Feeding DT's Premium

[chrisbenavides]

Just would like to know how many people use DT's phytoplankton and how they use it.

Do most just add it to the tank, or do most shut skimmer and filters off during the feeding time?

Is it better to feed during the day or night?

Questions like these are what I want to know, so I can help guage myself towards the prefered method.

For the poll:

Option #2 Syringe corals/clams - skimmer off only
Option #3 Syringe corals/clams - skimmer and filter off


THANKS!!!

 

[chrisbenavides]

bump for more votes thanks.

 

[chrisbenavides]

I actually did not think someone would vote that its a waste of $$$, considering all I have read here on RC. I know that the majority of people like using it, but I don't know exactly how much they use for it to be successful.

 

[rockindacheeks]

i just got some a couple days ago... Is it as good as ive heard?

 

[chrisbenavides]

Thats what I am trying to find out. Anyone care to comment?

I'm surprised that most people to add it to the tank. Does it not get skimmed out fairly quickly?

 

[chrisbenavides]

I'm surprised at the #s

thanks to those who voted

 

[theatrus]

I add it to the tank and turn the skimmer off for about 4 hours weekly. Does that count?

 

[vessxpress1]

I voted: Option 2, plus I only feed during the day. I do like to target feed with it every few days but occasionally I'll get lazy and just dump a few cap fulls in the tank too. I don' think there's a written rule on how to do it. I know turning the skimmer off helps keep everything in the water longer. I don't turn my other filters off though.

I tend to mix mine with different combos including DT's oyster eggs, reef chili, cyclopeeze, zoplan, etc. I'll put any combo of those in my DT's phyto and mix it up, sometimes all. Sure you can get by with just light but I figure why not supplement it? These things feed in the wild. Why shouldn't they in a tank?

 

[chrisbenavides]

I like the idea of turning the skimmer off for four hours weekly. Maybe even longer would be better.

Does anyone ever turn off the skimmer for the day and let the corals feed of the thing that gets skimmed (like phytoplankton)?

I'm wondering if thats a good idea. I use a Remora AquaC hangon (love it), and have read that I am NOT suppose to turn off this skimmer frequently. So I'm guessing that once a week is not so bad. Right???

 

[facewedgie]

option 1 and 3...add it to the tank, then i turn of skimmer/filter and run just a powerhead for an hour afterwards, every other day as recommended.

 

[chrisbenavides]

I guess most people think that its not necessary to turn skimmers off nor filters.

Does DT's recommend that we do?

 

[boxfishpooalot]

All I know is corals trap microscopic stuff in their slime wich they eat later on. I know they eat bacterioplankton, not sure about phytoplankton.

Being since its so abundant in the ocean(phyto) I would say their is a good reason to feed it. Even if corals dont eat it, somthing else will wich will feed the corals Zooplankton are major consumers of phyto and corals eat zooplankton on occasion.

 

[Johnbob]

Phytoplankton is the mainstay food of corals in the ocean. DT's is quite good, but may be a waste of $$$ in that it is: (1) really expensive with respect to what you are getting and (2) many of our other foods, particularly the veggie type flakes have plenty of nutrients in them that are similar to phytoplankton.

 

[chrisbenavides]

So is it different to feed live phyto to dead phyto like Phytoplan?

What about clams? Do they eat dead phyto or only live?

 

[boxfishpooalot]

For sure feed live phytoplankton, because dead ones will contribute to pollution. Such as nitrate from bacterial processes.

I would grow my own as its super cheap to do in coke bottles.

 

[Krypticol]

grow your own, feed live, and your tank should thrive
live phyto is the basis of all life in the ocean

 

[chrisbenavides]

how hard is it in reality? I have seen some info here on RC, but most of it is pretty complicated. I guess the basis is: Starter culture of phyto, Miracle Grow, light, and saltwater and airline? Is sunlight better than artificial light when growing phyto?

 

[boxfishpooalot]

Well, most phytoplankton need to make vitamins. They need trace elements in small quantities such as iron, copper, zinc and cobalt.

Meleve doses Kent essential elements, wich contains, iron, copper, zinc, cobalt and others. So go figure. Diatoms comprise a large portion of phyto, and they make their body out of silica, so dosing silica may be needed.

Yes they need a nitrogen sorce(such as nitrat or ammonia) and phosphorus to grow.

Also some phytoplankton are non motile, so they need water movement.

I think its pretty easy to grow imo, just supply with what they need.

 

[chrisbenavides]

I see. Well thanx! I'll give it a try. How much would you all recommend using as a starter culture? How many caps of DT's?

 

[chrisbenavides]

Can you over do DT's? add to much?

Can you over do DT's? add to much?

Wondering if one can over do DT's by adding too much? I fed four caps worth of DT's in one day to a 55g tank. I'm wondering if this could have a negative affect. I know now if it was dead phyto it would. but what about live phyto? How long can it possibly live in the tank?

Well I did as the majority does: "Simply Add It". Felt good.

Would anyone have a scientific analysis of how much phytoplankton is skimmed out of tanks, and how long it takes to do so? Like I said before, I would hate to have most phyto skimmed in a matter of minutes.

Thanks!