Plankton provides coral reefs and reef-associated species with access to off-reef resources through planktivory, linking primary producers with higher trophic levels. On coral reefs, the highly productive planktivorous fish community is made up of morphologically distinct subgroups that target either the gelatinous or the non-gelatinous fractions of the incoming zooplankton. Productivity is driven by nitrogen supply, so if gelatinous and non-gelatinous zooplankton have different stoichiometric ratios (i.e., C: N) then they could contribute disproportionately to the productivity of planktivorous reef fish. However, the nutritional content of these zooplankton groups is poorly quantified in ecologically relevant terms. Past studies predominantly focus on individual taxa or the entire incoming zooplankton assemblage without consideration for what consumes it. Gelatinous zooplankton has historically been considered a minor food item for planktivores due to their high-water content, low protein content, and assumed low nutritional value. I challenge this paradigm through stoichiometric analyses, investigating the function of gelatinous and non-gelatinous zooplankton, and exploring their roles as food and suppliers of nitrogen powering planktivorous reef fish productivity.