Dosing PhytoFeast Live

[RaymondL]

I purchased a bottle of PhytoFeast Live to feed copepods in the main display tank - I'm hoping that this product doesn't change any water chemistry such as Phosphates or Nitrates. I am hoping as well that it outcompetes GHA.

I have mainly LPS and Soft Corals - I don't believe Phytofeast is beneficial to them - correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What would it be outcompeting GFA for? That is, how does it compete with GFA?

Some folks find live phyto can reduce nutrients, I dose Phyto Feast Live and also dose ammonium bicarbonate, although I do not know if the phyto is contributing substantially to that need.

 

[RaymondL]

I was thinking that Phytofeast would actually help reduce Phosphates and Nitrates and therefore removing those so that any GHA or other nuisance algae would be lessened.

 

[RaymondL]

What would it be outcompeting GFA for? That is, how does it compete with GFA?

Some folks find live phyto can reduce nutrients, I dose Phyto Feast Live and also dose ammonium bicarbonate, although I do not know if the phyto is contributing substantially to that need.

How often do you dose phytofeast?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was thinking that Phytofeast would actually help reduce Phosphates and Nitrates and therefore removing those so that any GHA or other nuisance algae would be lessened.

Trying to control algae by nutrient level is challenging and often fails since corals need nutrients too. Having organisms that consume algae is often the easiest road to success.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How often do you dose phytofeast?

I have it on a timed dosing pump, dosed each night. I have a setup where it is inside an old minifridge, on a timed magnetic stirrer, and it doses through tubing that comes out of the fridge bottom and directly into the return section of my sump.

 

[RaymondL]

I have it on a timed dosing pump, dosed each night. I have a setup where it is inside an old minifridge, on a timed magnetic stirrer, and it doses through tubing that comes out of the fridge bottom and directly into the return section of my sump.

That sounds like one heck of a set up! You don't find the that the tube gets clogged? I just realized there's an expiry date on the bottle, and it's in a month - I wished i knew this before purchasing to look for this. I don't know if using it pass the expiry date is a good thing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That sounds like one heck of a set up! You don't find the that the tube gets clogged? I just realized there's an expiry date on the bottle, and it's in a month - I wished i knew this before purchasing to look for this. I don't know if using it pass the expiry date is a good thing.

The tube does not clog, no.

The expiration is no big deal, though that seems unusually close to purchase. I get mine from saltwateraquarium dot com and it is usually well out in the future, if I recall correctly.