Skimmers and Phytoplankton

[yossaria]

Hi All,
If you want to treat your filter feeders to a dose of phytoplankton, do you need to shut down your skimmer? It seems to me that the skimmer would do its best to take the phytoplankton out of suspension and thwart your efforts to feed your friends.
Thanks for the help.
Yoss

 

[moneyman]

Skimmers will pick up phytoplankton.

 

[yossaria]

How quickly will a skimmer deplete the phytoplankton? Should I turn the skimmer off and if so for how long?

 

[moneyman]

I turn off the skimmer for about 4 hours after dosing. How quickly? I dont know. But it would depend on the concentration, the skimmer, flow, and etc.

 

[yossaria]

BTW, thanks for the help!

 

[dawman]

That is why I spot feed .

 

[bang guy]

If it's frozen phyto or otherwise dead phytoplankton then the skimmer will pick it up pretty quick. Live phytoplankton won't stick the the bubbles in a skimmer.

 

[moneyman]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
If it's frozen phyto or otherwise dead phytoplankton then the skimmer will pick it up pretty quick. Live phytoplankton won't stick the the bubbles in a skimmer.
Interesting ... why live phyto wont stick to the bubble?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by MoneyMan
Interesting ... why live phyto wont stick to the bubble?
That's a great question and one I've been wondering about for a long time. i would think live phyto would behave just like dead phyto but in my experience it doesn't.
If you ever find out then please let me know!