[Delphinus]

Ounce for ounce the DT's is the best stuff due to the fact that it is live (thus not degraded) and "more concentrated" (as per claims).

But ... it really is too expensive for my liking. One day I hope to just say to heck with it and start culturing my own Nannochrolopsis spp.. Until then I guess I'll live with the DT's.

I dose both DT's and ESV's (DT's as a phytoplankton and ESV's as a zooplankton substitute) daily. The one thing I have noticed so far is that the tank is ripe with small infauna. At night the water can be white with bugs. That can be said about any reef tank. But this is reef tank #3 for me and the other two, although sustaining healthy 'pod populations ... never had it like this. So there is definitely some benefit to the feedings.

But the one thing that should be pointed about feeding phytoplankton is that MOST coral species do not feed directly on phyto ... they feed on zoo (with some exceptions ... some gorgonians, sea fans perhaps..). So say if you're looking for better health of SPS corals ... don't go looking for it by feeding phyto (DT's or other). "Indirectly" there may be a benefit because the live zooplankton populations may feed on it, and the corals in turn will feed on them ... but that's about it.

Clams, OTOH, DO feed on phytoplankton, so if you have any clams in your tank you SHOULD be dosing phyto IMHO (DT's or otherwise).

Just my $0.02...

[ 13 September 2002, 09:05: Message edited by: delphinus ]