Application

This formulation has undergone extensive application in commercial marine aquaculture facilities raising cnidarians, tunicates, marine bivalves, and sponges.

Observers have noted superior feeding response and overall improvement in polyp extension in all zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate cnidarians, as well as improved tissue growth rate when applying this formulation on a routine basis to supplement cohort feeding requirements.

Invigor8 Reef is a dry blend incorporating numerous species of picoplankton, a class of plankton readily captured and consumed by corals, sponges, tunicates, and bivalves. As these organisms increase feeding activity in response to the presence Invigor8 Reef in the system, it is common to notice ORP values gradually increasing beyond pre-application average values, with nutrient density corresponding to dissolved and particulate organic material decreasing. In this respect, Invigor8 Reef is highly unusual as a nutrient source for cohort members, as addition of nutrient sources generally result in a net increase in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus values.

Invigor8 Reef does not incorporate: water; preservatives; pH-modifying components; food colors (artificial or otherwise); animal byproducts; brewer’s yeast or the like; grains and/or other terrestrial crop components; Artemia cysts; or oils.

Keep out of reach of children and unauthorized persons. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Store in a cool, dry location away from sunlight.

Unmixed product does not require refrigeration. Store tightly-sealed, in cool, dry location. Do not permit contamination of container with moisture or foreign material. Do not dispense unmixed product into system; follow preparation steps, below.

Preparation

Invigor8 Reef must be adequately saturated with water prior to application; failure to saturate components will result in loss to surface skimming devices. Depending upon method of application, system water or purified water may be utilized in saturation process; review entire information below.

In a clean mixing vessel, mix in a ratio of ~10:1 water (mL) to Invigor8 Reef (g) (ex. mix 100 mL water with 10 g Invigor8 Reef). If a thinner fluid consistency is desired, then use more water.

Cap and shake vessel to thoroughly saturate Invigor8 Reef components, and allow to sit for 1 - 2 minutes prior to use. Prior to each use, shake vessel to re-suspend components.

Determining mass of Invigor8 Reef required: If applying this formula in systems raising cohorts of suspension-feeding sessile invertebrates (e.g. cnidarians, poriferans, sedentarians, bivalvians, ascidians, etc.), then apply 0.20 g of Invigor8 Reef per square foot of colonized area per day. Modify application frequency and mass of Invigor8 Reef applied per cohort requirements.

Recommended: Determine mass of Invigor8 Reef required during a period of no more than 12 hours, then add this amount to a clean mixing vessel with adequate water from the system to form a suspension with the desired fluid consistency. Allow vessel to remain at room temperature. If using system water, then entire contents of vessel should be used within 12 hours of initial mixing. This approach is recommended because the temperature of the suspension will closely match the system temperature, as opposed to using a suspension which is considerably colder due to refrigeration. Target individual cohort members, or apply suspension in close proximity to circulation pump discharge, as appropriate.

Metered Application: If mixing a larger amount of Invigor8 Reef suspension than will be required for 12 hours, then substitute purified water for system water in the preceding instructions, and store Invigor8 Reef suspension at T≤40°F outside of periods of use (do not allow to freeze). Pour required volume of mixture into syringe or separate dosing vessel. Do not contaminate mixture with system water. The use of a magnetic stirring platform to maintain homogeneity of the suspension is recommended if application will be performed with a dosing pump. Locate point of entry in close proximity to circulation pump discharge. If applying manually, then shake vessel prior to application to ensure homogeneity of suspension. Target individual cohort members, or apply suspension in close proximity to circulation pump discharge, as appropriate.

Feeding response

The feeding response elicited by Invigor8 Reef is due to the combination of components, which is entirely appropriate for cohorts composed wholly or in part of suspension-feeding marine invertebrates, and which (importantly) incorporates specific compounds recognized by the chemoreceptor system of these organisms; this response is observed within cohorts including sessile and motile invertebrates, all groups reacting positively to the introduction of Invigor8 formulations to their environment. Regarding Cnidarians, specifically, polyp extension associated with the upstream introduction of Invigor8 generally occurs within 120 seconds, though it is not uncommon for the reaction to occur within 30 seconds, particularly in systems within which Invigor8 is regularly applied. The feeding response has been observed to last for several hours in some systems.

It is important to state that the feeding response elicited by Invigor8 Reef is not a matter of a reaction to sudden exposure to "unusual" pH or temperature, which is involved when target feeding a preserved or refrigerated suspension, respectively; this distinction is made because a tactical response to target feeding, such as extended polyps suddenly recoiling when a cold and/or acidic suspension of food is directly applied, gives some observers the false impression that the food is being ingested due to suitability and positive feeding response of the target organism or colony. A squirt of cold or strongly acidic or basic water will have similar results, and does not reliably indicate acceptance or recognition of the substance as a food.

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