!!!warning!!! newb question !! warning!!

[rangerfan]

what is the difference between zoo and phyto plankton??? also is one better for corals than the other?? and what exactly are rotifers and does anyone out there feed them or have experience???

[mantisfreak]

Phytoplankton is algae that floats in the ocean. Zooplankton are tiny animals that float in the ocean. Rotifers are a type of very small zooplankton. They are used to feed baby fish and some corals will eat them.

Most corals do not ingest phytoplankton. However, it will feed filter feeders in your tank and many of them will spawn making available food for corals.

Many people get algae problems by overfeeding phyto. Consider it phosphate in a bottle.

[rangerfan]

i know it is phosphates in a bottle i was just wondering the difference between the two. you say that corals wont eat phyto plankton right and then you say it will feed the filter feeders in my tank and they will spawn and feed the corals what filter feeders are you refering too and will they spawn perfectly fine without phyto

[Geoff]

phytoplankton is plankton that is photosynthetic. zoo plankton is not photosynthetic. phosphates are what is used to feed phytoplankton. therefore they bind up large amounts of phosphates. when you add these to the tank, you are adding phosphates. whether a critter eats it or not it will decompose and release this bound phosphates. feeding more algae in the system.

G~

[rangerfan]

i know we have had this discussion before geoff but i jsut had this disscusion the other day with this guy who ahs a zoo and ric tank which is what i am after and he said he feed rotifers all the time and he says you can actually see the zoos react to them being put in the water and was claiming he could see a difference in color of his softies after feeeding rots

[Ms. K]

I feed DT's Oyster eggs and I also have a 58 gallon fuge breeding copepods and amphipods. This seems to work well for my zoas and shrooms.

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by rangerfan

i know we have had this discussion before geoff but i jsut had this disscusion the other day with this guy who ahs a zoo and ric tank which is what i am after and he said he feed rotifers all the time and he says you can actually see the zoos react to them being put in the water and was claiming he could see a difference in color of his softies after feeeding rots

are we talking about phytoplankton or rotifers? rotifers feed on phytoplankton.

with softies you can get away with feeding phyto since they prefer a higher DOC content in the water.

i guess i am a little confused with the conversation you had with this guy.

G~

[Casey]

I feed the rotifers and cant see any difference.

[rangerfan]

he was saying he feeds phyto and rotifers like every other day but we are talking about a 75 gallon tnak filled to the gills with zoos and rics, which mine is mostly zoos also.

[Casey]

I would never feed phyto every other day the stuff will cause to many algae problems I dont use it anymore just the rotis.

Originally Posted by rangerfan

he was saying he feeds phyto and rotifers like every other day but we are talking about a 75 gallon tnak filled to the gills with zoos and rics, which mine is mostly zoos also.

[rangerfan]

here is the link, it was atank of the month on RC it states his feeding habits at the bottom for the live food, i talked to him about it and he says it is doing wonders but i was kind of reserved becasue i know i have had conversations here before about the phosphates in a bottle

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-08/totm/index.php

[rangerfan]

well there is the link casey you think that still holds true with a tnak with this many softies in it????

[Casey]

Well yes I do I have seen it,I just really want people to use it sparingly and not all the time so that they have to buy more of the $$$$$ stuff like the manufactuers want you to do,I want to help people avoid hair algae not get it.