I currently upgraded my 7 gallon nano to a 60 gallon reef with a 30 gallon fuge and a algae scrubber. It has a couple of corals and 4 Chromies currently. When I move in a few months I have a brand new 225 that I am going to be putting everything in to. I was considering feeding live phyto because I want to add more corals and a clam. It will have PC lighting. While doing research on growing my own phyto cultures I was wondering why people don't just do a slow drip in to the tank and constantly top off the growing culture with new salt water. I was thinking about having something cone shaped that drips the culture from the bottom and has an airstone in the bottom for agitation. Would this work or would the culture die off?
Question for those that feed live phyto
- Thread starter The1and only
- Start date
It would eventualy die off... because there would be nothing for food for the phytos, as they need more then just water and sun, though if you toped it off with dirty tank water its probably doable, or maybe threw a few flakes of food in once and a wile (to decay/produce plant food).
Though personaly I feel like a slow enough drip wouldn't be sufficient for the corals, and a faster would decline to quickly to regrow, but you could easily have a few bottles siting else where that have your main cultures. Refilling bottles as nessisary.
Though personaly I feel like a slow enough drip wouldn't be sufficient for the corals, and a faster would decline to quickly to regrow, but you could easily have a few bottles siting else where that have your main cultures. Refilling bottles as nessisary.
You're not going to have much luck with a clam under PCs. I wouldn't waste your $$$ getting PCs on a 225g. Go straight to T5s.
I already have the pc lights so no expense there. I want to upgrade to DIY LEDs once I get some cash together but will not be til next year so I guess the clam will have to wait. I have considered feeding the phyto and turning the drip off for a few days after I refill the container. I am just trying to minimize the amount of work I put in to maintenance.
I'll get on my DIY LED tangent. Make sure your LED setup will have enough par at the clams. If you don't then they will die. Plus, if you choose clams your water prams will have to be checked frequently. Because clams use Calcium and Carbonate like it's going out of style.
Phyto growth/dosing is minimal effort, fill a pop bottle with tank water then drop an airstone in it and either stick it in a window or put a light on it. Then just dump half back into the tank and refill allowing growth to continue (shouldnt be a problem as long as your tank doesnt have rotifers in it as they will consume the phyto in the bottle faster then it can grow).
I was concerned with using tank water because I would like to have as many critters in the tank as possible.
I was thinking of growing large batches of phyto then feeding it to rotifers and mysis then adding all 3 to the tank. maybe even some baby brine. This is all because I really want a mandrin when I set up the big tank. The rest of the fish and corals are in the air until I get everything going. I really just want a tank that is as diverse as possible.
I was thinking of growing large batches of phyto then feeding it to rotifers and mysis then adding all 3 to the tank. maybe even some baby brine. This is all because I really want a mandrin when I set up the big tank. The rest of the fish and corals are in the air until I get everything going. I really just want a tank that is as diverse as possible.
Okay...couple things. First off...dripping saltwater into a reef is going to increase salinity. I wouldnt want that. Also, adding dirty tank water is going to hurt water parameters.
+1 for clams lighting needs. There are many LED options available today that outdo the PAR ratings of MH pendants...so that shouldnt really be a problem unless you spend no time whatsoever researching your fixture.
Last word of advice, if it isnt broken, dont fix it. I have seen lots of reefers get some little idea into their head ("I HAVE to do this.") next thing you know they are tearing down their tank because it didnt work. My .02
+1 for clams lighting needs. There are many LED options available today that outdo the PAR ratings of MH pendants...so that shouldnt really be a problem unless you spend no time whatsoever researching your fixture.
Last word of advice, if it isnt broken, dont fix it. I have seen lots of reefers get some little idea into their head ("I HAVE to do this.") next thing you know they are tearing down their tank because it didnt work. My .02