What's the deal with feather dusters?

Spork3245 · 08/17/2013, 10:50 PM

I've always thought that they looked neat and "stood out" in sw tanks (as well as ocean documentaries) and was thinking of getting one but I don't have a lot of info on them outside of "fish store bios". Are they hardy? Okay for a novice? My tank is mostly fowlr minus some mushrooms, would this be a suitable enviorment? Are they filter feeders or do I need to use a feeding syringe? Is there any danger at all for my fish? (ie: could it kill/harm a fish?) Lastly; do they need a qt before being added to my dt? (I typically don't qt inverts unless told otherwise)

Thanks guys!

hollister · 08/18/2013, 12:33 AM

Feather dusters are a good thing , and yes are filter feeders. Help clean the water. If you have fish then adding some phyto plankton once per month should be enough. They will also help with water conditions. A large population could indicate poor water conditions.

Nina51 · 08/18/2013, 05:51 AM

i love my feather dusters. i have several that i've placed here and there in the rocks. they are light as a, well, feather so make sure you place them where they won't get beat up by flow or blown around on the sand bed. they need some flow, just not a blast of it.

Spork3245 · 08/18/2013, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

Feather dusters are a good thing , and yes are filter feeders. Help clean the water. If you have fish then adding some phyto plankton once per month should be enough. They will also help with water conditions. A large population could indicate poor water conditions.

By a large population do you mean the little white ones? I have a ton that recently appeared in my refugium after adding a new piece of live rock, they started to spread to the next compartment - is this a bad sign? What could it indicate? There are none in my DT so I didn't think much of it

Reefmedic79 · 08/18/2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork3245

By a large population do you mean the little white ones? I have a ton that recently appeared in my refugium after adding a new piece of live rock, they started to spread to the next compartment - is this a bad sign? What could it indicate? There are none in my DT so I didn't think much of it

Not necessarily a bad thing, unless they seem to grow out of control.

As to the OP, they won't harm your fish, but there are a few fish that may harm them. Butterflyfish being at the top of the list, some Angels and Tangs have been known to take a nip at them as well.

Spork3245 · 08/18/2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefmedic79

Not necessarily a bad thing, unless they seem to grow out of control.

As to the OP, they won't harm your fish, but there are a few fish that may harm them. Butterflyfish being at the top of the list, some Angels and Tangs have been known to take a nip at them as well.

I have a one spot foxface and plan on getting a flame angel in a month or two - Anything to worry about there?

I just checked my water: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate between 10-20ppm on the color chart with my tester, so let's say 15ppm

Reefmedic79 · 08/18/2013, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork3245

I have a one spot foxface and plan on getting a flame angel in a month or two - Anything to worry about there?

I just checked my water: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate between 10-20ppm on the color chart with my tester, so let's say 15ppm

It's up to the individual fish, the big decorative feather dusters are good about retracting when something comes for a nip the occasional grazer (foxface or angel) may take. It's when they are persistent that you'll have problems.

How old is your tank? I would do my best to get my nitrates under 5 as they can be a bit sensitive to nitrates more some than other invertebrates.

Spork3245 · 08/18/2013, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefmedic79

It's up to the individual fish, the big decorative feather dusters are good about retracting when something comes for a nip the occasional grazer (foxface or angel) may take. It's when they are persistent that you'll have problems.

How old is your tank? I would do my best to get my nitrates under 5 as they can be a bit sensitive to nitrates more some than other invertebrates.

It's about 4.5 months old. I've been doing water changes every few weeks (weekly is impossible due to my schedule and time consumption). Are there any other ways to keep nitrates down that you'd recommend outside of buying reactors?

cloak · 08/18/2013, 02:01 PM

Check these out.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/8/inverts

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/

HTH.

08/17/2013, 10:50 PM	#1
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	What's the deal with feather dusters? I've always thought that they looked neat and "stood out" in sw tanks (as well as ocean documentaries) and was thinking of getting one but I don't have a lot of info on them outside of "fish store bios". Are they hardy? Okay for a novice? My tank is mostly fowlr minus some mushrooms, would this be a suitable enviorment? Are they filter feeders or do I need to use a feeding syringe? Is there any danger at all for my fish? (ie: could it kill/harm a fish?) Lastly; do they need a qt before being added to my dt? (I typically don't qt inverts unless told otherwise) Thanks guys!

08/18/2013, 05:51 AM	#3
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	i love my feather dusters. i have several that i've placed here and there in the rocks. they are light as a, well, feather so make sure you place them where they won't get beat up by flow or blown around on the sand bed. they need some flow, just not a blast of it. __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

08/18/2013, 12:33 AM	#2
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Feather dusters are a good thing , and yes are filter feeders. Help clean the water. If you have fish then adding some phyto plankton once per month should be enough. They will also help with water conditions. A large population could indicate poor water conditions.

08/18/2013, 02:01 PM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Check these out. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/8/inverts http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/ HTH.