Is Phytoplankton necessary?

[shark_bait]

I established my reef tank just a few months ago and been taking it slowly. Prior to this weekend, the only coral I had were a few soft corals such as polyps, tree corals, and mushroom corals. But this weekend I picked up a beautiful blue clam and trumpet coral (lime green candy cane). Both rather small but bright and healthy!!

So do I need to be concerned with feeding these or will they be fine with obsorbing the calcium, strontium, magnesium, etc?

I was instructed to add PhytoPlex by Kent. And I have read that either Phytoplankton or zooplankton should be added.

What's the deal?

[wozza]

it depends on the size of the clam. so what size is it?
Can’t remember exactly (ninong will) but i think after they are about 4"-6" they get something like 90%+ of there nourishment from photosynthesis.
But adding Phytoplankton would certainly not hurt, and remember the best way to feed it is small and often not large and infrequent.



HTH james

[Ratpack]

My LFS turned me on to Reef Bugs and I have had some good success so far with those. I just dose a small amount once a week for my filter feeders and the corals. They are supposed to stay alive so more frequently isn't really necessary. I have a flame scallop that is doing real well and I had heard they are hard to kepp more then a month or two. I also feed some zooplex to each animal once or twice in a targeted feed. Everything seems to be growing and tank remains stable.

[shark_bait]

My LFS turned me on to Reef Bugs and I have had some good success so far with those. I just dose a small amount once a week for my filter feeders and the corals. They are supposed to stay alive so more frequently isn't really necessary. I have a flame scallop that is doing real well and I had heard they are hard to kepp more then a month or two. I also feed some zooplex to each animal once or twice in a targeted feed. Everything seems to be growing and tank remains stable.

Reef Bugs heh? And the plankton or "bugs" are alive? How do they stay alive?

[Ratpack]

Reef Bugs heh? And the plankton or "bugs" are alive? How do they stay alive?

Check out the website and it describes it in detail.

Marc Weiss Aquarium Products - Reef Bugs - Nourish the reef with edible organisms in your aquarium