Maxima Feeding Required?

[falconut]

I have a standard 90 gal. w/(2) 250W MH's. It's 24" deep and the lights are about 6" - 8" above the water. My SPS is growing at all levels. I have had a Blue Crocea for close to a year and it's doing great. I have it at the bottom in the sand. I really haven't fed any phyto, maybe only a 3.5 oz. bottle during the first month.

I recently picked up a 2" Blue Maxima. I have placed it on the bottom like the Crocea and it has opened up nicely. I have tried to find this out with searches, but I must not be finding the right threads. Does a 2" Maxima require regular feedings of phytoplankton (DT's)? If so, at what size does this not become a requirement anymore? Here is a photo of it:

I did purchase some DT's the day after I put the clam in and put in about 15ml. I figure I will do this every 2 - 3 days if it is needed. If it isn't needed, then maybe I'll do this once every week or two.

 

[concept3]

The last clam I fed was under 2 inches. It's now about 2 1/4" and the last one I got from ILC (as did you ) won't be fed. It doesn't hurt to throw some DT's in the tank anyways, cuz if your clam doesn't use it, something else in your tank will.

When I fed my "older" clam, I shut off ALL the pumps, let the tank water stand for 5-10 minutes and then used a rigid airline tubing with silicone hose to "pipette" the DT'S above it. You will barely see the phyto, but you'll see it get siphoned in- pretty cool to see.

 

[a4twenty]

i agree supplemental feeding is not necessary as long as they are getting enough light. having fish in the tank that you feed regularly helps too, by creating nutrients. having said that i dose phyto 3 times a week in my tank ( under 400w halides ). the clams use it as well as lots of other stuff in the tank.

i shut off my skimmer and turn of my sump ( leaving power heads running for circulation ) and just dose the tank ( start small and build up ). after 1/2 an hour i start my sump back up ( to get the phyto into my fuge for my pods ) then clean the skimmer. about 3 hours later i restart my skimmer.

 

[falconut]

Thanks guys. That's what I was hoping for.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9288293#post9288293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by a4twenty
i agree supplemental feeding is not necessary as long as they are getting enough light.

I hope this isn't misinterpreted as "if you dont have strong light, feeding will make the cut", because this isn't true. Strong light is a pre-requisite and requirement for clams. Feeding is not.

 

[a4twenty]

sorry that was not my intention.

where i think supplemental feeding can become necessary is when people have ultra clean systems. no fish just coral and running UV etc..

a fully stocked tank just sold at a nearby LFS ( for about 20K ) and they could never keep clams alive in it because the tank was so nutrient free.