Phytoplankton Supplements - to use or not to use...?

[Silvansaria]

So I have a 88 thriving tank now. I check the levels regularly - almost religiously to monitor everything... I have a good group of fish, corals, lots of growing Frogspawn, huge clean up crew...

I was talked into buying 2 separate supplement systems. One called: Coral food and the other being a 2 part phytoplankton system. Some people are saying it is REALLY good for the corals, the fish, etc and will make everything in there bloom etc and that the skimmer(s) I have will pick everything else up that isn't used...

But other people say - it will add a huge biomass to the tank - and that I will need to do a major water change immediately after as well as monitor the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels very closely. One way to avoid this they say is to take a gallon of the tank water - and then scoop up all the corals/frogspawn you want to feed and put a massive amount of phytoplankton in there - let them eat all that - and then stick them back into the main tank...

While I like the idea of a blooming, healthy tank - I *don't* like the idea of having to do a major water change immediately after and all that goes along with it...

Anyone have experience with this - and is it as bad as they make it out to be - is it a good thing for the tank if given in small doses... Thoughts??

[Reefmedic79]

Never heard of a "2-part" phytoplankton system, who makes it?

Who makes the coral food?

[Silvansaria]

Coral Food: "AZOX Coral Macro Diet" by Aqua-Tech Co. They said it is new on the market basically.



The 2 part phytoplankton:

One bottle of Nannochloropsis Oculata
One bottle of Tetraselmis Chui

They said to give a little of one, wait a few seconds and then give a little of the other one or they would consume each other in the tank. Another system made by Aqua-tech Co. The label is: Phyto2 "Quality Live Phytoplankton"

They run about $20 each. (Well, $20 for the ONE bottle of Coral Food and $20 for the 2 part system)

[Reefmedic79]

From the info I found, the 2 part are just two different types of phyto, but you already knew that. It seems like it's similar as DT's, another phyto feed, so unless the water that the phyto is stored in is contaminated for whatever reason it should be good to use as directed on the bottle. The catch is since the company that makes it isn't as well known, or at least I've never heard of them, is the quality of the phyto, which means it could be useless nutritionally.

Same goes for the Macro Diet, it looks like it could work as a good food for corals and other planktavores, but the quality may be in question.

Overall I think if kept within feeding directions on the bottle you shouldn't have to worry about it boosting your bio-mass, especially if your skimming well.

[Silvansaria]

Originally Posted by Reefmedic79

From the info I found, the 2 part are just two different types of phyto, but you already knew that. It seems like it's similar as DT's, another phyto feed, so unless the water that the phyto is stored in is contaminated for whatever reason it should be good to use as directed on the bottle. The catch is since the company that makes it isn't as well known, or at least I've never heard of them, is the quality of the phyto, which means it could be useless nutritionally.

Same goes for the Macro Diet, it looks like it could work as a good food for corals and other planktavores, but the quality may be in question.

Overall I think if kept within feeding directions on the bottle you shouldn't have to worry about it boosting your bio-mass, especially if your skimming well.

Yeah I basically use them around the time I do a water change so it all works out anyway. I usually just spot feed the mix directly onto the frog spawn or zoas etc and then do a water change afterwards. I'm running 2 skimmers so there shouldn't really be any problems...

Seems like everything is fine - I feed them about once every 2 weeks but truthfully - there isn't any crazy significant change in their growth though like the owner of the store stated so I think it's mostly hype and won't be buying them again...

[t4zalews]

If your tank is thriving I wouldn't change a thing. I know this from experience. I had a thriving tank crash because I got stupid and wanted to try new things. KISS method is tried and true

[philosophile]

There isn't really a upside for dosing phyto if things are going well. Dose phyto if you have things that need it or if you're trying to feed a growing population of copepods.

If you do decide to dose, start off with a small dose and slowly ramp up for your biological filter to catch up to the new amount of input, otherwise you'll get algae everywhere.

[Reefin' Dude]

i am not a fan of any phosphates in a bottle. i would prefer to stick with a zooplankton style food, then something fed on miracle grow, then placed in a bottle for us to put in our systems.

G~

[Silvansaria]

Originally Posted by philosophile

There isn't really a upside for dosing phyto if things are going well. Dose phyto if you have things that need it or if you're trying to feed a growing population of copepods.

If you do decide to dose, start off with a small dose and slowly ramp up for your biological filter to catch up to the new amount of input, otherwise you'll get algae everywhere.

Yeah one thing I notice is I have a lot of Red Algae growing now... I use that liquid and turn off the skimmers for a couple of days and that usually clears it out. I'm gonna start doing that once a month now because it seems that stuff is really hard to get rid of...

But yeah after I use up the bottles - I'm done with all that jazz...