Easy Reefs

Masstick’s legacy.

DKI marine is a balanced food, which has been developed to satisfy the nutritional needs of omnivorous marine fish from the coral reef biotope.

DKI marine marine comes in the form of tender granules and neutral buoyancy. It is available in grain sizes of Ø 0.8 mm, Ø 1.2 mm and Ø 2 mm.

DKI marine main ingredient is freeze-dried shrimp (Palaemonetes varians) coming from our Veta de la Palma fisheries located in the Doñana Natural Space.

The microalgae (Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis, Isochrysis, and Phaeodactylum) included in its formula provide fatty acids, completely natural vitamins, functional compounds and bioactive ingredients which preserve and boost the marine fishes’ immune system and general health.

Thanks to its essential amino-acid contents, its fatty acid contents, and its fully bio-available micronutrients, which are all involved in the fishes’ metabolic pathways, the product’s morphological and organoleptic characteristics, together with its highly valuable biological proteins, means that the DKI marine granules are a food system based on a holistic concept of nutrition for coral reef marine fish.

Composition: Rich in essential EPA, ARA, DHA polyunsaturated fatty acids. The Easy Reefs® microalgae species used are Nannochloropsis (50%) and Isochrysis (T-ISO) 50%.

Presentation:
Easyrich is available in 14 and 28 single-use packets and Easyrich PROF 250 ml format.

Directions for use:
To enrich rotifers and copepods:
Disperse 1.5 ml of Easyrich in 50 ml of water and add it to 500 ml of “culture”, two hours before using it to feed adult organisms.

To enrich saltwater artemia:
Disperse 1.5 ml of Easyrich in 250 ml of water of the same salinity as the culture and add the harvested artemia 2 – 4 hours before using it to feed adult organisms.

Easyphyt is a culture medium developed by EasyReefs specifically for the cultivation of phytoplankton at small or medium scale. Its formula based on the classic F / 2 of Guillard is appropriate for cultivation of Tetraselmis, Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis and Rhodomonas, among others. For the cultivation of diatoms such as Phaeodactylum or Chaetoceros, the use of specific silicate-rich culture media is recommended. 

Contains: sodium nitrate, iron chloride, EDTA, sodium phosphate, zinc sulfate, cobalt chloride, manganese chloride, sodium molybdate, copper sulfate, vitamins B1 and B12. 

How to use: 
Prepare a solution with 1 part of Easyphyt and 4 parts of water.
In cultures with periodic start-up (batch culture), use 5 ml of the solution per liter of culture. 
In semi-continuous cultures, use 1 ml per liter of water each time a partial harvest is made. 

Store in a cool place, preferably refrigerated. 

Food needed: 
Easy Reefs EasyRoti or  Nannochloropsis (80%) +Tetraselmis (20%)

Culture cycle from strain: 5 days

Recommended sea water density: 1019, although they can be cultured well up to 1022.

Culture temperature: 22ºC to 28ºC. Optimum culture temperature: 24ºC.

To filter the rotifer you should use a 50 micron net.

Once you start the culture you will be able to harvest rotifers after 6 days. You will have one flask for the “strain” and another one for the “production” culture.

The information that follows describes the dosage to be used in ideal conditions assuming that the rotifer density is the ideal. Sometimes it is possible that the amounts of microalgae that are being added do not adjust to the rotifer demand. This is because in aquariums people don’t count rotifers, so the amount of microalgae added is not exact to the amount of rotifer. If the culture water gets clear this would mean that the amount of microalgae wasn’t enough. If rotifer remains with no food for more than 4 hours, the number of eggs will decrease and so will the population growing yield. It is essential that the rotifer always have food.

Rotifers are very sensitive to changes of water parameters. Rotifer population would be affected if the water quality decreases. If you observe an excess of dirtiness in the cylinder then you should filter the rotifer and start the culture in a new clean flask and add the amount of microalgae needed.

Depending on the intensity of the green colour that the flask has, this will indicate the amount of microalgae needed. With time and experience, the difference in green colour will let us do our own feeding protocols. There is no difference in using live or Easyroti as food. 

We will put a glass tube with a gentle air bubbling (5-10 bubbles per second) in the graduated flask used for the rotifer culture. This air bubbling will provide a homogeneous mixture in the culture. An excessive water movement will make rotifers to loose their eggs and this way they won’t hatch.

 It is recommended to feed twice a day. But due to the lack of time, rotifers are usually fed once a day.

DAY 1
Initial conditions: “Strain” culture with  500 mL of sea water, number of rotifers 400 rot./mL to 600 rot./mL and 4 ml of Easyroti Nannochloropsis (80%) +Tetraselmis (20%).

Final conditions: The culture will end up with a volume of 1L with microalgae.

Instructions: Resuspend 4ml of Easyroti in 0.5 L of sea water. Add the rotifer inoculums and add sea water until the total volume is 1 Litre.

DAY 2
Initial conditions: 1 L of rotifer culture. It will be nearly clear and with no microalgae. Estimated rotifer number: 500 rot/mL

Final conditions: The culture will end up with a volume of 1.4 L with microalgae.
Instructions: Resuspend 4 ml of Easyroti in 0.5 L of sea water  and add 0.4 L to the rotifer culture.

DAY 3
Initial conditions: 1.4 L of rotifer culture. It will be nearly clear and with no microalgae. Estimated rotifer number: 500-600 rot/mL

Final conditions: The culture will end up with a volume of 1.8 L with microalgae.
Instructions: Resuspend 8 ml of Easyroti in 0.5 L of sea water and add 0.4 L to the rotifer culture.

DAY 4
Initial conditions: 1.8 L of rotifer culture. It will be nearly clear and with no microalgae. Estimated rotifer number:  600 rot/mL

Final conditions: The culture will end up with a volume of 2 L with microalgae.
Instructions: Resuspend 6 ml Easyroti in 0.25 L of sea water and add 0.2 L to the rotifer culture.

DAY 5
Initial conditions:  2 L of rotifer culture. It will be nearly clear and with no microalgae. Estimated rotifer number: 700-800 rot/mL

From this “strain” culture we will get a volume of 0.5 L to start a new “strain” culture in another 2 L flask and start a new culture cycle from day 1.

We will add Easyroti to the old “strain” culture, from now on “production” culture, until it reaches 2 L. If the cylinder is very dirty then we will pour the culture to a clean flask and carry on with the production culture.

Instructions:  To the “production” culture we will add 8 ml of Easyroti in 0.5 L of sea water. For the “strain” culture start a new cycle from day 1.

DAY 6
Initial conditions: “Strain” culture the same as day 2. “Production” culture 2 L with 800 rot/mL, it will be nearly clear and with no microalgae.

The “production” culture would be used to harvest 0.5 L every day and be used as food for the aquarium (If you don’t feed the aquarium you must do the harvest anyway so you can feed the rotifer with microalgae). If you harvest 0.5 L of rotifer you always have to add 0.5 L of sea water with 8 ml of Easyroti .

The “production” culture will be kept until the flask is dirty (5-7 days).

When the “strain” culture reaches day 5 of culture it will be converted to the “production” culture and a new “strain” culture will be created, the same way as it has been explained on day 5.

Composition: easy reefs® Tetraselmis (100%) microalgae species.

Dosage: The dosage depends on the density of the artemia we are feeding. The consumption is 4 ml of Easyart per 10 litres of culture per day for the first 5 days, (nauplius and metanauplius) and 8 ml of Easyart per 10 litres of culture per day from day 5 of culture (juvenile artemia and adult). If the water of the artemia culture goes clear a few hours after adding Easyart (microalgae have been ingested), then more Easyart must be added.

Example for artemia culture in 10 litres:
1. Hatch the artemia cysts following the manufacturer directions.

2. Once they have hatched, wait 6 hours and start feeding with Easyart.

3. Put 0.5 litres of seawater in a glass blender.

4.-Add 4 ml of Easyart and disperse the microalgae by shaking.

5. Remove 0.5 L of water from the culture so the next algae batch can be prepared.

6. Slowly add the microalgae to the tank to avoid sediment suspensiono.

Liquid phytoplankton in single-dose bags that is ready to use, easy and clean.

Single-dose Easybooster is available in 14 or 28 blister packs.

Easybooster composition:

Isochrysis T-ISO (33%) / Nannochloropsis (31%) / Tetraselmis (18%) / Phaeodactylum (18%)

The special characteristics of each one of the microalgae in this formula provide an optimum nutritional profile for aquarium animals.

Dosage

Initial Dose:

2ml pro 100 litres for a periode of 10 days

Recommended daily dose:

4ml pro 100 litres of aquarium water depending on the biological load.

Instructions for use:

Pour the entire contents of the bag into the area around the pump to ensure product is dispersed. It is not necessary to turn off the skimmer.

Liquid phytoplankton in single-dose bags that is ready to use, easy and clean.

Single-dose Easybooster is available in 14 or 28 blister packs.

Easybooster composition:
Isochrysis T-ISO (33%) / Nannochloropsis (31%) / Tetraselmis (18%) / Phaeodactylum (18%)
The special characteristics of each one of the microalgae in this formula provide an optimum nutritional profile for aquarium animals.

Dosage
Initial Dose:
1 single-use bag per day for each 300 litres of aquarium water.
Increase the dose by 25% weekly until the recommended daily dose is reached.

Recommended daily dose:
1 single-use bag per each 100/200 litres of aquarium water depending on the biological load.

Instructions for use:
Pour the entire contents of the bag into the area around the pump to ensure product is dispersed. It is not necessary to turn off the skimmer.

Conservation:
Once opened, the product can be used within 48 hours.

 

Easybooster 25

Liquid phytoplankton in a 250 ml format. Recommended for use in aquariums up to 500 gross litres.

Easybooster composition:
Isochrysis T-ISO (33%) / Nannochloropsis (31%) / Tetraselmis (18%) / Phaeodactylum (18%)
The special characteristics of each one of the microalgae in this formula provide an optimum nutritional profile for aquarium animals.

Dosage:
Dosage varies slightly depending on the aquarium’s biological load.
Generally, it is established between 8 ml/day (basic or maintenance dose) and 16 ml/day (average-high demand) for an aquarium with a gross volume of 1,000 litres.

Instructions for use:
The Easybooster dose should be distributed throughout the day.
It is not necessary to turn off the skimmer.

Easybooster should be used in increasing weekly doses as per the following protocol:
For an aquarium with 1,000 gross litres
1st week: 2ml / day
2nd week: 4 ml / day
3rd week: 6 ml / day
4th week: 8 ml / day (basic or maintenance dose).

After the 4th week, you can increase the dose by 2 ml weekly until reaching high levels of zooplankton production to serve as feed for fish, invertebrates and corals.

For correct dispersion, Easybooster must be introduced in the aquarium in the area around the pump that produces intense water circulation.

A dosing pump can be used to add Easybooster 25 automatically to the aquarium.

EasyLPS is a mixture of zooplankton and marine microalgae designed for the specific nutrition of LPS corals. The perfect combination of ingredients and the size of 800µm ensure optimal digestibility and capture capacity for most LPS corals.

• Premium food for LPS corals.
• Rich in proteins and essential fatty acids of marine origin.
• Made with freeze-dried Palaemonetes varians from EasyReefs’s Veta La Palma fisheries.
• It also includes microalgae selected for their functional charicteristics.
• The 800µm granules allow for correct capture and digestion.

How to use easylps

Feed the coral on alternate days, preferably during the aquarium’s night period. Hydrate the granules for 2 minutes with water from the aquarium. Use this water to stimulate the opening of the coral. Use a pipette to deposit 2-4 granules on the oral disc of the polyp.

Why do we use these microalgae?

1. Tetraselmis chuii for its high antioxidant content Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase and Gluthione Peroxidase.
2. Phaeodactylum tricornutum for its high content of the essential fatty acids EPA and ARA and beta-glucans that enhance the immune system of corals.
3. Isochrysis galbana for its lipid profile rich in essential fatty acids DH

EasySPS EVO is a premium mixture of natural marine plankton in a mineral suspension that has been specifically designed to be used with a dosing pump to ensure an accurate and regular nutrition of the SPS corals. EasySPS EVO contains particles ranging from 0.2 – 400 microns (55% from 0,4 to 200 microns) making it ideal to facilitate the capture by the Small Polyp Stoney Corals (SPS) which spend energy for respiration, mucus production, growth and reproduction.

Research has shown that the total energy demand cannot be met by photosynthesis alone. With the use of highly efficient protein skimming and fine mechanical filtration we eradicate almost all organic molecules and particulate matter from our systems resulting low levels of organic nourishment available to our SPS corals. Corals cannot survive exclusively from zooxanthella alone as they require extra sources of proteins, nutrition and carbohydrates.

EasySPS EVO supplies complex carbohydrates, natural lipids and nutritional proteins which provide an immediate source of energy for cellular respiration as well an important energy source beneficial for growth, color and most importantly survival. Useful in recreating the water conditions in and around natural coral reefs, used in conjunction with EasyBooster will help to significantly reduce the need of live food inside SPS dominated aquariums. In this way, both zooxanthella and EasySPS EVO are able to cover all nutritional requirements in the correct proportion.

• EasySPS EVO is composed of Palaemonetes varians, Tetraselmis, Isochrysis, and Phaeodactylum.
• The composition of EasySPS EVO boosts corals with high nutritional value proteins with a balanced aminogram, lipid profile rich in EPA, ARA and DHA, carbohydrates and functional micronutrients involved in the metabolic system of these animals.
• All ingredients are produced at the EasyReefs facilities. They produce their own raw materials to ensure high quality standards in every production process. EasySPS EVO will enhance the brightness and intensity of the colors of your corals. It will also help strengthening and growing SPS corals. EasySPS EVO contains particles ranging from 0.2 – 400 microns (55% from 0,4 to 200 microns) making it ideal to facilitate the capture by the SPS polyps.

HOW TO USE

EasySPS EVO Initial dose: 1 ml per day for every 250 L of tank water. Then, increase the dose 25% weekly until you reach the recommended dose.

Daily recommended dose: 4 ml per day for every 250 L of tank water.

Recommended to use: It is best to feed EasySPS EVO to the aquarium using a dosing pump to ensure the regularity and accuracy of the doses. Apply the product near an internal circulation pump to ensure the total dispersion of the product.

Features:

For all living organisms, stress represents a major concern when dealing with the maintenance of an appropriate physiological status. In a wide sense, the discomfort associated to stress, either physical or environmental, can trigger in individuals a series of known physiological short and long-term responses in order to face and adapt to impose changes. Particularly, aquarium fish are subject to a broad variety of different stressors because their homeostatic mechanisms strongly depend on prevailing conditions in their immediate surroundings1. There is a well-known set of aquarium fish-specific stressors, the most relevant being: i) improper water parameters (ammonia, nitrate, pH, temperature, salinity, oxygen…), ii) inadequate tank size, iii) lack of hiding places, iv) overstocking of tank, v) harassment from other fish, vi) infections with pathogens that cross-react with different host species of different geographical origins, vii) contaminants (chemicals, medication), and vii) malnutrition of captive fish because of suboptimal feed formulation, as the precise nutritional requirements for aquarium fish species is not well-determined.

Physiological responses to stress include changes in heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and release of adrenergic (such as adrenaline) and glucocorticoid hormones such as cortisol, which is considered a hallmark of the stress response. Although activities of these hormones are beneficial to tackle short and sudden stressors, negative health effects will be elicited when hormonal stress responses persist and become chronic, including depletion of energy reserves, muscle breakdown, interference with osmoregulatory processes, and immune suppression2. Thus, the lowered immune response will eventually allow parasites, bacteria, and fungi to infect a stressed fish and cause disease and death.

In this scenario, dietary supplements that contribute to enhance fish resistance against infection diseases and/or to act as immunostimulants in order to improve immune status of aquarium cultured fish are currently of major concern in these ecosystems.

TECNICAL INFORMATION
Easysps is a phytoplankton and zooplankton blend. It is formulated to meet specific nutritional requirements of corals, such as SPS (Short Polyp Stony corals) and non-photosynthetic corals like gorgonian.

COMPOSITION:
Palaemonetes varians: Natural zooplankton as source of high nutritional protein and essential amino acids. Rich in glutamine that triggers a quick response from corals.
Tetraselmis chuii: Source of natural antioxidants, Vitamin C, E, B12, Superoxide Dismutase, high digestibility and rich in EPA and ARA essential fatty acids.
Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Stimulates the immune system, rich in 1-3, Beta glucans. High content in EPA essential fatty acid.
Isochrysis galbana (T-ISO): Very rich in DHA essential fatty acid and micronutrients involved in complex metabolic processes.
Sardine oil: Texturing activity smoothens easysps particles.
Tocopherols: Based on natural extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis, antioxidant that stabilizes essential fatty acids.

PRODUCTION:
We have reached the perfect conservation of all components present in this formulation thanks to the manufacturing process including freeze drying (lyophilization) and cold extrusion.
With our fresh ingredients, lyophilization process takes place first, agglomeration by cold extrusion as a second step and ulterior milling process without compression.
This will give out the following particle size ranges:

0,4 – 200 µm – 54.90 % of total particles
200 – 400 µm – 28.30 % of total particles
400 – 1000 µm – 16.70 % of total particles

– Proteins >50%: High content in protein but moreover, it contains all essential amino acids, all amino acids and its proportional natural content.
  All key elements for correct growth and development are present in this feed.
– Fats 6%: Equilibrated EPA/ARA/DHA content. These essential fatty acids are not added but naturally present in the microalgae of the formula, 
  Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis galbana (T. Iso) and Tetraselmis chuii.
– Carbohydrates 18%.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The composition is very close to natural coral tissue (Approximately 50% proteins, 30% lipids and 20% carbohydrates). Easysps contains 53% proteins,
6% lipids and 20% carbohydrates.
Coral tissue has a higher amount of lipid content. The difference has a good explanation for our easysps,
photosynthetic SPS corals are animals that live in symbiosis with vegetal cells (Zooxanthella) from which they can obtain these lipids.
The zooxanthella produces most of the nutrients for their own development and survival, they only assign a small fraction to corals
(80% lipids, some sugars and small quantities of proteins as glutamine and alanine that are not sufficient as protein source).
In other words, corals cannot survive exclusively from zooxanthella and they need extra sources of proteins, nutrition and carbohydrates.
Corals get it from zooplankton, phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and also from free amino acids dissolved in water.
The nutritional composition of easysps boosts corals with high nutritional proteins, natural lipid profile rich in EPA, ARA and DHA,
carbohydrates and functional micronutrients involved in the metabolic system of these animals.
In this way, both zooxanthella and easysps are able to cover all nutritional requirements in the correct proportion.

RESULTS:
By the increase of the metabolic rates in corals due to the increase of nutrient availability in the water, we will get many positive results:
1. Coral growth will increase. Keep an eye on the calcium concentration, carbonates (kh) and magnesium, they will be consumed by corals due to rapid growth.
We recommend water test during the first few weeks while using the product.
2. Inorganic nutrient consumption will increase. Nitrates and phosphates will decrease because corals will metabolize part of them.
3. Coral color improvement. Based on observations, corals may increase the internal peroxidation during digestion when there is heterotrophic feeding.
This increase of peroxidation’s will reach antibacterial capabilities. The high sensitivity of zooxanthella (dinoflagellates) to oxidative processes may explain
zooxanthella concentration decrease in coral tissue and color enhancement. The bioavailability of essential amino acids and presence of essential fatty acids will
contribute as precursors for pigment production (fluorescent and non-fluorescent pigments). Amino acids can be used similar to mycosporin with a similar mode of action
against UV-A radiation, Easysps is the perfect solution for this purpose.

DOSING:

Initial dosing:
Add 1 level scoop per day with the dosing spoon for every 250 L of water.
Adjusting the dose: Dosing may be increased as a reaction of the coral response, benthic fauna and aquarium filtration capacity.
The presence of residual nutrients, non-desired algae growth, may indicate an overdosing of easysps.

How to dose:
Add the desired amount of easysps inside the vial tube.
Fill half the tube with water, osmosis water is preferred, close the cup and shake it for mixing. Foaming is normal during this process.
Let it stay for 1 minute for total product hydration.
Add the content in the aquarium near a strong water flow or circulation.
During the first weeks, add the easysps after lights switched off. After a few weeks, it may be added at any time of the day.

Attention:
A simultaneous use of easybooster and easysps is highly recommended to prevent possible nutrient limitations and support the natural balance of the system.

Masstick is a blend of diverse, all natural, self-production, highly technical compounds, providing natural and balanced nutrition for omnivorous fish and marine invertebrates.

Masstick is comprised of raw materials of marine origin. It does not contain attractants, artificial preservatives or synthesis products.

Masstick is a self-adhesive paste in a powder formula, ready for rehydration with water.

Once it is rehydrated, it can be stuck to any surface of the aquarium, depending on the animals’ needs.

The rehydratable powder formula allows Masstick to be blended with any mollusc or crustacean pulp as well as eggs from fish, molluscs and crustaceans, artemia, mysids, copepods, rotifers and medicines that are administered orally.

Once prepared and introduced into the aquarium, Masstick does not disperse into the water for hours, so it can be completely taken advantage of by fish and crustaceans. This feature allows the product to be used as “ad libitum” or rationed feeding.

Because Masstick is comprised mainly of freeze-dried crustaceans, it does not contain fish skeletons and is thus very low in phosphates compared to its protein content.

Instructions

Add Masstick to osmosis water in a 1 to 0.5 ratio.

Example: Mix 14 g. of Masstick with 7 ml. of osmosis water. Knead in a small ziplock bag until a homogenous mixture is obtained.

Once the mixture is homogenous, Masstick may be used immediately or frozen for later use. If freezing Masstick, it should be used within five weeks after preparation.

Instructions for use:
Take a portion of Masstick and stick it on a rock, a branched coral skeleton, or the aquarium glass (preferably on the lower third), or depending on the food-obtaining habits of the animals in the aquarium.

Formats

- Masstick 14 contains one transparent, zip-lock bag with 14 net grams netos of product.

- Masstick 42 contains three transparent, zip-lock bags with 14 net grams of product in each one.

- Masstick 70 contains five transparent, zip-lock bags with 14 net grams of product in each one.

- Masstick bulk contains one transparent, zip-lock bag with 100 net grams netos of product.

- Masstick prof contains two aluminium bags with 500 net grams of product in each one.