Cold DT's right into the tank?

[ReefLion]

Is there any problem dosing DT's right into the tank, or should I be making some effort to gradually equate temperature and salinity before adding? Thanks.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

I just dump it right into the tank. The green cloud covers one of my acroporas but completely breaks up in a few seconds. Doesn't seem the bother the colony at all.

Louey

 

[ScottC]

Just pour it right in. The temperature will balance itself to that of your tank within seconds. If you have a sump, pour it in next to your return, as long as the skimmer isn't inline with it. I just dump it right into the tank through the canopy.

 

[brandon4291]

I too just add it all in at once to all of my small reefs, it doesnt seem to hurt anything. Right under the entry hole in the reefbowl is some acropora, and they are constantly hit with a cold, green cloud each time I dose DT's. Haven't seen them retract their polyps or do anything to indicate stress--and you can bet if there were any, these guys would show it!


b429

 

[Reef Goalie]

Does anyone direct feed DT's to specific corals alone or do most people just disperse it in the entire tank? I just disperse it but was wondering if it would help to direct feed any corals, especially tougher to keep ones.

 

[texman]

I am not sure if Reef Goalie was more concerned about the tank receiving a cold blast, or if the bigger concern is the DT's receiving a sudden warm whirlpool. I have thought about this in the past. Should we acclimate the phytoplankton to prevent them from dying secondary to sudden temperature and osmotic shock?

 

[ReefLion]

It was ReefLion, but tex raised my concerns. I'm thinking that the phytoplankton might not make the quick transition, which might reduce their value as a food source (at least after a little while to decay in the tank). Any more thoughts would be appreciated, and thanks for everyone's ideas.

 

[ScottC]

Does anyone direct feed DT's to specific corals alone or do most people just disperse it in the entire tank? I just disperse it but was wondering if it would help to direct feed any corals, especially tougher to keep ones.

In my past experiences I have fed most euphylia, catalaphyllia and clams directly. The catalaphyllia usually expanded quite a bit after a direct blast of DTs. I would put some tank water into a bowl and add the DTs to stabilize the temperature, then I would use a mini turkey baster to squirt the corals. The nutritional value of the phytoplankton remains constant with the temperature change. It is the prolonged storage of the culture at temps above ~50 degrees F that deteriorate them.