Live Phyto in Reef Tanks

[Anemone]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by jamesw:
<strong>ROFL, by definition, Phytoplankton = non-swimming-drifting-plant.
</strong><hr></blockquote>


Yep, but does it become phytoplankton when we make it into a drifting plant by scrubbing/scraping it off?

I agree that cell size may very well be an issue with scrubbed glass algae as phyto, but in a 40 gallon tank I keep at an elementary school, something likes it when I clean the glass. I don't get to the school to clean the glass as often as I should, so when I finally get around to scrubbing the glass, the water gets a pretty funky color to it. Even after I change out 5 gallons (final step in the cleaning process), the tank has a pretty strong green/brown tint (I siphon the water change water into a white bucket, so I get to see exactly how tinted (tainted?) the water becomes). Within a few hours the water is clear. So either the 5" derasa, cryptic sponges, plate coral, cup coral, bubble coral, GSPs or a few zooanthids (or a combination) are filtering out this free-floating-phyto-non-plankton (

).

FWIW,
Kevin

 

[MattM]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Heavenly Damsel:
<strong>Can you add DT's just once a month? My LFS told me to add 1 tsp twice a week. Am I using it correctly?</strong><hr></blockquote>

danmhippo is correct, with that livestock list there is not much in your tank that would benefit from it.

That being said, smaller doses more frequently are always better than a bunch all at once. Most food items are available in low supply 24/7 on the reef which is very different than how we feed our tanks - nothing for a long time, then more than anyone can eat for a short period. The best way to add phytoplankton or a microparticulate food would be a slow constant drip.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Kevin's last post mirrors my own thoughts.Is the greenwater we create by cleaning the glass a good phytoplankton substitute? From personal experience,I'd have to say it is.And to post that "nekton= plankton which can swim" is true,jamesw.It is, however,very misleading to many,as any organism that swims,including whales- are considered nekton.

 

[danmhippo]

Wasn't them mostly diatom growing on our glass? From what I remembered, diatom (approx. 14 um)is much larger then typical nanochloropsis (5-6 um). Plus, scraping action will result in clumps of these diatom. Polyps digestibility of these large clumps is questionable.

 

[Anemone]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by danmhippo:
<strong>Wasn't them mostly diatom growing on our glass? From what I remembered, diatom (approx. 14 um)is much larger then typical nanochloropsis (5-6 um). Plus, scraping action will result in clumps of these diatom. Polyps digestibility of these large clumps is questionable.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Don't know about the clumping, but the water gets a pretty uniform color....maybe need to send some to Matt to look at with his new digital Skope (I really want one of those.....gotta figure a way of "selling" the price to wife though....). Some of the stuff on the glass is golden-brown diatoms (no doubt), but I also get green and some red colored growth as well. There also seems to be some sequential species growth, as green comes in first, then golden-brown, then red. So I might be able to control what gets into the water by timing my cleanings (at least in the school tank).

Kevin

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Diatoms are common in new tanks and those with ample silicates.This is not what I scrape off to make greenwater in my tank,and I do not believe Anemone is referring to diatoms either.Diatoms are usually a golden-brown color.Our stuff is GREEN.