Feather Duster

[mytank]

I went to the LFS yesterday, and was asking about the Feather Dusters. They told me that they are difficult to keep and that you need to add Iodine and do the proper dosing for these. Is this true. I have heard that Feather Dusters are easy and then I hear that they are hard to keep. Which is true????? Please let me know, thanks.

 

[reef junky]

Not sure about feather dusters you buy in the store, but since adding bacteria to my tank when I first started it up, I have probably 30 feather dusters around my tank on the rock and they are awesome! I do nothing for them so I guess they are easy to take care of.

 

[saltaddict]

my has been alive for more than 2 years . Scared me about two months ago when it dropped its crown for the second time in 2 years because it took over a week to pop back out but it came back . SO I would have to say no theyre not that bad.

 

[viper_930]

Not hard, no iodine necessary.

 

[spicyballs]

not hard.. just gotta feed em 3-4 times a week...

 

[mytank]

what do you feed them?

 

[wocka]

mine had a 3-4" diameter crown and it dropped it and now when it comes out its only about 1" in diameter?

 

[spicyballs]

marine snow (phytoplankton), kent's microvert, zooplankton.. and on occassion, piece of filet mignon from Morton's steakhouse.. just kiddin..

 

[sleons]

I do all additives every Saturday and the iodine is one cap full per 50 gallons. No big deal. My wife enjoys watching them coming in and out!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wocka]

iodine makes them grow faster

 

[clarkiiboi]

Agree they are not hard to care for, that is as long as there are no predators (an overlooked one is pepp. shrimp). I would skip iodine, its easily overdosed, just do regular water changes. Phyto will help, but all tanks are different in the amount and frequency they will need. Too much phyto can cause unwanted algea.
Wocka Your FD's new crown will be smaller, but it will grow larger. That's normal.