Do you use phytoplankton? Do you think its a waste?

[rook]

Originally posted by wamp
If you reef tank is healthy and mature, it will produce it's own food.
I think this is true. Once a system is well established, and if you feed properly (I.E. don't underfeed) the system will generate all it needs. But, in the mean time, DT's can be very beneficial to get the process rolling.

 

[wamp]

Remember that most of the time we speak from experience.
Agreed. But that is where all facts start at, Experinces.
A good start, look at some awsome tanks. Ask them what they add to the tank. 8 times out of 10, their answer will be nothing.
My Experince is that they are all a waste of money.
Your tank is all a balancing act. Between fish load and filtration, Chemistry and additives, nautral and stuff you put in. Your tank will mature and will become more self sufficent over time.
I am not advocating not using these additives. Heck, you can add what you want to your tank. It will not bother me at all. However, the question asked is if you think they are a waste of money. My answer is yes.
So to conclude, I strongly belive that stable tanks will be self sufficent only relying on water changes to replinish used trace elements. They will begin to produce their own "Snow" and other needed elements. This is why the more demanding corals and fish should not be added to a new tank. It needs time to mature. If your in a hurry to add corals, by all means, add the DT. I have had quite a few tanks. Some I used additives some not. The ones I left alone, tend to look the best. Just my experience.

 

[rook]

Wamp,
What is your feeding schedule like? I think that is a difference with beginners and more experiance reef keepers. Beginners tend to not feed enough actual food, but add lots of suppliments, but more experianced reefers add lots of food and little suppliments.
Do you think that is a fair statment, and maybe the difference of why more mature tanks do well without these suppliments such as DT's.
This is more question and not a statement of my experiance.

 

[wamp]

When my tank was running (in the middle of getting a house right now) I fed daily. Not alot, just enough for the anthias to be happy. They are pigs.
If people want to use the stuff, and think it is working, more power to them. IME, however, it is an overkill.. Even on a new tank. You should not have any demanding corals, clams, or fish in a new tank. So, if you are patient with your selection and give your tank time, you'll see what I am talking about.
Most new reefers want imediate results. Heck we all do at times. They want a tank with color, and movement right out of the box. That just dosen't happen. So, they buy products that are a "miracle" in a bottle and hope it works. Some may see they notice a diffrence but I'll bet you a shiney quarter that if left alone, it would have been even better.
Also, as mac said, their are exceptions. As he said, small clams. The need alot of food in the water colum.
You would be much better off saving your money and investing in better lights or skimmer or other needed stuff.
wamp

 

[chinnyr]

I just recently started using this product and have seen some noticeable differences in some of my corals.I also have an oyster to feed to.Unfortunatly the corals that have shown the most noticeable differences are the "weeds" in my tank.Xenia,gsps and yellow polyps.I just added my first two sps a month ago and started adding this to give them a little boost.My tri-color frag has encrusted onto the rock and has sprouted more branches.I'll give it some more time to see the results for myself.

 

[chainsaw5vent]

actually, i use "bioplankton" (little blue bottle) and was able to keep my anenomes alive w/o any lighting for 6+ weeks. and since the anenomes have "walked" to hard to feed positions, it makes it a lot easier to care for them.

 

[aileena]

So what is the verdict with clams??? I think it was suggested by those who do not use DT's that it may be beneficial for clams. I would like to try not using it and see what happens, but if its good for the clam I don't want to stop using it...
Wamp ??? anyone???

 

[mrfish]

Can dosing with Phyto cause outbreaks of bad algea, diatoms or Cyano?