FM products in syringe pump

[murraycamp]

I am in the planning stages of a NPS system and have been reading the threads in this forum - extremely helpful!

In planning a feeding system, I notice that most NPS reefers are only using the Stottlemire method (Shellfish Diet/Rotifeast) with a syringe pump, but are using the FM dendro system (or a variation) with another method, like a Kalk stirrer, due to concerns regarding keeping the constituents in suspension.

My question is, if I just wanted to use the syringe pump, can any of the FM products be used with that method? I was considering a mixture of SD,RF and oyster eggs with some of the powdered FM products (Ultra Clam, Ultra Sea Fan, UltraMin F) and dosing that mixture via syringe pump.

Is the Ultra Pac (or Ultra Min D now) the issue relative to using the FM products in a syringe pump?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Murray

 

[uhuru]

You can actually keep the FM products in suspension if you use enough Ultra Pac - the problem is using too much Ultra Pac can cause problems. Ultra Pac is like candy to corals - use it sparingly What are you planning to keep specifically?

Mixing everything together in one syringe didn't work well for me. Also caused water quality issues/bacterial blooms. I can dose more when I keep the SD, RF and OF separate.

 

[C. Schuhmacher]

Hi Murry

Min D is not UltraPac , in MIN D is the same polymer like in PAC but not so strong
We try to make the system more easy so it is mostly enough you dose the food separatly without long mixings

We use then for that a automatic feeder whic is well known in europe and where i can feed many times a day with different foods

rgds claude

 

[murraycamp]

You can actually keep the FM products in suspension if you use enough Ultra Pac - the problem is using too much Ultra Pac can cause problems. Ultra Pac is like candy to corals - use it sparingly What are you planning to keep specifically?

Mixing everything together in one syringe didn't work well for me. Also caused water quality issues/bacterial blooms. I can dose more when I keep the SD, RF and OF separate.

Thanks for the input! I was considering mainly NPS gorgonians and sponges initially, but would like to keep the option open for scleros, and maybe a dendro, once I have the nutrient dynamics stabilized. It is currently and acro dom. Zeovit tank now, and I am planning on keeping the zeo system online for help with nutrient control and as a bacterioplankton generator.

What are your thoughts on why the Reef Nutrition products caused more nutrient load when dosed together than separately?

 

[murraycamp]

Hi Murry

Min D is not UltraPac , in MIN D is the same polymer like in PAC but not so strong
We try to make the system more easy so it is mostly enough you dose the food separatly without long mixings

We use then for that a automatic feeder whic is well known in europe and where i can feed many times a day with different foods

rgds claude

Thanks Claude. I appreciate it.

So, if I understand correctly, MIN D may not cause as much nutrient issues? Also, what is the dosing system you are describing? Is it a peristaltic pump system, or something else?

I am trying to understand if there is a way to implement a single-source dosing system instead of having to use multiple systems (like a dual syringe pump, or a syringe pump plus a kalk stirrer, ect.).

Thanks again for your help.

 

[uhuru]

What are your thoughts on why the Reef Nutrition products caused more nutrient load when dosed together than separately?

I can only guess that the preservatives are delicately balanced for each product, and throwing off the balance can lead to premature degradation. You should ask Gresham though. Some corals like dendronephthya probably don't mind eating partially degraded food, but feeding that exclusively is overkill.

 

[murraycamp]

I can only guess that the preservatives are delicately balanced for each product, and throwing off the balance can lead to premature degradation. You should ask Gresham though. Some corals like dendronephthya probably don't mind eating partially degraded food, but feeding that exclusively is overkill.

Thanks Uhuru. I wonder if additional ascorbic acid would help in that type of application?

If you were going to utilize only the syringe pump, what mixture would you dose?

Thanks in advance,

Murray

 

[uhuru]

Re: FM products in syringe pump

In terms of cost effectiveness and an all in one solution for NPS gorgs and softies I like the FM line. The more ultra PAC you use the better it will stay suspended. You could just use a flask and stirrer with a peri pump at first to see if that works without clogging issues. The less vertical distance the food has to travel the better.


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[C. Schuhmacher]

such Feeders we use fir the particle foods
you can choose different foods and that till 28 times a day

rgds claude

 

[tatuvaaj]

such Feeders we use fir the particle foods
you can choose different foods and that till 28 times a day

Claude,

How reliable are those? I've had too many problems with Grässlin timers...

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

I dose the FM products with a syringe pump. I dissolve a small amount of agarose (agar agar ~ 1/4 tsp) by boiling it in about 200mL of saltwater to create a nice gel-like viscous fluid, in which I suspend the particles once it is cooled. I can suspend a lot of food in one solution this way and dose over an extended period of time. It works quite well and I haven't had any major bacterial bloom problems (I add about 100mL of this solution each day). Agarose is basically a sugar, so I would suspect it would have a similar effect as ethanol/sucrose/acetic-acid dosing.

 

[uhuru]

I used a dry auto feeder for a while but the food is so fine it just floats to the surface and gets skimmed out. I then added a feeding ring to keep the food from floating away, but then a lot of it would just collect around the feeding ring - enough that I had to clean it daily. Also, a thin layer of film develops on the water surface inside the feeding ring, thereby making it even harder for the food to sink. It worked best when I had my return flow pointed towards the ring to create just enough turbulence to help the food sink.

I like the agar idea - do you use that in conjunction with ultra pac or is it just for the granular foods?

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

I feed Ultra Min F, Ultra Clam, Ultra Sea Fan, Ultra Min D, and some frozen food, such as Rod's and Cyclopeez. I have actually never tried ultra pac.

 

[murraycamp]

Thanks for everyone's responses - great information. I may consider using two syringe pumps, one for FM and the other for the Reed's products.

 

[C. Schuhmacher]

Hi anj

for that i use pac , Agar is very difficult for the bacterias and i cannot used by corals
if you dose the pac you can ave the same effect but with a benefit for some special corals

rgds claude

 

[murraycamp]

Hi anj

for that i use pac , Agar is very difficult for the bacterias and i cannot used by corals
if you dose the pac you can ave the same effect but with a benefit for some special corals

rgds claude

Claude:

I am still confused as to the differences between Min D and Pac - can Min D be used as a replacement for Pac?

 

[C. Schuhmacher]

HI

This is depending what you want to feed
PAC make a mucus but it is hard to dose
MIN D is more luiquid an d can be add direct in each tank

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

I thought Ultra Pac would be available in the states again. Faunamarindirect does not carry it. Is there anyone who distributes it here that does?

 

[uhuru]

have you tried Greenwich Aquaria? Also you should ask Cherry Corals if that is part of their order.

 

[C. Schuhmacher]

Hi

it will be available again
and is just ordered from different stores

rgds claude