Feeding clams?

[Reefer Jerm]

I have read many articles on if you should feed your clams or not. Most say you should, but then there are the ones who say that if you have a refugium you dont need to because they get there nutritional needs from it. I have a 55 gal tank with a 55 gal refugium that is divided into 4 compartments. I plan on having several clams (will start with a deresa and move up slowly) but I want to be as educated as possible before hand so there isnt any deaths caused by ignorance. I would appreciate any opinions or advise anyone may have.
Thanks
Victoria

 

[Scuba Dog]

General thought is that you should feed clams smaller than three inches in size, since the mantle size does not have enough surface area to suport enough photosynthesis to completly give the baby clam all the nourishment it needs. I used to feed DT's but the price and local availability was a major pita for me, so I started culturing my own live phyto and soon rotifers instead....So much cheaper and its not difficult, much less of a pita than a two to four hour round trip drive just to get DT.s was lol.