DT's Phytoplankton- How often?

AslanTheKing · 08/27/2006, 01:21 PM

Trying to support copepods and other good hitchikers alive and thriving in my tank. How often do I need to put the recommended dose of DT's in the tank to do that?

Peace

Kevin

GlobaLPimP · 08/27/2006, 01:29 PM

Well, the "directions" on my bottle say 2 Tbs per 100 gls. every other day. That's how much "I" feed

LaDonaDorada · 08/27/2006, 02:57 PM

Global and Aslan do you add yours to the main tank? the sump? or both?

GlobaLPimP · 08/27/2006, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaDonaDorada
Global and Aslan do you add yours to the main tank? the sump? or both?

I add mine directly to my tank. I also turn off my filter pump that goes to my filter sock in the sump, and my skimmer because it will skim the phyto out of the water.

I usually leave my pumps off for about an hour, but I leave my powerheads ON so that the phyto circulates good through the reef.

2639 · 08/27/2006, 03:06 PM

I add 1 cup to my sump twice a week. If I think of it, I turn my skimmer off for an hour so the phyto has had time to get up to the display and into the mouths of everyone

I have 90 gallons of total volume.

bertoni · 08/27/2006, 04:03 PM

I feed every day, and turn off the skimmer for 3 hours. I use a countdown timer to turn the skimmer back on, so it's one-touch operation. The goal of daily feeding is to smooth out the nutrient additions and keep the animals fed consistently, much the way I try to keep myself fed.

GlobaLPimP · 08/27/2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
I feed every day, and turn off the skimmer for 3 hours. I use a countdown timer to turn the skimmer back on, so it's one-touch operation. The goal of daily feeding is to smooth out the nutrient additions and keep the animals fed consistently, much the way I try to keep myself fed.

I think I'm going to switch to your method of feeding phyto....Thanks for sharing

lt34 · 08/27/2006, 06:09 PM

I was told for my 90 gallon 2 tbs twice a week. So I am not feeding enough and will increase. Thanks bertoni.

bertoni · 08/27/2006, 06:14 PM

Well, the amount and the frequency are separate issues. Whatever you do, ramp feeding up slowly and watch carefully. For starters, I'd just feed maybe 2 teaspoons every day, since you're doing 12 tsp a week now. Maybe start a bit lower, since the effectiveness is hard to judge.

Be careful with changes to your tank!

LaDonaDorada · 08/28/2006, 11:10 PM

Originally posted by bertoni
I feed every day, and turn off the skimmer for 3 hours. I use a countdown timer to turn the skimmer back on, so it's one-touch operation. The goal of daily feeding is to smooth out the nutrient additions and keep the animals fed consistently, much the way I try to keep myself fed.
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whats is your one touch countdown imer? i would love to hear how you do it or get a link or name to the product thats lets you do this?

bertoni · 08/28/2006, 11:14 PM

I use an expensive (sigh) lab timer from LabSafety.com:

http://www.labsafety.com/search/epro...&Ntk=LSSSearch

It has a lot more features than the countdown, but that's the only one I use.

08/27/2006, 01:21 PM	#1
AslanTheKing Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 249	DT's Phytoplankton- How often? Trying to support copepods and other good hitchikers alive and thriving in my tank. How often do I need to put the recommended dose of DT's in the tank to do that? Peace Kevin

08/27/2006, 01:29 PM	#2
GlobaLPimP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 911	Well, the "directions" on my bottle say 2 Tbs per 100 gls. every other day. That's how much "I" feed __________________ This hobby is educational; it teaches you how to spend a lot of money in a hurry! Current Tank Info: 75gl, SPS, LPS, IceCap/T5/SLR, 2 modded Tunze 6045's, PCI 350 skimmer w/ Gen-X 2400, 95lbs LR, GEN-X 4100 return

08/27/2006, 04:03 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I feed every day, and turn off the skimmer for 3 hours. I use a countdown timer to turn the skimmer back on, so it's one-touch operation. The goal of daily feeding is to smooth out the nutrient additions and keep the animals fed consistently, much the way I try to keep myself fed. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/27/2006, 06:09 PM	#8
lt34 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Port, Florida Posts: 217	I was told for my 90 gallon 2 tbs twice a week. So I am not feeding enough and will increase. Thanks bertoni. __________________ Barry Never Forget 9/11, Support our Troops. "FDNY 343" "I promise to mow the lawn if I can get that Coral". Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef, 2-150watt HQI MH, 260 watt PC Atinics, 9.5mag in sump, Seio 1100 ph, 110lbs lr, 100lbs ls, Coralife superskimmer 125

08/27/2006, 06:14 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, the amount and the frequency are separate issues. Whatever you do, ramp feeding up slowly and watch carefully. For starters, I'd just feed maybe 2 teaspoons every day, since you're doing 12 tsp a week now. Maybe start a bit lower, since the effectiveness is hard to judge. Be careful with changes to your tank! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/27/2006, 02:57 PM	#3
LaDonaDorada Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan (the glove part) Posts: 93	Global and Aslan do you add yours to the main tank? the sump? or both?

08/27/2006, 03:06 PM	#5
2639 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 650	I add 1 cup to my sump twice a week. If I think of it, I turn my skimmer off for an hour so the phyto has had time to get up to the display and into the mouths of everyone I have 90 gallons of total volume.

08/28/2006, 11:10 PM	#10
LaDonaDorada Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan (the glove part) Posts: 93	Originally posted by bertoni I feed every day, and turn off the skimmer for 3 hours. I use a countdown timer to turn the skimmer back on, so it's one-touch operation. The goal of daily feeding is to smooth out the nutrient additions and keep the animals fed consistently, much the way I try to keep myself fed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- whats is your one touch countdown imer? i would love to hear how you do it or get a link or name to the product thats lets you do this?

08/28/2006, 11:14 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I use an expensive (sigh) lab timer from LabSafety.com: http://www.labsafety.com/search/epro...&Ntk=LSSSearch It has a lot more features than the countdown, but that's the only one I use. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni