Feather Duster questions

Just got a new feather duster. Now, I know I should be target feeding the little guy (bought some kent Micro-Vert already), but about how often, and how much?

 

where did you hear that from?? ive had mine for a couple months, i have never added anything to my tank, water changes are the only kind of mainanance i do really, and hes been doing fine. i put another post on my opinions on additives...maybe i'll find it ;D

 

here you go, take it or leave it

"""Just use a high quality salt with your regular water changes and you'll be fine. No need to dose anything unless you know exactly what your dosing for. Try reading the coral propagation book by Anthony Calfo, It goes into detail about the specific requirements of each species....as i said before i strongly agree with the idea that supplements are a waste of $$ though if you have hard corals its a no brainer to dose Mg, Ca and some form of Alkalinity. For minor species, WCs are the way to go. Most of the other supplement products out there are total crap IMO. My favorites are the "all in one" additives. I wonder how they get enough Ca, Mg and Carbonate plus the dozens of other things they list on their labels to all co-exist in a tiny little 6 oz bottle without precipitation? My guess is they are selling slightly concentrated synthetic sea water which does in fact have all those elements. And someone has already gone to the trouble of mixing it together into a powdered form too ;D """

 

LFS, and a couple other quick searches. I wasnt sure, thats way I thought I'd ask. I quite a few of the little type of tubeworms/filter feeders that have done fine since day one, which had me thinking, specially since I have never added any type of phyto or anything like that. Only thing I ever really add is some of the traces like calcium to keep the params up

 

Wait, are we even talking about the same thing? Micro-Vert is simply phytoplankton. Its a food for target-feeding, not a element or dosing additive.

 

If you're feeding Coral Frenzy or Cyclops to your tank, your feather duster will get that from the water column. It's gross but my frogspawn (or torch) depending on who you ask, when it emits its waste (poops), I see the feather duster reaching to catch it and then it closes up. Poop Eater, that's what we call it! I quit feeding my DTs when I saw some serious green algae growth (it's live phyto) and my feather duster is still growing. In other words, unless your water has no food in the water column (highly unlikely) you don't need to target feed it.

 

OK, that makes more sense. I think Nano was confusing Micro-Vert for a element additive and not simply a food. We are currently only target feeding once a week in very small doses, and just the Feather Duster and Torch (wich I have also).
And hey, I'd get excited over something eating the poop. Less waste drifting around the tank the better, right?

 

oops, misread your post, sorry ;D i have not used Micro Vert yet, dont plan to either, you got the feather duster and the store said you needed to dose it?? i would be weary, most fish stores are going to be trying to make a buck, but i guess i cant hurt, let us know how it does for you guys

 

No problem Nano. You know I always appreciate and respect your advice I just had the feeling that when you started talking about water changes you might have been thinking the Micro-Vert was some form of element dose, not just the phyto for target feeding.
I figured it wouldnt hurt either. I know that there "should" be food in the water column, but it shouldnt hurt to target feed every now and again just to make sure. Right now we are only doing it once a week, and in very small amounts, feeding it through a "Joes Juice" syringe that is maybe filled 1/8 of the total syringe, spread out amongst both of our filter feeders, and we never actually use all of that. Not nearly enough to cause any problems, but hopefully enough to make sure everyone is happy

 

""""""respect my authority""""!! i love that show ;D

im guessing the micro vert is "dead" phyto? i dont know, but i think that stuff is more for sponges, gorgs, sun corals, sea fans...yatta yatta yatta. but if it makes you feel any better, i have had my duster in there for a few months and i think he might be photosynthetic or a "poop eater ;D" b/c i dont dose anything, only WC's and everything from my new green monti to the little feather dusters are doing good and sproutin'