist facility in Wales, covering the complete particle size range that reef corals, filter feeders, and the wider microfauna community depend on. Shake, open, pour. That is the entire process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Problem the Zoo-Shot Solves\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost reef keepers understand that their corals need feeding. What is less well understood is that the type of food and the movement of prey in the water column matters as much as the nutritional content. Corals are not passive filter feeders absorbing dissolved nutrients. They are active predators with feeding polyps adapted to detect, capture, and consume small, moving prey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the water column contains only frozen, dried, or prepared foods, corals may absorb some nutritional value from particles that drift past their polyps. But the active feeding response, polyps extending fully, sweeping tentacles deploying, the coral visibly engaging with its environment, is triggered by the movement of live prey. Without that movement stimulus, a coral fed exclusively on prepared foods is being partially fed at best, and the difference shows in polyp extension, growth rate, and colour intensity over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zoo-Shot is designed to put live zooplankton into the water column quickly, conveniently, and regularly. It is not a refugium-stocking product. It is a weekly or twice-weekly live feeding tool for the reef keeper who wants to see their corals actually hunting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is in a Zoo-Shot Pouch\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTigriopus californicus: Live Copepods\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTigriopus californicus is a harpacticoid copepod naturally found in supralittoral tide pools and one of the most robust and nutritionally complete copepod species available for reef aquarium use. At 1 to 3mm, they are highly visible and active in the water column, triggering feeding responses in LPS corals, NPS corals, and planktivorous fish that smaller particles do not produce at the same intensity. Rich in EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin, they carry the fatty acid and pigment profile that contributes directly to coral coloration and fish health.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBrachionus plicatilis: Live Rotifers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBrachionus plicatilis rotifers at 90 to 200 microns provide the smaller end of the particle size range in the Zoo-Shot blend, making live prey accessible to SPS coral polyps, soft corals, fan corals, feather duster worms, bivalves, and the full range of filter feeders that cannot capture larger copepods. Their slow, rotating swimming motion is produced by a corona of cilia that creates exactly the prey movement that small coral polyps detect and respond to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTogether the two species cover a particle size range of 90 to 400 microns, ensuring that every feeding-capable animal in your reef has access to appropriately sized live prey from a single addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhich Reef Animals Respond to Zoo-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSPS Corals\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSmall polyp stony corals including Acropora, Montipora, Pocillopora, and Stylophora all respond to live zooplankton in the water column. Their polyps are small and adapted to capture prey at the rotifer and small copepod size range. Regular Zoo-Shot additions provide the live particle movement that triggers active feeding behaviour, contributing to the improved calcification rate, polyp extension, and colour intensity that serious SPS keepers associate with a strong live food programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLPS Corals\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLarge polyp stony corals including Euphyllia, Acanthophyllia, Lobophyllia, and Cynarina are visibly responsive to live prey in the water column. Their larger, more muscular feeding tentacles are designed to capture prey at the copepod size range, and the active swimming of Tigriopus californicus copepods triggers a sweeping feeding response that prepared foods rarely produce. Regular Zoo-Shot additions to an LPS-dominant tank produce visible differences in feeding engagement and tissue condition over weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eNPS and Soft Corals\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNon-photosynthetic corals including Dendrophyllia, Tubastrea, and Carnation corals are entirely dependent on live zooplankton for nutrition. For keepers of NPS corals, live zooplankton is not supplementary, it is the primary food source. The Zoo-Shot provides a practical, affordable way to add live prey to the water column regularly without the volume commitment of a full culture order on every feeding occasion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSoft corals including Sinularia, Sarcophyton, and Colt corals also benefit from regular live zooplankton additions, with improved polyp extension and more active feeding behaviour visible within weeks of establishing a consistent Zoo-Shot routine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFilter Feeders and Invertebrates\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeather duster worms, Christmas tree worms, fan corals, bivalves, tunicates, sponges, and a wide range of other filter-feeding invertebrates all rely on small live particles moving through the water column for nutrition. The combined copepod and rotifer particle range in the Zoo-Shot covers the size spectrum that these animals feed most effectively on, and the live movement of the prey triggers active filtration behaviour that dead or frozen particles do not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMicrofauna and Reef Biodiversity\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond direct feeding, regular Zoo-Shot additions contribute to the living microfauna community of the tank. Copepods that are not immediately consumed begin grazing on microalgae and detritus, contributing to the ecological balance of the system. Over time, regular live zooplankton additions help build the kind of biological depth in a tank that distinguishes a truly thriving reef from one that is merely well-maintained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Use Zoo-Shot in Your Reef Tank\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShake the pouch gently before opening to distribute the copepods and rotifers evenly. Turn off the protein skimmer and reduce mechanical filtration for 30 to 60 minutes before adding to allow the live organisms to disperse through the water column and reach corals and filter feeders before being removed. Add in the evening when coral polyp extension and feeding activity is naturally higher and fish are less actively hunting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePour directly into the display tank, ideally in an area with gentle flow that will carry the zooplankton across your coral colonies rather than concentrating it in one area. For tanks with a refugium, a small portion can be directed to the refugium to supplement the copepod population there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eZoo-Shot is designed for use on the day of delivery. The live organisms are at peak activity and nutritional density on arrival, and this is when the feeding response from your corals will be most pronounced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Often Should You Use Zoo-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor reef tanks where coral feeding and live zooplankton response is the primary goal, two to three Zoo-Shot additions per week produce the most consistent visible results. Once per week maintains a meaningful live food presence in the water column between larger \u003ca href=\"\/products\/live-zooplankton\" title=\"Live Zooplankton\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLive Zooplankton\u003c\/a\u003e additions. For tanks where the Zoo-Shot is the primary live food source rather than a supplement to larger culture volumes, three times per week provides reliable nutritional coverage across the coral and filter feeder community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zoo-Shot is available on subscription, making a consistent weekly or twice-weekly live feeding routine straightforward to maintain without manual reordering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eZoo-Shot vs Pod-Shot vs Roti-Shot: Which Is Right for You\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe three Reef Shot products in the Reefphyto range serve different primary purposes and different tank inhabitants, though they can all be used together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zoo-Shot contains both copepods and rotifers and is the broadest-spectrum option, best suited to reef tanks where coral feeding, filter feeder nutrition, and general live zooplankton presence across the full particle size range is the goal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pod-shot-live-copepods\" title=\"Pod-Shot Live Copepods\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePod-Shot\u003c\/a\u003e contains only Tigriopus californicus copepods and is the right choice when the primary goal is feeding specialist fish, mandarin dragonets, scooter blennies, seahorses, and wrasses, or when topping up a refugium copepod population between larger culture additions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/roti-shot-live-concentrated-rotifers\" title=\"Roti-Shot Live Rotifers\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRoti-Shot\u003c\/a\u003e contains only Brachionus plicatilis rotifers and is the right choice for marine fish breeders who need a concentrated first-feed for larvae, or for reef keepers whose primary focus is feeding smaller corals and filter feeders at the rotifer particle size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor many reef keepers, a combination of all three across the week provides the most complete live food coverage for every inhabitant in the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About Zoo-Shot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Zoo-Shot the same as the full Live Zooplankton product?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes, the same species and blend. The Zoo-Shot is the full Live Zooplankton in a smaller, single-use pouch format optimised for convenience and regular use. The full Live Zooplankton bottles are better suited for refugium stocking and larger volume additions. The Zoo-Shot is better suited for consistent weekly or twice-weekly coral feeding without the logistics of managing a larger open bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use Zoo-Shot if I have fish as well as corals?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The copepod component of the Zoo-Shot will be consumed by planktivorous fish as well as corals, and this is entirely beneficial. In a mixed reef tank, the Zoo-Shot provides live nutrition across both the fish and coral communities simultaneously. For tanks with heavy copepod predation from mandarin dragonets or active wrasses, pairing the Zoo-Shot with a regular Pod-Shot addition ensures both the fish and the corals receive adequate live food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow does Zoo-Shot help with coral colour?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tigriopus californicus copepods in Zoo-Shot contain astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment that contributes directly to the coloration of corals and fish that consume them regularly. Reef keepers who establish a consistent live zooplankton feeding routine consistently report visible improvements in coral colour intensity over four to six weeks, particularly in SPS species where pigmentation is strongly influenced by nutritional input alongside light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Zoo-Shot affect my water parameters?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Live zooplankton additions at the Zoo-Shot volume have no meaningful impact on water chemistry in a healthy reef system. The organisms will be consumed rapidly by corals and filter feeders, and any that are not immediately consumed will graze on microalgae and detritus, contributing to the cleanliness of the tank rather than adding to the nutrient load.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eComplete Your Live Feeding Routine\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eZoo-Shot works best as part of a complete live food approach. For larger coral and refugium additions, our full Live Zooplankton provides the same blend at volumes suited to population establishment and larger tank doses. For specialist fish feeding alongside coral nutrition, pair Zoo-Shot with our Pod-Shot for a combined live food session that covers every inhabitant in the tank. For dedicated marine fish breeding, our Roti-Shot provides a concentrated first-feed rotifer addition. For the most complete live nutrition system covering copepods, rotifers, and phytoplankton together, our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zooplankton-multipack\" title=\"Zooplankton Multipack\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZooplankton Multipack\u003c\/a\u003e delivers all three in a single order at a better price than buying separately.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reefphyto","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":17948285255,"sku":"3434822358","price":5.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1202\/2604\/files\/Zoo-Shot.jpg?v=1691574047"}],"url":"https:\/\/reefphyto.co.uk\/collections\/reef-shots-1.oembed","provider":"Reefphyto Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}