At New Dawn Aquaculture, our corals are sustained on a natural diet built around living micro-organisms produced through our Planktura brand. Rather than relying on powdered or preserved foods, we focus on providing live nutrition that supports both coral health and the overall microbiome of our reef systems.
Live Phytoplankton
Every coral system receives daily doses of live phytoplankton grown in-house at Planktura. Each strain offers unique nutritional benefits that contribute to coral health, coloration, and nutrient balance.
Nannochloropsis Live Phytoplankton
A dense, single-celled green phyto high in omega-3 fatty acids. Excellent for maintaining water clarity and supporting filter feeders. Helps stabilize nutrient export and feeds bacterial populations.
A brown-gold flagellate rich in DHA and carotenoids. Great for feeding zooplankton and enhancing coral coloration, especially for LPS and soft corals. Encourages polyp extension and natural feeding behavior.
A deep red cryptophyte high in natural pigments and fatty acids. Promotes vivid coral coloration and benefits filter feeders and non-photosynthetic corals through its balanced nutrient content.
Tetraselmis Live Phytoplankton
A highly active green phyto rich in amino acids and lipids. Supports coral tissue repair and boosts beneficial bacterial growth. Excellent for mixed reefs with both SPS and LPS species.
Live phytoplankton feeds corals directly while sustaining copepods, rotifers, and beneficial bacteria. It creates a balanced, living food web that mirrors the natural reef ecosystem.
Live Bacteria Cultures
In addition to phytoplankton, our systems are dosed with live bacteria from Planktura’s microbial culture line to maintain water quality and microbial diversity.
Palustris Live Bacteria – Bacto Fuel
A concentrated culture of Rhodopseudomonas palustris, a purple non-sulfur bacterium that enhances nutrient cycling and water clarity. It helps reduce nitrate and phosphate while providing a bioavailable nitrogen source for corals.
This live bacterial supplement supports a healthy microbiome, aids in organic waste breakdown, and helps maintain balanced nutrient levels. The result is improved coral health, color, and system stability.
Natural Feeding Philosophy
Our approach to coral feeding mirrors the reef ecosystem itself. Instead of relying on heavy particulate feeding, we cultivate a continuous supply of live micro-organisms that nourish the entire food web, from bacteria and plankton to the corals themselves.
This natural method produces cleaner systems, stronger coral tissue, and long-term stability. Every coral we sell has been grown and colored under these same feeding conditions.
Learn More
Explore the Planktura product line to learn more about our live phytoplankton and bacterial cultures, and how you can feed your reef the same way we do at New Dawn Aquaculture.
