Feeding phyto via dosing pump

i feed heavy on the phyo and dried rotifers my corals grow like mad my zoos took off big time

 

Yeah I am, I'm feeding 5mL of a Brightwell zoo liquid and 5mL of Brightwell phyto liquid using one perisaltic pump. I've been concerned about settling, but it doesn't seem like there's anything but a very fine liquid, I guess I could be wrong. Seems to be going pretty good I guess. Lots of changes going on in my system right now, just moved over to bio pellets, new reflectors, some new corals and placements, new water change regiment, seems to be working fine, parameters check out, colors look pretty good, like usual I guess. I'm waiting for something to trigger and jump out at me and make me feel like....Yeah! these changes are all making a huge difference!....but nothing really has yet. Although I read a study that says corals lay down 60 percent more matrix when on a regular feeding regiment vs. photosynthesis alone.

 

how long them bio pellets last?

 

Any idea how I can tell how much to feed of my cultured phyto? I know it would be hard to judge because the bottles you buy are so much more concentrated. And it would depend a lot on how long/successful each culture had been going for density of the samples. Is there any general rule of thumb? I would LOVE to find a good mix that would help keep my clam and corals happy while not feeding the cyano. Which is getting much better with the GFO hooked back up and the new mp40 keeping most of it off my clam /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

 

AJ I did some research awhile back about this and one of the things I found was that most people run to big of a return pump. The phyto or food gets filtered out to quickly, most is just wasted in the filtration system.
I was going to run a Tee in my return line from the pump back into the sump with a solenoid valve in it to divert the flow of water from my Display to just dumping it back into the sump. Set this with my controller for 15min every Hr. That way I could dose and it stay in the display longer before getting filtered out.
Right now I'm lookng for the proper solenoid valve, but have not found one that I'm happy with yet.

 

good luck on the solenoid valve. pvc ones over a 1/2" are expensive $300-$400 dont buy the lawn sprinker ones i know there cheap but they need lots of back pressure to work i wasted $40 on one already and also keep in mind if you have any particles running through the valve it will cause your valve to stick open so be sure to pre filter all water with fine floss before it goes through the valve. I have been through it all ready your best bet would be a actuated pvc ball valve but again there in the $300-$400 range

 

AJ BRS also offers a 50ml p/m dose pump as well. I have one of each, and use the 50ml to dose kalk right now.
I was also thinking of just have my return pump shut off as well but found that half the time the pump didn't want to start back up. Maybe I sould look into a better pump.
Yes, those solenoid valves are very expensive, thats why I have not found one that I'm happy with.

 

I love those azooanthellate feeder fridges, those guys are certifiably insane with it dude. Very cool, very unique stuff!

 

http://glassbox-design.com/2010/azoox-nps-coral-continuous-feeding/ (fridge feeder)

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/86-tank-of-the-month (an azoo tank)