keep in or remove

[AgentSPS]

I have read many of the articles on feeding and basically agree that it is necessary for long term survival and health. Being that my clams are far down in my sandbed attached to rocks it is too difficult to remove them for feeding. I also think that removing them would cuase stress and might hurt the foot. So I am wondering how effective dosing DT's to the tank will be??? How much and how often would I need to add it??

 

[vester_72]

I am a newbie to clams, but I have heard of people either direct feeding with phyto using a turkey baster or even cutting a plastic bottle cut in half (with the spout pointing up) and placing over the clam, then adding phyto into the bottle.

I have never tried that, but sounds like it would work quite well.

 

[Rothie]

I think it is too stressful to remove the clam or cover him to feed.I shut off all my pumps,mix the DT's in a cup with some tank water,and baste the mixture over the clam.This is only necessary for small clams <3".If you only have larger clams it is fine to just feed the tank-the phyto will be appreciated by other things in your tank.I would turn off the skimmer for an hour or so.

 

[AgentSPS]

I might just throw some DTs and tank water in a bag and cover the clam until the water is clear. I just think dumping DT's directly to the tank water would not provide nearly enough nutrients for the clam. Nothing else I really care about benefits from micro algae anyway...

 

[holeinone1972]

Nothing else I really care about benefits from micro algae anyway...

Micro algae can help sandbed fauna reproduce, thus releasing their gametes into the water column, and feeding all of your corals even sps.

So many others will benefit but just not directly from the algae.....

Rob

 

[AgentSPS]

Micro algae can help sandbed fauna reproduce, thus releasing their gametes into the water column, and feeding all of your corals even sps.

So many others will benefit but just not directly from the algae.....

Rob

I dunno about pods and the like but SPS do not feed on micro algae. In fact..even the clams will not feed on the micro algae unless it is live. Not sure which micro algaes can survive under the salinity of our systems. I will have to check what the salinity requirements are for the nanochloplapla (stupid for Nanochloropsus)

 

[AgentSPS]

Rob-

my apologies..I read your reply again and noticed that you were referring to the gametes feeding the coral (not the micro algae).

Thanks

Erik