Coral Chow ???.... i'm missing something,it can't be only Phytoplankton?

[j007dreamer]

I got a 45 gallon tank with some corals, I want to be sure and give them everything they need to be happy

I am new to this so i am unsure of what is best, I was told from the fish store guy that the only thing i need to put in the tank for any and ALL coral is phytoplankton

JUST PHYTOPLANKTON THAT CANT BE RIGHT ??

I see people on here talking about limewater and all other kinds of food. Im new to this so im sure what these other food are

But i know i must need more then just phytoplankton right ????????? Fish store guy must be wrong ?

What else do i need... And please help me to understand what this food is.

 

[j007dreamer]

Anyone Please ???

 

[carfac]

dreamer-

I am just a beginner, too, so I do not have all the answers. But I can help a bit.

Limewater is NOT a food per se, it is used to supliment calcium in the water. I beleive (and PLEASE correct me if I am wrong!) that this is needed with Hard Corals a LOT more than with softies. I think that with softies, if you stay up on water changes, limewater/Kalk is not something you should have to worry about.

So it would help to know what corals you have. I ahve just softies, so my response is based on that. Phytoplanton is good for them, sure. But it is a supliment. My UNDERSTANDING is they get most of their food from photosynthic animals/bacteria/stuff that live on them. But that in and of itself is not enough, so Phytomplanton is used. Or, the phytoplankton feeds zooplankon that the corals eat- either way, a benefit to corals (Again, PLAESE correct me if I am wrong, I am new, too!)

I started spot-feeding some of my corals- button polyps, Xenia and Pipe Organ- with Phytoplankton and chopped up mysisshrimp. Not sure if this is REALLY good or not, but they seemed to take it and like it.

Dave

 

[j007dreamer]

So should i Feed phytoplankton and zooplankon ???

 

[akrimmel]

not should but do you want to, i do and notice lots of growth with the combo as oppsed to just one. variety is always good.

 

[j007dreamer]

live fish store guy said that anything other then phyoplankton will just make my water dirty ....

 

[akrimmel]

LFS local fish store