Like most hobbyists, I could probably pay a bit more attention to the foods I feed my reef tanks. Typically, I feed a blend of frozen mysis, nutrient-packed pellets, flakes, and veggies. What if I told you there was a new frozen food on the scene that offered all of those categories in one food?
Mermaid’s Delight All-In-One Reef Blend is the brainchild of Tom Smith (owner of Mermaid’s Cove, near Chicago, IL) and his research partner, the late Dr. Leo Finkenbinder (Professor at Olivet Nazarene). The ingredients list is long and includes shrimp, cod, clam, squid, octopus, scallop, krill, brine, mysis, rotifers, red, green, and purple seaweed, cyclops, oyster’s reproductive parts, decapsulated brine eggs, copepods, GP-50-100, phytoplankton, roe, garlic extract, multivitamins, omega 3, amino acids and HUFA.
I’ve been using this food for about 3 months and am impressed by how much comes out of a quarter-sized section. I love how Mermaid’s Delight includes typical fishy favorites like whole shrimp, krill, and mysis, but also contains particulate organisms for coral and inverts to feed on as well. Sure, you can purchase frozen rotifers, copepods, and fish eggs separately, but it’s all here in one feed! The variation in food size is also great for finicky eaters like the Copperband Butterflyfish.
I typically thaw the food in tank water, but you can also toss it directly into the tank still frozen, and let your fish graze over time. My fish love it, and from what I can tell, the corals are also benefiting. The feeder tentacles on my LPS corals emerge quickly with this food.
As many of you know, I’ve been regularly testing the parameters of my new(ish) Red Sea 625 G2+ and have not noted any nutrient spikes while using this food. (Current nitrates are 7.1ppm and phosphates are .02ppm)
Tom says several coral farms have implemented this food, and it’s currently being rolled out to stores and wholesalers here in the US. There will soon be an option to ship directly to consumers as well. A 10oz flat pack retails at $24.99. The Mermaid’s Delight line also includes Anchovies, Krilltastic, Chunky Stuff, and an All-In-One Freshwater Blend.
Find more at https://www.mermaidsdelightfood.com/
