Reef Feeding - Specific Prescription Request

Malenurse · 11/05/2007, 02:47 AM

I know this is a very complicated question, but I'd love some specific advice about reef feeding. I know there is a ton of general information out there. I've done my searches and read whatever I could find. From all the reading I've done, it's clear that regular feeding is the best-supported philosophy. My problem is putting philosophy into practice.

I have a 12 gallon with (mostly) zoas, a little acan, little duncan, a xenia, a monti and birdnest frag; a 2.5 gallon with only zoas and a kenya tree; and a 34 gallon with a clown, a royal gramma, a coral banded shrimp, a sea hare, 5 LPS (bubble, lobophyllia, trachyphyllia, turbinaria, blasto merletti), mushrooms, lots of xenia, kenya trees, zoas and palys.

I've been feeding only a couple squirts of (Ocean Nutrition) Phytofeast and Rotofeast daily in the 12 gallon and a few drops of each every couple of days in the 2.5 gallon. I've been feeding the 34 gallon a lot more heavily with a variety of frozen foods like brine shrimp, Prime Reef, or a home-made seafood blend (basically Eric Borneman's recipe) mixed with vitamins and the Phyto- and Roto-Feast on a daily basis. I also use some additional flakes or pellets for the fish and coral-banded. Lately, I've been giving a hunk of Prime Reef to the lobophyllia, bubble, and trachyphyllia about once a week. This seems like a lot but nitrates have stayed at 0 over the past month.

I may not have given enough specific information, but I'd love to hear a hypothetical feeding "prescription" for my specific situation.

Frick-n-Frags · 11/05/2007, 05:08 AM

OK, here is my prescription:

1) variety(seems like you are aware of this already)
2) photosynthetic corals eat meat not phytoplankton(phyto=algae)
3) keep watching nutrient levels and algae populations for signs of overfeeding, because you probably are.

also, when reading a post written by someone who has filled in all the blanks already, what the heck do you want someone to say? I'll assume you have studied the various feeding philosophies as evidenced by what you are doing now.

so what is it you are really trying to ask here? for attention?

11/05/2007, 02:47 AM	#1
Malenurse Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 446	Reef Feeding - Specific Prescription Request I know this is a very complicated question, but I'd love some specific advice about reef feeding. I know there is a ton of general information out there. I've done my searches and read whatever I could find. From all the reading I've done, it's clear that regular feeding is the best-supported philosophy. My problem is putting philosophy into practice. I have a 12 gallon with (mostly) zoas, a little acan, little duncan, a xenia, a monti and birdnest frag; a 2.5 gallon with only zoas and a kenya tree; and a 34 gallon with a clown, a royal gramma, a coral banded shrimp, a sea hare, 5 LPS (bubble, lobophyllia, trachyphyllia, turbinaria, blasto merletti), mushrooms, lots of xenia, kenya trees, zoas and palys. I've been feeding only a couple squirts of (Ocean Nutrition) Phytofeast and Rotofeast daily in the 12 gallon and a few drops of each every couple of days in the 2.5 gallon. I've been feeding the 34 gallon a lot more heavily with a variety of frozen foods like brine shrimp, Prime Reef, or a home-made seafood blend (basically Eric Borneman's recipe) mixed with vitamins and the Phyto- and Roto-Feast on a daily basis. I also use some additional flakes or pellets for the fish and coral-banded. Lately, I've been giving a hunk of Prime Reef to the lobophyllia, bubble, and trachyphyllia about once a week. This seems like a lot but nitrates have stayed at 0 over the past month. I may not have given enough specific information, but I'd love to hear a hypothetical feeding "prescription" for my specific situation. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 5 gallon Fluval Spec zoanthid tank, 65 gallon African Cichlid tank, 29 gallon planted tank

11/05/2007, 05:08 AM	#2
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	OK, here is my prescription: 1) variety(seems like you are aware of this already) 2) photosynthetic corals eat meat not phytoplankton(phyto=algae) 3) keep watching nutrient levels and algae populations for signs of overfeeding, because you probably are. also, when reading a post written by someone who has filled in all the blanks already, what the heck do you want someone to say? I'll assume you have studied the various feeding philosophies as evidenced by what you are doing now. so what is it you are really trying to ask here? for attention? __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB