OceanMagik (was originally) Live PhytoPlankton

Reefbeast · Apr 20, 2023

HI all,

I bought a bottle of Ocean Magic from BRS about a month and a half ago. Im assuming this is all dead by now even though I kept it refrigerated. I have still been adding it to my tank because It doesn't smell rancid it still smells OK to me and when it was alive it seemed like my corals loved it. Is it OK to keep putting dead Phyto into the tank? Or should I just chuck it? Could the dead Phyto be hurting anything?

dkelley · Apr 20, 2023

If it doesn't smell like rotting broccoli then it's probably not dead. I make phyto and it can be refrigerated for roughly 5 months. If it doesn't stink it likely isn't dead. I'm fairly new around this hobby so hopefully someone with more experience chimes in.

Reefbeast · Apr 20, 2023

dkelley said:
If it doesn't smell like rotting broccoli

LOL Im not sure what rotting broccoli even smells like but, its not a nasty smell. Mine just has a mild odor.

Allaric · Jun 30, 2023

dkelley said:
If it doesn't smell like rotting broccoli then it's probably not dead. I make phyto and it can be refrigerated for roughly 5 months. If it doesn't stink it likely isn't dead. I'm fairly new around this hobby so hopefully someone with more experience chimes in.

Do you use the phyto in your tanks? I was interested in growing some so I didn't need to keep buying it, but I was concerned about putting the fertilized water back into the fish tank.

dkelley · Jun 30, 2023

Allaric said:
Do you use the phyto in your tanks? I was interested in growing some so I didn't need to keep buying it, but I was concerned about putting the fertilized water back into the fish tank.

Yes I do. I don't have any issues with it. Theoretically the fertilizer is being consumed each week by the phyto so if any is getting by it's so small overall.

kurbanas · Jun 30, 2023

If you kept it chilled and haven't opened it, it is probably good. I have used OceanMagik > 1 mo after receiving it.

Dinkins Aquatic Gardens · Jun 30, 2023

If it smells fine then it probably is…the things that would tend to harm your tank (such as ammonia from decomposition) tend to have a really foul smell.