whole cube or defrosted?

pipebash · 04/13/2009, 10:05 PM

just out of curiosity do you guys drop frozen cubes in the tank or defrost first? also is there a reason for y u do it? ive just been dropping the cube in lately partly cause my hippo is skittish but it seems that the cube will either end up stuck to the overflow or a shrimp will pop up and grab it.

Tangalong · 04/13/2009, 10:13 PM

First, I defrost the cubes in a brine shrimp net under running water until it is thawed...then squeeze it with a paper towel a little bit to get the excess water out. The medium used to freeze the cube is said to have a lot of phosphates in it. You can now add a few drops of Selcon (vitamin) before you feed them. I taget feed my fish with a turkey baster so everyone gets their share. Also turn off pumps for a few minutes when feeding. Good chance to get a good look at everyone too. This is just my way...I like to feed my fish.

Flipper62 · 04/13/2009, 10:15 PM

You should always let the cube thaw out on a napkin or paper towel first. You want the water that they use to soak into the towel so your just adding the food to the tank. The water that they use may have phosphates & other things in it that you dont want in the tank.

Also only add the amount of food that the fish will eat in 3 to 5 minutes. Keep the pumps off when feeding & let the extra food settle down on to the corals. If your feeding Rods Food or Cyclopeez, this is good for the corals

ludnix · 04/13/2009, 10:16 PM

I thaw two cubes in a brine net and rinse it in RO/DI water. I then dump the net in the tank and let everyone have at it.

ZoaFan08 · 04/13/2009, 10:21 PM

i just thaw the food in a cup with tank water and dump it in. Been doing for years and no problems.

Anemonebuff · 04/13/2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZoaFan08
i just thaw the food in a cup with tank water and dump it in. Been doing for years and no problems.

+1

sanababit · 04/13/2009, 11:45 PM

i thaw it and rinse it really good, put it in a sandwich bag, add garlic and/or selcon, i flatned the bag and re-frezze it, next day just break of a piece and drop it in the tank, they usually get caught in a pump and the fedding frenzy starts....

sana

Reefer08 · 04/14/2009, 12:56 AM

Why thaw out the cube of food on a paper towel? Aren't you worried about the possible chemicals used in the paper towel? Just use a small net over a cup and collect the food in the net.

ludnix · 04/14/2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sanababit
i thaw it and rinse it really good, put it in a sandwich bag, add garlic and/or selcon, i flatned the bag and re-frezze it, next day just break of a piece and drop it in the tank, they usually get caught in a pump and the fedding frenzy starts....

sana

Wouldn't the refreezing potentially lyse more cells of the shrimp releasing more nutrients that can't be eaten?

Hop · 04/14/2009, 01:44 AM

I best way I have found is that I melt the cubes in a small amount of tank water. I then pour the melted concoction into a plastic reusable coffee filter and swirl it around while I use a small amount of ro water from the sink to rinse it further. This removed most of the small particles and crud. I then dump the contents from the coffee filter into a clean jar, put about 20ml of tank water in it and then use a turkey baster to feed a small amount of food over a few hours.

snorvich · 04/14/2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ludnix
I thaw two cubes in a brine net and rinse it in RO/DI water. I then dump the net in the tank and let everyone have at it.

Same here. Just more than two cubes since I use flat packs

winnermc · 04/14/2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZoaFan08
i just thaw the food in a cup with tank water and dump it in. Been doing for years and no problems.

+2

fufu · 04/14/2009, 10:30 AM

I'm lazy, I just put the cube in.

ibefishy · 04/14/2009, 10:54 AM

I defrosted the cubes in the trash and reused the cube tray to hold the the food I make myself from shrimp, a non-oily white fleshed fish, and clam. After adding a little water I blend in the blender then I use a small baster and fill the tray and refreeze. That way I have no issues with phosphates or anything like that. I am lucky enough to live near the ocean where fresh non processed seafood is available. This has worked great for me and I can make a months supply of food in about 10 minutes and spend a total of $1.10
Just a thought, may work for someone else to.

pipebash · 04/14/2009, 05:48 PM

wow thanks all for the detailed responses. sounds like the verdict is to go back to prethawing. thanks all

sanababit · 04/14/2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ludnix
Wouldn't the refreezing potentially lyse more cells of the shrimp releasing more nutrients that can't be eaten?

Well been doing it for 2 years and all fish all big and healty....

sana

04/13/2009, 10:05 PM	#1
pipebash Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: napa,CA Posts: 188	whole cube or defrosted? just out of curiosity do you guys drop frozen cubes in the tank or defrost first? also is there a reason for y u do it? ive just been dropping the cube in lately partly cause my hippo is skittish but it seems that the cube will either end up stuck to the overflow or a shrimp will pop up and grab it.

04/13/2009, 10:13 PM	#2
Tangalong Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern KY Posts: 635	First, I defrost the cubes in a brine shrimp net under running water until it is thawed...then squeeze it with a paper towel a little bit to get the excess water out. The medium used to freeze the cube is said to have a lot of phosphates in it. You can now add a few drops of Selcon (vitamin) before you feed them. I taget feed my fish with a turkey baster so everyone gets their share. Also turn off pumps for a few minutes when feeding. Good chance to get a good look at everyone too. This is just my way...I like to feed my fish. __________________ I wish I could walk my fish Current Tank Info: 75 SW FOWLR (for now) Hippo Tang, Scopas Tang, Clarkii Clown, 3 Sissortail Goby, 1 Golden-Head Sleep, 2 Cleaners/4 Gobiosoma Oceanops!!!/10 Gal Blue-spot Watchman/2 blue-fin Damsel/20 gal 1 Tangarora Goby 1 red band Pistol/35 Hex Future Goby Breeder

04/13/2009, 10:15 PM	#3
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	You should always let the cube thaw out on a napkin or paper towel first. You want the water that they use to soak into the towel so your just adding the food to the tank. The water that they use may have phosphates & other things in it that you dont want in the tank. Also only add the amount of food that the fish will eat in 3 to 5 minutes. Keep the pumps off when feeding & let the extra food settle down on to the corals. If your feeding Rods Food or Cyclopeez, this is good for the corals __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

04/13/2009, 10:16 PM	#4
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	I thaw two cubes in a brine net and rinse it in RO/DI water. I then dump the net in the tank and let everyone have at it. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

04/13/2009, 11:45 PM	#7
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	i thaw it and rinse it really good, put it in a sandwich bag, add garlic and/or selcon, i flatned the bag and re-frezze it, next day just break of a piece and drop it in the tank, they usually get caught in a pump and the fedding frenzy starts.... sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

04/13/2009, 10:21 PM	#5
ZoaFan08 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alta Loma CA Posts: 1,211	i just thaw the food in a cup with tank water and dump it in. Been doing for years and no problems.

04/14/2009, 12:56 AM	#8
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	Why thaw out the cube of food on a paper towel? Aren't you worried about the possible chemicals used in the paper towel? Just use a small net over a cup and collect the food in the net.

04/14/2009, 01:44 AM	#10
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	I best way I have found is that I melt the cubes in a small amount of tank water. I then pour the melted concoction into a plastic reusable coffee filter and swirl it around while I use a small amount of ro water from the sink to rinse it further. This removed most of the small particles and crud. I then dump the contents from the coffee filter into a clean jar, put about 20ml of tank water in it and then use a turkey baster to feed a small amount of food over a few hours. __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

04/14/2009, 10:30 AM	#13
fufu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 432	I'm lazy, I just put the cube in.

04/14/2009, 10:54 AM	#14
ibefishy Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Grover Beach, California Posts: 307	I defrosted the cubes in the trash and reused the cube tray to hold the the food I make myself from shrimp, a non-oily white fleshed fish, and clam. After adding a little water I blend in the blender then I use a small baster and fill the tray and refreeze. That way I have no issues with phosphates or anything like that. I am lucky enough to live near the ocean where fresh non processed seafood is available. This has worked great for me and I can make a months supply of food in about 10 minutes and spend a total of $1.10 Just a thought, may work for someone else to.

04/14/2009, 05:48 PM	#15
pipebash Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: napa,CA Posts: 188	wow thanks all for the detailed responses. sounds like the verdict is to go back to prethawing. thanks all