BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte".
Not just feed, but the food of the future.
Introduction
Aquarium hobbyists have always been alchemists by nature.
How many times have we thought that we would like to add this or that ingredient to our animals’ diet, how many times have we passed by the fish counter and imagined feeding them that lovely shrimp or that lovely mussel.
During the early years of developing granular and extruded feeds, mash was widely used, with the specific aim of feeding the entire system at once with a higher-quality food.
Anyone who has tried making it at least once knows that the difficulty unfortunately always lies in production and storage: you ended up making a huge mess, dirtying the whole kitchen, smearing countless ice cube trays, and invariably finding the freezer full of little blocks that had been partly freezer-burned and that, very often, had lost much of their color and organoleptic properties after just a few months.
Furthermore, because of the enormous quantities (relative to the intended purpose) that were produced, it was impossible to vary the ingredients, and you invariably ended up serving just oneother food.
Over the years, the practice of making fish mash has gradually declined, and today it persists almost exclusively on farms and in public aquariums.
With BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte", we wanted to rekindle the alchemist's spark by providing a modern tool to enhance your feed and offer the best to your guests.
BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" is an innovative food for all aquarium organisms.
It is a powdered paste, prepared fresh for better preservation and immediate use.
Formulated with an exclusive blend of krill, eggs and fish milt, it provides a base of top-quality ingredients that you can enhance to your liking.
The enthusiast only has to customize and boost the feed in a targeted way, with specific functional ingredients such as probiotics, amino acids, immune stimulants, but also simply macro- and microalgae, crustaceans and mollusks as well as a wide variety of other fresh or concentrated ingredients.
Nutritional Depth
As you well know, proper nutrition is of vital importance for keeping our guests healthy and colorful.
Ocean gold should be a treat for special occasions, but also suitable for everyday use.
For this reason, we chose to work with premium ingredients such as eggs and fish milt.
BEA Ocean Gold à la Carte" stands out in the aquarium food market thanks to its exclusive formula, which harnesses the synergy of ingredients selected for their exceptional nutritional properties and the natural presence of metabolic stimulants.
At the heart of this formula are krill, eggs and milt from fish (tuna, amberjack, swordfish, mullet, ...), ingredients that help maintain a high-quality protein base.
Krill, a small crustacean that inhabits cold ocean waters, is one of the most innovative and interesting emerging marine protein sources for our industry.
These organisms are essential to the marine ecosystem and serve as a food source for numerous marine species.
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, krill contributes to cardiovascular health and proper neurological development.
It also has a high content of astaxanthin, (a powerful antioxidant), an excellent amino acid profile, and a good balance of trace elements.
Fish eggs and milt are both highly nutritious foods, valued not only for their great palatability but also for the specific health benefits they provide.
Fish eggs are an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, but at the same time provide a high amount of high-quality protein, essential for building and repairing tissues.
They are rich in B vitamins, vitamins D, E, and A, and minerals such as iron, potassium, selenium, and iodine, which support immune system function and metabolism.
Milt is also characterized by the presence of hormones and hormone-like stimulating substances, with enormous potential in our sector.
Milt and eggs are harvested in spring and summer by small local fishers, and come exclusively from the pristine Aeolian Islands.
Only egg masses from adult specimens that have already completed several reproductive cycles are harvested, and they are in perfect health.
The ingredients are then frozen, freeze-dried, and micronized, preserving their excellent nutritional properties.
Diet Customization
Personalized feeding through BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" not only meets your animals' specific nutritional needs and corrects any deficiencies, but also significantly improves their health and well-being.
The food can be served either as a pellet that sticks to the glass or as a very light paste, poured into the water to feed plankton-eating organisms and the system as a whole.
Depending on our needs, we can administer the food in different ways and enhance it by adding various specific ingredients to the preparation.
This chapter offers a guide on how to enrich feed with probiotics, prebiotics, algae, mollusks and crustaceans, exploring the benefits of each added component.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics are a large group of microorganisms (generally lactic acid bacteria) which, when administered in adequate quantities, provide health benefits to the host.
Probiotics help maintain the balance of the fish's intestinal flora, improving digestion and nutrient absorption, and strengthening the immune system.
Prebiotics, on the other hand, are indigestible substances used by probiotic bacteria or that promote the proper development of the microbiota.
Loint use of probiotics and prebiotics leads to the development of foods known as synbiotics, such as BEA Amino Expanse, BEA Immuno Boost, BEA Phyto Plus, BEA Zoo Plus, BEA Pure Eggs.
Lhe addition of probiotics and prebiotics to feed helps improve digestion, nutrient absorption, and aquarium inhabitants' resistance to environmental stresses, reducing the incidence of disease.
Algae: Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Algae are among the most interesting emerging ingredients in the food and feed industry and are becoming increasingly important in our sector, too.
Micro- and macroalgae are now described as “superfoods” and are extremely rich in vitamins (such as A, C, E and B complex) and trace elements (iodine, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, …).
These nutrients are essential for supporting bodily functions, including vision, immune function, and tissue health.
Adding microalgae and/or macroalgae to BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" not only enriches the diet with valuable trace elements and algal bioactive compounds, but also stimulates vibrant coloration in fish and invertebrates.
When supplementing with microalgae, concentrated products can be used such as BEA Phytoplus or BEA Zooboost.
If, on the other hand, you want to supplement with macroalgae, we recommend using BEA Pure Algae (Stay Tuned) after rinsing off the brine.
Mollusks and crustaceans: Protein and Essential Fatty Acids
Mussels, clams, and shellfish in general are exceptionally rich in high-quality protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.
They have an excellent amino acid profile, a good amount of vitamins (particularly B vitamins and vitamin D), and contain molecules that stimulate the appetite.
Shrimp also provide a concentrated source of high-quality protein, and are also characterized by the presence of taurine, an essential amino acid that supports heart function and vision.
Shrimp also contain astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that intensifies the natural coloring of aquatic animals.
L's addition of crustaceans and mollusks to feed improves fish growth, cardiovascular health, and immune systems.
It may be particularly worth considering their use as an amino acid supplement to increase feed palatability for “picky” fish, or simply as a protein boost for feeding large omnivores and carnivores.
Bioactive Molecules: a universe of alchemy
Also particularly interesting is the addition of bioactive molecules with a specific function.
For example, we can boost the immune response by using fresh garlic extracts, specific complete products such as BEA Immunoboost or BEA Ammino Expanse.
Likewise, the use of concentrated microalgae (for example, using BEA Zoo Booost or BEA Phyto Plus) allows the supplementation of all those very particular bioalgal molecules that are difficult to deliver to fish.
BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" is suitable for supplementation with countless molecules, opening up a truly vast range of possibilities.
From boosting the immune system and enhancing animals' coloration to targeted pharmaceutical dosages, improved reproduction, hormonal dosages, metabolic boosts, (...)
We are currently testing the supplementation (combined and individual) of around a hundred different molecules; the possible applications are truly endless, the only limit is your imagination.
How to Prepare and Administer "Ocean Gold à la Carte"
We have seen what to use to enhance our paste food; in this section, we will explain the various preparation techniques.
Classic application:
In a clean bowl, add one scoop of BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" and 10 drops of BEA Ammino Expanse (or other BEA liquid products).
Using a small spatula, mix the ingredients until you obtain a ball with a rubbery consistency.
Adjust with the two products to achieve the desired consistency. Wait a few minutes before adding more liquid to allow all the ingredients to hydrate properly.
The ball can then be fed by sticking it to the glass or any substrate, or portioned and stored for later use.
For simplicity, performance, and ease of use and storage, we recommend using concentrated but “live” ingredients as the liquid component (…) such as BEA Phytoplus, BEA Ammino Expanse, BEA Zoo Plus, BEA Pure Eggs or BEA Immuno Boost.
Thanks to the very special preservation technique and the presence of probiotics in the liquid suspension, the paste food's shelf life is increased exponentially.
The ball can also be stored at room temperature in a small airtight container (to avoid exposure to oxygen, excessive evaporation, and loss of the ball's adhesion), for up to approximately 4-8 days.
When refrigerated (4-8°C) and using probiotic-based products, it may also be possible to reach up to 8-12 days.
Remember that the paste food's shelf life is always linked to the production process.
For large one-off batches, it is important to follow good hygiene practices to achieve optimal results and avoid unwanted contamination that would irreversibly reduce the product's quality.
The main sources of contamination are the environment, equipment, and ourselves: make sure to work in a clean environment, use clean tools, and handle the product while wearing sterile gloves.
Using dedicated products as the liquid component (e.g., BEA Ammino Expanse) reduces the risk of unwanted microbial growth and extends the product's shelf life.
Use of fresh ingredients:
If you want instead to work with fresh ingredients such as crustaceans, mollusks, or macroalgae, start with the selection stage.
For the best choice, select fresh seafood caught as locally as possible, avoiding pre-cooked, farmed, and frozen products whenever possible.
Frozen products can still be used with confidence if they are of exceptionally high quality.
Both crustaceans and mollusks should smell fresh, have a vivid color, and look healthy.
Avoid any ingredient that does not meet exceptionally high quality standards, wait for the right time to buy, and do not worry at all about the price; the small quantities will still ensure substantial savings.
One tip is to ask at the fishmonger’s, specifying that the product will be eaten raw.
Among the most readily available ingredients, we find oysters at the top (since they are commonly eaten raw, they meet exceptionally high quality standards), followed by crabs and prawns (widely available throughout the country, and therefore generally fresh).
Once you have selected the ingredient, wash it thoroughly, then use a small mortar or a mixer (for larger quantities) to blend the ingredients into a paste.
The resulting paste can be portioned and frozen, then used as a liquid component by mixing it with a couple of scoops of BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" , in a small bowl.
We recommend making very small batches of paste at a time, spreading it in a very thin layer on plastic wrap, and then freezing it.
Portions can be small 5 mm x 5 mm squares with an average thickness of 2-3 mm. This amount is generally enough to make an adhesive ball with 2 scoops of BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" .
However, when using fresh ingredients, the product’s shelf life is reduced to about 2-4days in the refrigerator (4-8°C).
This shelf life may vary depending on the preparation technique and the quality of the fresh ingredient.
Another method is to freeze the cleaned flesh (e.g., oyster flesh), then cut off a piece with a knife when you want to make the paste, and grind it directly from frozen using a small mortar.
Use in liquid suspension:
Regarding the dosage of the product in liquid suspension, therefore for SPS, LPS, Zoanthids, soft corals and for the entire system, simply add one scoop of BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" in a small amount of RO water, then use a small spatula to hydrate the mixture thoroughly.
Once a creamy paste has formed, add the liquid and freeze-dried ingredients you want to use to enrich the food, then feed it to the tank.
You can use BEA Structure, BEA Zoo Boost, BEA Coral Boost, as well as BEA Colors, BEA Growth, BEA Coral Boost LPS, frozen or fresh food.
Likewise, if using them strictly for feeding, you can use BEA Green Pro, BEA Synecho Mix, BEA Red Pro, BEA Black Pro, as the liquid component.
The resulting mixture must be stored in the refrigerator (4-8°C) and used within 24 hours
CONCLUSION
We hope this short article has piqued your interest and sparked in you the same passion that burns in all of us.
BEA Ocean Gold "à la Carte" is not just a fish food, but a revolution for every aquarist aspiring toa higher level of care and knowledge, with the sole aim of getting the best for their guests.
It's an opportunity to break out of the mold, not settle for convention, but to explore and dare.
It's an open door to extreme customization, where every choice is guided by knowledge and love for your aquarium.
