Issues with Rod's Food

SABOB · 03/20/2008, 09:32 PM

I posted pictures of my Chili coral and Christmas Tree coral after feeding Rod's Food to tank on local Saltwater Forum.Responses were good,but 2-3 replies mentioned " algae"or substrate issues when using Rod's Food exclusively and the disappearance when switching to other foods.Anyone here notice issues whe using Rod's?Just curious.

Zach_Attack_82 · 03/20/2008, 09:52 PM

Myself and most of the reef keepers I know all feed Rod's Food for a couple years now and have never seen an algae bloom like you mention. I've seen Rod's tanks numerous times and couldn't say that have ever seen it in any of his tanks. Everyone that I have talked to say its the best food they've ever feed. I would have to agree. I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions.

SABOB · 03/20/2008, 10:00 PM

Do you rinse the food after thawing with RO/DI or mix frozen chunk with tank water until thaw and toss in?

Zach_Attack_82 · 03/20/2008, 10:36 PM

I thaw in tank water and then add. I would think that rinsing it would wash away the smaller pieces that the corals really seem to enjoy.

Dewey58 · 03/20/2008, 10:51 PM

Food doesn't cause algae unless it is allowed to build up. Eliminate any causes of nitrates and phophates and algae will disappear. Any substrate issues should be cleared up by the nightshift cleanup crew.
HTH
Dewey

sprinj76 · 03/20/2008, 10:54 PM

I started to have algea issues once I switched to Rod's food as well. I have since switched back and the problem is getting better. I think it has something to do with all the tiny particles that do not get eaten or skimmed out. I have a lot of those that hit the sand and stay in the tank.

LobsterOfJustice · 03/20/2008, 11:19 PM

I would tend to agree with ^. I think the problem may be that due to a large variety of particle sizes, a lot goes uneaten.

Yinger · 03/20/2008, 11:59 PM

The food actually has a pretty high concentration of po4 and no3. I've done tests of my water before and after feeding and have noticed a spike in both po4 ad no3 afterwards.

flyyyguy · 03/21/2008, 12:57 AM

Its messy food. Great and messy food.

If your system isnt set up efficiently to get excess out you cannot feed that stuff every day. Mix up your feedings with something else that the fish get all of and find the balance that your system can handle.

I think its great if your system can handle feeding that stuff several times a day and i do, but i guarantee you that my sytems of the past couldnt have handled how I feed now without paying the price

BrokenReefer · 03/21/2008, 07:37 AM

I feed it no more than three times a week and it seems to be ok. I have heard of issues with the food, but nothing relating to algal blooms.

What is your clean-up crew like? I know without my several dozen hermit crabs, snails, and starfish my tank would most likely be a death trap. However, I have a pretty good clean-up crew and skimmer.

Toddrtrex · 03/21/2008, 08:42 AM

I don't have any issues with it. Been using it for over a year now. I do have a good sized clean up crew, and notice all my nass snails popping out of the sand bed when I feed it. So, they do a good job of taking care of any uneaten food.

03/20/2008, 09:32 PM	#1
SABOB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Antonio,TX Posts: 207	Issues with Rod's Food I posted pictures of my Chili coral and Christmas Tree coral after feeding Rod's Food to tank on local Saltwater Forum.Responses were good,but 2-3 replies mentioned " algae"or substrate issues when using Rod's Food exclusively and the disappearance when switching to other foods.Anyone here notice issues whe using Rod's?Just curious. __________________ To all Military...Thanks for Serving Current Tank Info: 12gl NanoCube,55gl softies,fish

03/20/2008, 10:00 PM	#3
SABOB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Antonio,TX Posts: 207	Do you rinse the food after thawing with RO/DI or mix frozen chunk with tank water until thaw and toss in? __________________ To all Military...Thanks for Serving Current Tank Info: 12gl NanoCube,55gl softies,fish

03/20/2008, 11:19 PM	#7
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I would tend to agree with ^. I think the problem may be that due to a large variety of particle sizes, a lot goes uneaten. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

03/21/2008, 12:57 AM	#9
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	Its messy food. Great and messy food. If your system isnt set up efficiently to get excess out you cannot feed that stuff every day. Mix up your feedings with something else that the fish get all of and find the balance that your system can handle. I think its great if your system can handle feeding that stuff several times a day and i do, but i guarantee you that my sytems of the past couldnt have handled how I feed now without paying the price __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

03/21/2008, 08:42 AM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I don't have any issues with it. Been using it for over a year now. I do have a good sized clean up crew, and notice all my nass snails popping out of the sand bed when I feed it. So, they do a good job of taking care of any uneaten food. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/20/2008, 09:52 PM	#2
Zach_Attack_82 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Plainfield, Illinois Posts: 30	Myself and most of the reef keepers I know all feed Rod's Food for a couple years now and have never seen an algae bloom like you mention. I've seen Rod's tanks numerous times and couldn't say that have ever seen it in any of his tanks. Everyone that I have talked to say its the best food they've ever feed. I would have to agree. I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions.

03/20/2008, 10:36 PM	#4
Zach_Attack_82 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Plainfield, Illinois Posts: 30	I thaw in tank water and then add. I would think that rinsing it would wash away the smaller pieces that the corals really seem to enjoy.

03/20/2008, 10:51 PM	#5
Dewey58 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: London Ontario Posts: 55	Food doesn't cause algae unless it is allowed to build up. Eliminate any causes of nitrates and phophates and algae will disappear. Any substrate issues should be cleared up by the nightshift cleanup crew. HTH Dewey

03/20/2008, 10:54 PM	#6
sprinj76 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: WI Posts: 495	I started to have algea issues once I switched to Rod's food as well. I have since switched back and the problem is getting better. I think it has something to do with all the tiny particles that do not get eaten or skimmed out. I have a lot of those that hit the sand and stay in the tank.

03/20/2008, 11:59 PM	#8
Yinger Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Yorba Linda Posts: 3,657	The food actually has a pretty high concentration of po4 and no3. I've done tests of my water before and after feeding and have noticed a spike in both po4 ad no3 afterwards.

03/21/2008, 07:37 AM	#10
BrokenReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wheaton Posts: 311	I feed it no more than three times a week and it seems to be ok. I have heard of issues with the food, but nothing relating to algal blooms. What is your clean-up crew like? I know without my several dozen hermit crabs, snails, and starfish my tank would most likely be a death trap. However, I have a pretty good clean-up crew and skimmer.