dosing plankton

[redrider911]

I am looking for some input on what I should do here. Do you think I should dose plankton to keep the pods, sponges, filter feeders happy. My only concern would be raising the nitrates even though that would be solved with a water change. Any opinions greatly appreciated. Also, what would you recommend?

Right now I have 2 ocellaris clowns, cleaner shrimp, and soon a tail spot blenny. Corals: xenia, gsp, hammer, clove, zoos, shrooms. I do 5 gal water change a week.

 

[toddmh]

besides the target feeding I was telling you about..I once a week at lights out dose the tank with Reef Chili http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...ood/0-75-oz-jar-of-reef-chili-coral-food.html

the corals love it and once a week it will not send your nitrates sky high..

 

[tmz]

Depends on the critters. Filter feeders need phytoplankton in some form. Corals like zooplankton. For sps small micron stuff is desireable. I dosed Coral frenzy 1x per week but haven't for a while and haven't noticed any difference. However, I have 40 fish in the system and feed them 2x per day including some cyclopeeze.I also dose vodka and vinegar so the bacteria may provide a food source. If you do choose to use some form of phyto I would carefully watch NO3 and PO4 levels to help decide how much and how often .

 

[Damasta5]

If you are going to use phytoplankton turn off your skimmer for about 30mins so it doesn't skim it out.
+1 on the target feeding and using zooplankton as well as phytoplankton. but don't over do it because you will spike your PO4 and NO3's

 

[redrider911]

Thanks for the info guys. How long would the dose last? I could dose and then do a water change after I know everything had a chance to feed to keep the trates down. How long should I wait?

 

[block head]

my guess is that a little is going to go a long way. i'd limit to once a week and feed less than suggested. most nano's have a harder time dealing with higher nutrient loads. i've used dt's and coral frenzy. i usually feed 24-48 before a water change.

 

[toddmh]

a very little goes a real long way..I'll show you how much I dose when you come over..

 

[redrider911]

Went to ARC to see what they have. They recommended Rod's food. I remembering reading good things about it, so we will see.

 

[talon4x4]

Went to ARC to see what they have. They recommended Rod's food. I remembering reading good things about it, so we will see.

There is no question fish and coral lover Rod's food. However, I think it may be the source of my cyano growth. I have stopped feeding it and have gone to a flake/pellet mix. If things turn around I will probably feed Rod's to the tank once a week and the flake/pellet the other days.

 

[redrider911]

Yeah, I think I will feed Rod's on Thursday and do a water change on Saturday. I feed either New life Spectrum or frozen mysis shrimp every other day.