EDUCATION CENTER / Reef Fundamentals

Reef Fundamentals

Learn the core skills every reefkeeper needs: tank setup, cycling, water quality, stability, equipment basics, and responsible aquarium care.

Featured Live Food Guides

Getting Started

Setting Up Your First Reef Tank

Learn the basic equipment, layout, and planning steps needed to start a saltwater aquarium the right way.

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Cycling

Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle

A beginner-friendly guide to ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, beneficial bacteria, and when a tank is ready for livestock.

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Water Quality

Reef Tank Water Parameters

Learn the key numbers reefkeepers should track, including salinity, temperatures, alkalinity, calcium, nitrate, and phosphate

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Testing

How to Test Your Aquarium Water

Understand how to use test kits, read results, and avoid chasing numbers without a plan.

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FISH NUTRITION

Feeding Mandarins and Pod-Eating Fish

How to build and maintain a pod population for picky grazers.

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CORAL HEALTH

Live Foods for Coral Health

How live foods can support filter feeders, LPS, soft corals, and overall reef nutrition.

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Support Your Reef with Cultured Live Foods

Kaimana Reefworks cultures live foods to help reefkeepers build healthier, more resilient marine systems. Use our guides to understand what your tank needs before you buy.

Live Copepods

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Live Phytoplankton

Live Macroalgae

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Live Foods FAQ

For established reef tanks, add copepods every 2-4 weeks to maintain a healthy population. New tanks may benefit from weekly additions during the first month.
Dose phytoplankton 2-3 times per week, preferably when your return pump is running. This ensures even distribution throughout your reef system.
Phytoplankton supports filter feeders, corals, and copepod populations. While not strictly required, it significantly enhances the health and biodiversity of your reef ecosystem.
Yes! Live copepods and phytoplankton are completely reef-safe and beginner-friendly. They help establish a natural food chain and improve overall tank stability.
Copepods can thrive in display tanks with live rock and macroalgae. A refugium provides a safe breeding area but is not required for maintaining a healthy copepod population.
Live foods provide natural nutrition, support biodiversity, help control algae, and create a more balanced reef ecosystem. They're essential for keeping finicky fish and corals healthy.

Grow a Healthier Reef from the Bottom Up

Start with the small life that supports the whole system. Explore live food guides, care sheets, and cultured products from Kaimana Reefworks.

Cultured with Care
Reliable, sustainable live foods
Sustainably Focused
Better for your reef and the oceans
Trusted by Reefkeepers
Education first, results always
Quality Guaranteed
Healthy cultures, packed with care