Feeding question

Sal Crescitelli · 07/04/2008, 10:16 AM

I always see people stating that they feed lightly. What is feedind lightly?? I have 5 fish in my 75g tank and a bunch of snails, 5 shrimp, and 2 urchins. My fish are a foxface, coral beauty,singapore angel,blue hippo, and a naso tang. How much is light feeding for this load???

joeychitwood · 07/04/2008, 10:20 AM

I feed as much food as the fish can eat in about five minutes, once per day. As we all know, fish are stupid and will act like they are starving every time you walk past the tank. They may eat six times a day, but the bio-load (amount of fish poo) will be higher feeding frequently. Watch the growth and health of the fish to gauge your level of feeding. In addition to the food you supply, the fish are also probably grazing in the tank as well.

Sal Crescitelli · 07/04/2008, 10:26 AM

I usually only feed them oncea day. I use the freeze dried brine shrimp squares and break it up over the tank. I will alternate that with Ocean Nutrition flake food every third day. I only use 2 pinches of that on those days. My fish all look healthy and eat well. I'm just trying to keep nitrates down

joeychitwood · 07/04/2008, 11:12 AM

Though fish love brine shrimp, they aren't high in nutritional value. I'd recommend a nutritional flake with brine as a "treat."

kevin2000 · 07/04/2008, 11:15 AM

Feeding questions are tough to answer ... different fish have different needs.

As a general rule I think the std "5 minute per feeding" you read in many books was written by authors who must love algae because I suspect their their tanks end up with alot of nasty algae.

Most aquarist overfeed their tanks ... fish are cold blooded creatures that don't require much to eat. Focus on nutritional content and less on quantity.

snorvich · 07/04/2008, 11:53 AM

I feed three times per day. All food is consumed within 3 minutes or less. But fish will eat as often as you feed. But what goes in, comes out and must be removed.

07/04/2008, 10:16 AM	#1
Sal Crescitelli Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Liberty N.Y. Posts: 25	Feeding question I always see people stating that they feed lightly. What is feedind lightly?? I have 5 fish in my 75g tank and a bunch of snails, 5 shrimp, and 2 urchins. My fish are a foxface, coral beauty,singapore angel,blue hippo, and a naso tang. How much is light feeding for this load???

07/04/2008, 11:53 AM	#6
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I feed three times per day. All food is consumed within 3 minutes or less. But fish will eat as often as you feed. But what goes in, comes out and must be removed. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/04/2008, 10:20 AM	#2
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I feed as much food as the fish can eat in about five minutes, once per day. As we all know, fish are stupid and will act like they are starving every time you walk past the tank. They may eat six times a day, but the bio-load (amount of fish poo) will be higher feeding frequently. Watch the growth and health of the fish to gauge your level of feeding. In addition to the food you supply, the fish are also probably grazing in the tank as well.

07/04/2008, 10:26 AM	#3
Sal Crescitelli Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Liberty N.Y. Posts: 25	I usually only feed them oncea day. I use the freeze dried brine shrimp squares and break it up over the tank. I will alternate that with Ocean Nutrition flake food every third day. I only use 2 pinches of that on those days. My fish all look healthy and eat well. I'm just trying to keep nitrates down

07/04/2008, 11:12 AM	#4
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	Though fish love brine shrimp, they aren't high in nutritional value. I'd recommend a nutritional flake with brine as a "treat."

07/04/2008, 11:15 AM	#5
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Feeding questions are tough to answer ... different fish have different needs. As a general rule I think the std "5 minute per feeding" you read in many books was written by authors who must love algae because I suspect their their tanks end up with alot of nasty algae. Most aquarist overfeed their tanks ... fish are cold blooded creatures that don't require much to eat. Focus on nutritional content and less on quantity.