Phyto Feast?

[jsantoli]

Does anyone use it? I have been reading a ton of stuff on many different websites. If people do use it, how it is spread through the tank, poured in or directly fed to the coral?

 

[harryk]

I've never used it but i beleive it is basically liquid food that you pour in. I would probably use some type of dropper to administer it.

 

[vangvace]

I shake it up to get anything that's settled off the bottom of the bottle floating again then just pour it in.

 

[jsantoli]

Okay Harry, thank you. It says use 1-5 drops per gallon, per day. So I did 1 drop to see how it works. I shut off the pumps like it said for an hour or so and let it remain in the tank until clear. I was just wondering if i should target the corals with it or let it spread around on its own

 

[magic]

Okay Harry, thank you. It says use 1-5 drops per gallon, per day. So I did 1 drop to see how it works. I shut off the pumps like it said for an hour or so and let it remain in the tank until clear. I was just wondering if i should target the corals with it or let it spread around on its own

It couldn't hurt!

Bob

 

[Hawkeye]

what corals do you have that require phyto feast?

 

[jsantoli]

I have no idea haha. I have a torch, leather, zoo's, blasto, anemone. I just read that its good for the tank in general

 

[Hawkeye]

Phyto is a requirement for things that are filter feeders. I guess a good example would be a baby clam.

Are your corals (the blasto) showing their feeder tentacles when you dose? If not - I'm not even sure I'd bother. The torch and zoos should be fine without eating anything at all - they rely on the zooxanthella in their flesh to produce food. The zooxanthella requires light and some ammonia which they should be getting from your fish (you have fish too right?)

I would just monitor your water chemistry as sometimes these foods (if uneaten) will breakdown and add to nutrient/phosphates build-up and that may result in unanticipated algae growth.

edit - what kind of anemone do you have? every once a while a meaty treat is appreciated. I did read from delbeek/sprung that anemones can absorb some nutrients/phyto thru the water, but depending on the type - the primary method of food is simply thru photosynthesis via the zooxanthella.

 

[jsantoli]

It is a conti anemone, and yes i have a clown and a psuedo in the tank. So you guys think it's a waste to add that?

 

[Hawkeye]

Well - just a sec. I just realized one could dose phyto to feed the refugium fauna (e.g. your copepods).

On the other hand, if you think the corals look better after dosing one drop gallon - then who am I to argue? But I'm pretty sure others have kept those same corals you listed without having the need to supplement via phytofeast.

Others can chime in and disagree/agree. I am but one opinion...

 

[jsantoli]

And your opinion is appreciated, you know far more then I do about this. Thank you for chiming in

 

[vangvace]

phil, that's a big reason to why I dose when I don't have filter feeders.

With my latest setup I'm turning my tank greenish once every 4-6 days. Enough to give a green tint, but still see everything inside. I haven't noticed an increase in nitrates or phosphates yet. I have noticed my pod and micro-critter population has grown. If it's new tank growth or the phyto I couldn't say. Weekly 20-25% water changes might have something to do with it too.

 

[waynes reef]

i feed phyto every other day, but i have sps, i shut off the skimmer but leave the main pump running so the phyto gets in my fuge, i feed my anenomes silversides twice a week and let the rest of the corals fend for them selves through photosynthysis, alls well so far, no spot feeding

 

[Hawkeye]

it just occurred to me that phyto is also necessary for filter feeders like feather dusters.