Feeding SPS??

[JeffCo]

I just recently added some sps frags to my tank and was wondering what everyone uses to feed these guys. (Besides high calcium and alk). I am currently addding DT's phyto every few days. But I have been reading alot of good things about cyclop-eeze and golden pearls. Anyone ever use these. You help is appreciated.

[cody453]

The best stuff I have ever used is called BIO PLANKTON from LIQUID LIFE. I like DT's for the cost factor compared to BIO PLANKTON, but this stuff last longer. It is expensive, but if you use it once I don't think you will use anything else. They claim you don't have to feed but once every three months with this stuff. You can see the stuff at www.liquidlifeusa.com

[brewercm]

Just for information. I believe they carry this at Tx Tropical. One of the guys there showed me the stuff several months ago. Like Cody said it is pretty expensive, I think it was around $25 per bottle but does last a long time when kept in the freezer.

[adaminaustin]

I am on the same bottle I started with 8 months ago. The instructions say 2 pumps 3x a week for a 60g tank. I dose 2 pumps every other day on the 55g and still have about 1/2 a bottle left.
Austin Aquariums also carries this stuff.

[matt]

DTs is phytoplankton; most corals don't really eat it. You need zooplankton, or animal plankton matter. There's a good chapter is Eric Borneman's book about feeding corals. Ultimately, in most healthy reef tanks, sps corals feed on planktonic matter that is produced by the sand bed; you just have to keep the sand bed well nourished. Phytoplankton can help with this, so can decapsulated brine shrimp eggs, but what I've had the best success with is a homemade puree of seafood, along the lines of Borneman's coral mush. I really like DTs; I'm just out and the last time I saw some at Tx tropical it was past the expiration date. Maybe they got some more in.

[captexas]

If I remember corectly, I think CB Pets also carries DTs.

[GaryP]

I've been feeding with zooplex, daphnia, and baby brine. I've used DT's in the past but just can't afford it right now. I'm hoping the algae I get from cleaning my glass will help make up for the lack of DT's until I can afford to start using it again.

Gary

[Tim Marvin]

Instant algea, DT's, and phytoplex, bio plankton, and many others. There are a lot of products to feed with but I agree with Matt. Keep the sand bed and shrimp happy in your tank and the small critters will produce the zooplankton for the rest. Try pairing things up like shrimp and they will help to feed your tank.

[Instar]

GaryP, Your glass cleaning is providing algae, bacteria and little zooplankton if you have a well est. tank with all the fauna in it. Clean it in the late evening, just before lights out. I agree with Tim, pair things up. Spawns provide food. At night, you should have lots of little shrimps running all over the place of differnt kinds. Use a flashlight and check.

[GaryP]

Larry, I usually have a pretty good spawn of Nerite and Cerith snails. I realize that what I really need is a refugium.

Gary

[Tim Marvin]

I use a refugium, and I only clean the front glass. Anything living in the diatoms and what not around the sides and back gets to live with/out disturbance.