Phytoplankton

Well I have been thinking about feeding phyto to my tank and am also inturested in growing my own phyto. So im wondering if anyone on here either grows phyto and or feeds phyto to there tank. how do you grow your, feed yours, do you think of feeding phyto. ;D

 

I have never cultured my own, but I do dose it occasionally. I have noticed that it is easy to overdue it. But will support a larger than average pod population. Also caused some red planariums to spike in populations. Overall I like the effects. I dose it now about once every other week.

 

+1

FWIW, the planktivores in our tanks (fish, corals, inverts) feed on zooplankton (pods, etc). It is the zooplankton that feeds on phyto. It won't take much as they also eat microalgae and detritus.

 

so the corals and sponges wont actual feed on the phyto intead the zoopla in the tank will feed on it causeing there number to increase so that in turn the corals and ect will have more food?

 

Phytoplankton by definition is microalgae.

There are invertebrates that do feed on phytoplankton in our tanks as well... feather dusters, bivalves, some soft corals, sponges, etc.

 

Yes, sponges, tunicates, soft corals, some soft corals will eat the phytoplankton. But your general premise phyto>zooplankton>feed stony corals is correct, and how most companies that sell phyto market it as

 

i understang the whole chain i use to major in marine bio i just thought that coral ate both phyto and zoo.

I complete understand what you guys are saying and it makes sense