Filter Feeder Food?

[reeforama]

My live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater came with dozens of live mollusks. I don't know what to feed them. What are the chances that they will survive?

[Geoff]

if you can feed them they will live for quite a while i had some when i used to have carribean LR. i do not feed my filter feeders right now, so i can not answer the food part. all i know is i have a sheer billion tube worms and growing so they are eating something, i can only assume the refugium.

G~

[mapster]

Welcome to The Reef Tank. Boston in the house!

Thats some nice looking LR! Filter feeders will filter the water for the food they need. In an established reef tank this stuff will occur naturally, but in a new set-up (which Im assuming yours is?) it may not be so readily available. I cant comment on how hardy these animals are and I dont know if it will survive the cycling of your tank, but if it does you shouldn't have to directly feed them. Maybe creating a storm once in a while (blowing detritus of the rocks with a powerhead or turkey baster) would help.

Welcome Aboard

[Geoff]

Welcome!!! sorry, for not noticing on my earlier post.

G~

[Python73]

Mine are all still alive. Got my TBS rock in April of last year. They are in my FOwLR, which I overfeed, but otherwise have received no special attention.

S !

ps - get any mantis shrimp? Get your 6g ready...

[karsco]

Reeforama,

Nice looking rock! I also initially started my tank with TBS live rock, I still have many mollusks, sponges, feather dusters etc. after 2-1/2 years. The thing you really need to watch in the next couple of weeks is your water parameters because you will get some die off with this rock thus increasing your amonia and nitrites. I had to do quite a few water changes for about 2 weeks to keep the water parameters at respectable levels, and then everything leveled off. I currently feed my fish once a day and feed the tank, DT's phytoplankton also ESV freezed dried phytoplankton about twice a week. Well good luck!