Which phytoplankton do you feed?

[Electrobes]

I used to grow Nanochloropsis Oculata when I had a regular reef tank, but after doing some research I am going to try to farm the somewhat difficult species "Isochrysis". I read that most farms use this species when rearing clams because of its more digestible cell wall, plus it can move on its own.

What do you all use, and what do you think of my above thought?

 

[justletmein]

I don't use anything, just wipe the glass every now and then. I've got 5 clams ranging in size from 2" to 10".

 

[Scuba Dog]

Im using nanno...the one that came with the florida aquafarms kit....

 

[Electrobes]

yeah florida aqua farms also has isochrysis.. I guess once I am done tiling my house and clean up my work shopp, I will start the culture... muwahahaha!

 

[NewSchool04]

I consider the front, back and side glass my culture. I painstakenly let sit for a day or two and then swipe with the magnet cleaner. Instant clam food.

 

[Snprhed]

I use DT's and have for a while. I get great results with it.

This almost sounds like criticism and its not supposed to. When I feed DT I get these colorful sponges and feather duster type worms. I know we all have them It just seems like with the DT they are bigger and more colorful. I just don't see it with the scraping alone. plus are the scrapings the right size?

* Seriously not trying to start anything

 

[Electrobes]

OH YEAH!? ITS ON!!! hehe j/k...

yeah I believe if I use Isochrysis I will get the same results... I am not sure which species DT's uses in its formula. Some people I have heard, claim that they now mix their stuff up so noone can copy their stuff. I am thinking maybe they use a single culture and then put like one cell of a slightly more aggressive culture so it would eventually win out, but not for a little bit because they prob don't put enough nutrients for that to happen.

I am hoping to achieve the rearing of Isochrysis without much of a hitch... so I can report to you all how it goes.

 

[Snprhed]

I have thought about rearing a couple of times, but then remembered I'm lazy.

 

[Electrobes]

heh always hate it when the ol' lazy bone kicks in and pays a visit

 

[Omar H]

Not sure about species, i just use comercially available.

Liquid Life Bioplankton and since last month I combine it with DTÃ"šÃ‚´s

Omar

 

[Electrobes]

wow I never knew tha price of DT's.. at first I thought.. thats not a bad price.. then I saw the shipping!

 

[cristhiam]

I use Kent's, my little maxima was about 1.5" now 2+ and it's been 7 months since I got it.

 

[northbay-reefer]

I use Kent's

 

[hollback]

I culture my own. I have a culture of DT's and a pure culture of Nanno from the zoo (inside connections). I have noticed improved clam health when adding this phyto to my tank but I am mainly culturing phyto to feed my copepods/rotifers, which are used to feed my mysid shrimp culture, which will be used to feed my pipefish. Ah, the food chain. If you culture your own phyto I think it is a good idea to culture at least two different types of phyto for variety.

 

[Snprhed]

Electrobe, I asked my lfs to pick it up and after a short time of himming and hawing he did. Its saves quite a bit on shipping if you could convince them to.

 

[Electrobes]

yeah unfortunately noone here will...

 

[RasBobre]

http://www.reed-mariculture.com/aquarium/phyto/coralclam.asp

Great stuff!

 

[tomterreefic]

I'm with Snprhed, I work really hard at being lazy. I've used Kent Phytoplex, Marine Snow and DTs. I'm fully sold on the DT's. I've had success with all of the products, but not like I've had with the DTs. Also a noticeable difference in the overall quality of life in my tank, was almost instantaneous. It seems to me that there have been many 'latest & greatest' to come along over the last couple of years, but DTs has outlasted many of them. That's not to say that the others don't work, but...

 

[Snprhed]

Well said Tom.