Sponges
I have been doing some research into nutritional requirements of corals and the feeding of corals.
My research has turned up many interesting items, and my conclusions are somewhat disturbing. The inevitable conclusion of my research so far is that in most aquariums using the current best technology, i.e, protein skimming, and similar filtration methods, that many of our coral are probably malnourished if not outright starved, this is probably especially true of the SPSs. I currently feed on an alternating schedule with mysis or brine shrimp enhanced with spirolina one day (to mainly LPSs) and then two days later with Oysterfeast/phytoplankton/copepods enriched with vitamins, organic bonded minerals and fatty acids.
However, external feeding on a scale that I suspect might be necessary to alleviate this problem, inevitably introduces a new problem - excess nutrients which equals excess algae/cyanobacteria and the attendant problems. About two days after I do a targeted feeding with the planktonic mix, I predictably get a cyanobacteria bloom. I am checking nutrients and skimming and while the nutrients bump a little following the feedings they immediately drop to non-detectible levels and the cyano goes down, but not away.
I am looking for ways to enhance natural feeding of the corals in my tank. For now I am limited by my system constraints (nano tank with no place to put a refugium, so I am looking at enhancing natural in-tank means of feeding. One that my research has indicated is probably one of the best is to grow sponges. Sponges take up the same dissolved organic materials that a protein skimmer removes and in turn sluffs off old filtering cells which are excellent food for the SPS as well as many of the softies. This in turn would let me reduce my targeted feedings without starving my corals.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to methods to start/enhance the growth of sponges in our systems? Note: I am also vodka/glucose/vinagar dosing to augment bacterial growth twice a week. (another good food source for SPSs)
Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?
Steve W
24 gallon nano w/ 150w NH
I have been doing some research into nutritional requirements of corals and the feeding of corals.
My research has turned up many interesting items, and my conclusions are somewhat disturbing. The inevitable conclusion of my research so far is that in most aquariums using the current best technology, i.e, protein skimming, and similar filtration methods, that many of our coral are probably malnourished if not outright starved, this is probably especially true of the SPSs. I currently feed on an alternating schedule with mysis or brine shrimp enhanced with spirolina one day (to mainly LPSs) and then two days later with Oysterfeast/phytoplankton/copepods enriched with vitamins, organic bonded minerals and fatty acids.
However, external feeding on a scale that I suspect might be necessary to alleviate this problem, inevitably introduces a new problem - excess nutrients which equals excess algae/cyanobacteria and the attendant problems. About two days after I do a targeted feeding with the planktonic mix, I predictably get a cyanobacteria bloom. I am checking nutrients and skimming and while the nutrients bump a little following the feedings they immediately drop to non-detectible levels and the cyano goes down, but not away.
I am looking for ways to enhance natural feeding of the corals in my tank. For now I am limited by my system constraints (nano tank with no place to put a refugium, so I am looking at enhancing natural in-tank means of feeding. One that my research has indicated is probably one of the best is to grow sponges. Sponges take up the same dissolved organic materials that a protein skimmer removes and in turn sluffs off old filtering cells which are excellent food for the SPS as well as many of the softies. This in turn would let me reduce my targeted feedings without starving my corals.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to methods to start/enhance the growth of sponges in our systems? Note: I am also vodka/glucose/vinagar dosing to augment bacterial growth twice a week. (another good food source for SPSs)
Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?
Steve W
24 gallon nano w/ 150w NH