fish feeding regimen

kolosy · 11/10/2008, 12:37 PM

i think i'm overfeedign the tank right now - i'm having spotty algae issues, and saw a few spots of cyano pop up. i run an adequate skimmer, and GFO, and my nitrates test low (undetectable), so i'd like to control the food better.

i think the issue is that i feed once a day, and a larger portion that i need. what i'd like to do is setup a system where it feeds dry food morning and afternoon (on an autofeeder), and feed frozen mysis/brine (omega-3)/etc at night when i get home from work.

actual questions:

1. what flake/dry food would you recommend (i've got two true perculas, a 6-line, a tailspot blenny and a ywg)
2. any specific autofeeder you'd recommend
3. thoughts on the regimen as a whole

greenbean36191 · 11/10/2008, 01:00 PM

There's no way you need to feed everyday, much less 3 times a day with the stocking list you have. With what you have, there's no reason you need to be feeding more than 3 times a week, especially while you're trying to deal with nutrient issues. Just give them half a cube of frozen food every other day.

Also, I would NEVER recommending an autofeeder. They aren't very precise in proportion control an if you use them while you're away, they're just another thing to go wrong with the tank. I've had two different styles of autofeeders fail while I was away and cause major issues with the tank.

kolosy · 11/10/2008, 01:04 PM

hrm. i've read a number of times that people feed a minimum of 2x daily. is that just for bigger eaters (tangs, etc.)?

eyesinthedrk · 11/10/2008, 01:22 PM

the opposite, smaller, faster fish with higher metabolism need more frequent feedings,

in the cold blooded world the bigger the animal the bigger the portion = longer time to digest

so maybe a small juvinal goby might need more food but it will graze on the live rock in between your feedings

also herbivouirs need more food than carnivours as vegitable is less nutrisious meat

kolosy · 11/10/2008, 01:28 PM

so back to the original question - do i need to try to fit in more smaller feedings during the day, or go less frequent?

there's algae that i see the tailspot pick on, and pods for the 6-line, but i don't see the clowns or the ywg touching anything other than what i give them...

stanlalee · 11/10/2008, 01:34 PM

that stocking list needs to be fed once every other day in an established tank. those fish do plenty of feeding from natural tank resources. under no circumstances do they require mutliple daily feedings. If you want to spoil them feed them once a day. clowns and gobies feed off the natural resources even if they dont pick all day like sixlines and blennies

I have an Ehiem auto feeder (this one)

but I only use if for vacations ect. works great once you have the dispence adjustment dialed in for your needs.

kolosy · 11/10/2008, 01:46 PM

thanks, that's exactly what i was looking for (the answer, not the toy :-p)

11/10/2008, 12:37 PM	#1
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	fish feeding regimen i think i'm overfeedign the tank right now - i'm having spotty algae issues, and saw a few spots of cyano pop up. i run an adequate skimmer, and GFO, and my nitrates test low (undetectable), so i'd like to control the food better. i think the issue is that i feed once a day, and a larger portion that i need. what i'd like to do is setup a system where it feeds dry food morning and afternoon (on an autofeeder), and feed frozen mysis/brine (omega-3)/etc at night when i get home from work. actual questions: 1. what flake/dry food would you recommend (i've got two true perculas, a 6-line, a tailspot blenny and a ywg) 2. any specific autofeeder you'd recommend 3. thoughts on the regimen as a whole __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

11/10/2008, 01:00 PM	#2
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	There's no way you need to feed everyday, much less 3 times a day with the stocking list you have. With what you have, there's no reason you need to be feeding more than 3 times a week, especially while you're trying to deal with nutrient issues. Just give them half a cube of frozen food every other day. Also, I would NEVER recommending an autofeeder. They aren't very precise in proportion control an if you use them while you're away, they're just another thing to go wrong with the tank. I've had two different styles of autofeeders fail while I was away and cause major issues with the tank. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

11/10/2008, 01:04 PM	#3
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	hrm. i've read a number of times that people feed a minimum of 2x daily. is that just for bigger eaters (tangs, etc.)? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

11/10/2008, 01:22 PM	#4
eyesinthedrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 675	the opposite, smaller, faster fish with higher metabolism need more frequent feedings, in the cold blooded world the bigger the animal the bigger the portion = longer time to digest so maybe a small juvinal goby might need more food but it will graze on the live rock in between your feedings also herbivouirs need more food than carnivours as vegitable is less nutrisious meat __________________ Everybody knows you never go full retard. Current Tank Info: SPS dominated, 125 gallon dt with 3 Apollo reef LED pendants, Apex Controler. 100 gal basement sump, 100 gallon basement fuge, euro reef skimmer, reef octopu s cr140 calcium reactor. Phos an reactor.

11/10/2008, 01:28 PM	#5
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	so back to the original question - do i need to try to fit in more smaller feedings during the day, or go less frequent? there's algae that i see the tailspot pick on, and pods for the 6-line, but i don't see the clowns or the ywg touching anything other than what i give them... __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

11/10/2008, 01:34 PM	#6
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	that stocking list needs to be fed once every other day in an established tank. those fish do plenty of feeding from natural tank resources. under no circumstances do they require mutliple daily feedings. If you want to spoil them feed them once a day. clowns and gobies feed off the natural resources even if they dont pick all day like sixlines and blennies I have an Ehiem auto feeder (this one) but I only use if for vacations ect. works great once you have the dispence adjustment dialed in for your needs. Last edited by stanlalee; 11/10/2008 at 02:05 PM.

11/10/2008, 01:46 PM	#7
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	thanks, that's exactly what i was looking for (the answer, not the toy :-p) __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.