Quote:
Originally posted by mbbuna
thats not really the point. for a few years now its been beaten into peoples heads that small clams will die if they are not feed "phytoplankton" and that is simply not true.
to keep clams healthy and growing they need very intense light and a source of N&P. if you have intense lighting and a healthy, well feed fish population there will be plenty of N&P for the zoox in the clam.
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I believe the original intent of phyto feedings to less than 2.5 inch clams has been scewed a bit. The original reasoning behind the advice is actually supported by article you referanced above. The advice to give phyto feedings was to help suppliment clams with small surface area. This small surface area does not allow for large amounts of zoox to be exposed to our lighting. Unfortunatly we do not have lighting with nearly the spectrum or intensity of natural sunlight, this was especially true when this feeding advice was originated.
So, we can see where a disadvantage can occur when trying to support a small clam. Low light and small surface area mean the clam is meeting its minimum if it survives. Supplimental feedings will allow a clam to gain extra nutrients that will allow it to grow and increase its surface area.
We also have to admit that nature does not waste time building structures that are not important to an animal's survival, these animals are well equiped to be filter feeders and should be fed as such. The benefits of faster growth and greater coloration far out weigh the minimal cost of additional feedings.