Am I over feeding my fish?

das75 · 10/15/2007, 11:43 PM

Have Purple and Regal Tang plus a Foxface all around 5", 2 Damsels, 2 Clowns and a 6 Line Wrasse.

Each day feed 2 pieces of Nori each 2x3", about 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) of flake package really loose and every couple of days about a 1/8 tsp (0.63ml) of small pellets or frozen mysis. Tank has a mixed of corals but not feeding, only for the fish.

What has my wondering is having a little outbreak of bubble algae and hydroids. Fish always appear hungry but look good (wrasse is having a little pot belly though which I'm wondering why the wife hasn't gotten on him).

demonsp · 10/15/2007, 11:54 PM

If you over feed the tangs and foxface then the chance of them picking at algea in your tank lessons. Better to under feed then over feed.
Never feed anymore then they can eat in 3 or 4 min. Mixing it up is great idea. I feed a little flake / pellet alternating days in the morning but not the 3 or 4 min rule just mb a 1 min rule if not less and skipping a day or 2 weekly. Then frozen at night from brine to marine cusine
ect.. A fish will just keeping eating and this can cause harm in the long run.

The nori mb 2 or 3 times a week and not to much
Also the coral would like some marine snow or some type of micro plankton added in the tank , the amount depends on the coral and amount of coral. Be sure to turn skimmer off a few hours after feeding micro plankton.

Do you have a water test kit. testing can also let you know if your over feeding.

das75 · 10/16/2007, 09:29 AM

Hardly any algae in the tank for the Tangs and Foxface (except for the bubble and a little bit of Halimeda) so really not much for them other than what I feed.

NO3 tests at zero. PO4 is also zero though always wondered about the accuracy for testing phosphate. Have cheato in the sump so that also might been slewing the readings.

Guess maybe cut back to one patch of Nori a day (don't want the Foxface to start eyeing up the LPS and clam)?

deansreef · 10/16/2007, 09:36 AM

does your tank have a lot of algea growth

das75 · 10/16/2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by deansreef
does your tank have a lot of algea growth

Not really.

For nuisance algae I've got the bubble going but not a whole lot, there's a small patch of hair (probably less than 2inÂ²) that the fish keep to a fuzz that hasn't increased in size in months. I used to trim the Halimeda due growth but don't need to anymore and amount is decreasing believe from the Foxface. No cyano, get a slight dusting of something on the on the glass that I'll wipe every few days. Coraline is growing and haven't really taken note of it but the cheato in the sump might double in a month.

Hydroids, see a definite increase with them.

saltwater4life1 · 10/16/2007, 11:14 AM

I put a pinch of flakes or small pieces of frozen food in there until they stop the feeding frenzy. That's how i've always done it.

10/15/2007, 11:43 PM	#1
das75 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 2,269	Am I over feeding my fish? Have Purple and Regal Tang plus a Foxface all around 5", 2 Damsels, 2 Clowns and a 6 Line Wrasse. Each day feed 2 pieces of Nori each 2x3", about 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) of flake package really loose and every couple of days about a 1/8 tsp (0.63ml) of small pellets or frozen mysis. Tank has a mixed of corals but not feeding, only for the fish. What has my wondering is having a little outbreak of bubble algae and hydroids. Fish always appear hungry but look good (wrasse is having a little pot belly though which I'm wondering why the wife hasn't gotten on him).

10/16/2007, 09:36 AM	#4
deansreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: north carolina Posts: 3,234	does your tank have a lot of algea growth __________________ the only dumb question, is the one not asked... Current Tank Info: 225 gallon peninsula

10/16/2007, 11:14 AM	#6
saltwater4life1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fort Dix, New Jersey Posts: 933	I put a pinch of flakes or small pieces of frozen food in there until they stop the feeding frenzy. That's how i've always done it. __________________ ~Nick Avatar is my 1969 Roadrunner, 512ci stroker in the works. 55gal Mixed reef but mostly sps :) 5.5gal Mantis shrimp reef tank Current Tank Info: 55gal mixed reef, Lights: 4x54w T5, Filter: Octopus BH2000 skimmer, Flow: Over 3,000gph

10/15/2007, 11:54 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	If you over feed the tangs and foxface then the chance of them picking at algea in your tank lessons. Better to under feed then over feed. Never feed anymore then they can eat in 3 or 4 min. Mixing it up is great idea. I feed a little flake / pellet alternating days in the morning but not the 3 or 4 min rule just mb a 1 min rule if not less and skipping a day or 2 weekly. Then frozen at night from brine to marine cusine ect.. A fish will just keeping eating and this can cause harm in the long run. The nori mb 2 or 3 times a week and not to much Also the coral would like some marine snow or some type of micro plankton added in the tank , the amount depends on the coral and amount of coral. Be sure to turn skimmer off a few hours after feeding micro plankton. Do you have a water test kit. testing can also let you know if your over feeding.

10/16/2007, 09:29 AM	#3
das75 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 2,269	Hardly any algae in the tank for the Tangs and Foxface (except for the bubble and a little bit of Halimeda) so really not much for them other than what I feed. NO3 tests at zero. PO4 is also zero though always wondered about the accuracy for testing phosphate. Have cheato in the sump so that also might been slewing the readings. Guess maybe cut back to one patch of Nori a day (don't want the Foxface to start eyeing up the LPS and clam)?