MM WI
New member
The point a few of you are missing is that your clams filter feed naturally in your tanks. The clams you quote in the study would have died with no debate if all they got was light. This is a biololgical certainty.
You are right; all shelf foods would be useless to harmful. They eat live phyto which you would have to grow or buy from one of the few sources that produce a reputable product. I believe I stated clearly phyto feeding?
A small clam in particular in heavily skimmed tank with ozone and all of the toys often recommended in this forum would have trouble with out some supplement. They do better in a tank with some level of nitrate, and a tank that is not overskimmed. I suspect they eat some small amount of z. plankton also despite the dominate belief to the contrary
Bowl feeding a small clam live fresh phyto will only benefit it. There is no down side to this when done properly. Feeding your whole tank phyto is another option but is not as effective. You use a small amount of phyto when bowl feeding as the container is so small. Common sense with an adequate understanding of the process are all that is necessary. It is a usefull tool for clams and corals.
I should add that we are all mostly in agreement here, the points we are debating are subtle. In the average tank feeding is not necessary even for a small clam. A newer tank or a heavily sterilized tank, it may be necessary.
- Mark
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