I'm deciding what to feed my corals.

[timetraveler22]

So, as long as I've been keeping corals alive, I've always fed them what I feed my fish: fish pellets and freeze dried brine shrimps. And now I find that I have been doing it all wrong and I accept my mistakes. So now I'm trying to find out if what I should feed my corals.

So far, I have a duncan coral, blasstomussa wellsi and merletti, four frilly mushroom corals, and an xenia colony in my ten gallon reef tank.
And I plan to have in the future a bird's nest, war coral, meteor shower coral, trumpet coral, scolymia coral, and some fire and ice zoas.

I am planning on using scallops, and shrimp from the sea food market and frozen mysis and brine shrimp from the lfs to feed corals. Is there anything else I should consider with this coral menu?

[Reef_Me]

rods reef blend is excellent.. specially for sps like your birds nest. If your going to be making your own reef food, I would recommend using a food processor and getting the sea food mix from the supermarket. havent found any benefit in feeding phytoplankton(like reef snow.. i think thats what its called)

Your list looks good!

[timetraveler22]

Thanks. So with the addition of rod's reef, there's no need for algae; no spirulina, or nori?

[edinphilly]

Check out Larry's Reef Frenzy

[timetraveler22]

Thanks Reef_Me and edinphilly, I asked something similar to this on another forum and got much hate. And the phytoplankton is called marine snow.

[edinphilly]

No problem. I should elaborate that with Reef Frenzy I like it because it replaces the need to DIY frozen which I just get grossed out by. Also unless you're really confident in your seafood source a lot of it has phosphates added in the form of preservatives.

I also use Hikari freeze dried mysis, Selcon and very small amounts of cyclopeeze.

I've got zoas, LPS, and nems. Along with the fish. Everyone seems great on this regimen.

[GreshamH]

Originally Posted by timetraveler22

Thanks Reef_Me and edinphilly, I asked something similar to this on another forum and got much hate. And the phytoplankton is called marine snow.

Well there is phyto in MS, but that is just part of the mix. I'd hardly call it a phyto product though, and not one someone could gauge the usefulness of phyto in reefs.

The formula includes suspended microscopic particles ranging in size from under 20 microns up to 150 microns, and the colloidal clumps formed when it mixes with seawater are macroscopic.

[organism]

Personally I'd recommend against making your own food from frozen stuff, it's going to leach a lot of nutrients in the water and might give you some algae issues. You didn't do anything wrong feeding your corals fish pellets, I still feed mine Spectrum small fish pellets from time to time.

imo the best food overall is FM LPS Pellets. They have a ton of protein, last a long time and best of all they absorb water instead of leaching phosphate-laden water. I crush some under a spoon for smaller polyp corals like Pavona and Blasto merletti. You don't need any phytoplankton type food for your tank, it's really not necessary in any reef tank.

The important thing to keep in mind is that your corals don't need to be fed. They'll do just fine with light alone and usually it's the LFS telling you they need food to survive so that you'll buy their products. If you overfeed them then you might spike your nutrients which might actually cause them to stop growing and even recede. I rarely if ever feed my display and I get some crazy growth on my LPS and SPS, I do feed the frag tank to give them a little boost but that one gets pretty frequent water changes to make up for it.

I think a lot of newer hobbyists get caught up in feeding their corals and then end up with massive algae and water quality issues, best bet is to take it slow. Just my 2 cents...

[rdrbssr11]

I use coral frenzy once a week the night before I do my water change. I shut my skimmer off for about as hour as well.

[NSimpkins]

Ive heard a lot of good stuff about Reef Chili from BRS. There is a video on YouTube. I have ordered and looking forward to trying.

[Kraken83]

Organism: How can you say that corals don't need to be fed? That they will be fine with just light alone is so far off the mark. There are countless well documented sources, Coral Magazine's latest issue for one, clearly stressing the importance of the nutrition provided from feeding.

In my reef tank I use a combination of Larry's Reef Frenzy, Cyclopeeze, crushed silver sides, and mysis. I broadcast feed my tank once a day, every day. With target feeding twice a week. In my tank I have a wide variety of LPS and softies. Too numerous to name. Now keep in mind that I'm able to do this with the aid of a refugium on my tank. If you are going to feed your corals like I do you are going to need a means of nutrient exporting. I don't suffer from algae blooms and my nitrates/phosphates stay just above zero. If you'd care to know more on my refugium set up message me and I'll explain it step by step to you. Refugiums are low maintenance and low cost. Corals actually benefit from nitrates and phosphates but in very very low amounts. It's all about maintaining a healthy stable environment.

[ksr.aaron]

I use reef chili one night and dragon dust the next and switch back and forth, I cut it down alittle bit obviously cause using so much but I have great growth in my tank right now after starting this

[Reef Frog]

LPS corals should be fed IMO especially if you want better growth. All corals ingest something, but many like xenias, GSP, zoas & palys seem to get what they need without our intervention. I can't see corals like bubles, plates & scolys doing well long term without being fed somehow.

Pellets are probably fine. But I prefer real seafood protein as I know it doesn't have any binders or terrestrial ingredients that might not digest properly.

[Molly1414]

I feed a combination of reef roids, oyster feast and cyclopeeze once or twice a week and have good growth. I mix all three in a cup with some tank water and then use a syringe to gently target feed the LPS. All the LPS respond and grab the food. There is a reason they have mouths and feeding tentacles - so they can eat.

[organism]

Originally Posted by Kraken83

Organism: How can you say that corals don't need to be fed? That they will be fine with just light alone is so far off the mark. There are countless well documented sources, Coral Magazine's latest issue for one, clearly stressing the importance of the nutrition provided from feeding.

I say it because photosynthetic corals absolutely without question do not need to be fed. Some of the top people in the hobby never feed their corals, Randy Holmes Farley comes to mind. Just because they do eat doesn't mean that they need to, I've run 1000 gallon LPS prop systems that were never fed and grew almost faster than I could sell them because nutrient levels were low. If you think it's way off the mark I suggest that you do some more reading or at least try it before spreading misinformation that just ends up with people unnecessarily fouling their water.

[edinphilly]

Originally Posted by organism

I say it because photosynthetic corals absolutely without question do not need to be fed. Some of the top people in the hobby never feed their corals, Randy Holmes Farley comes to mind. Just because they do eat doesn't mean that they need to, I've run 1000 gallon LPS prop systems that were never fed and grew almost faster than I could sell them because nutrient levels were low. If you think it's way off the mark I suggest that you do some more reading or at least try it before spreading misinformation that just ends up with people unnecessarily fouling their water.

I'm undecided but at least kraken referenced an article. You ought to point us to the reading you're suggesting or since you're an expert give an explanation to those of us who may be led astray into fouling our water.

[zoafarm]

Although I do occasional feed Reef Chili and/or Rod's, I find my best results come when I kinda of ignore my tanks for a while. Please don't misinterpret...w/c and basic clean up IHMO is a must. But feeding daily or even weekly is not for most corals. (+++1 Organism)

And for some individuals that are new to the hobby, it can lead to the reason they leave the hobby frustrated. Many tanks that I see with serious problem, are caused by people overfeeding fish and/or coral.

[organism]

Originally Posted by edinphilly

I'm undecided but at least kraken referenced an article. You ought to point us to the reading you're suggesting or since you're an expert give an explanation to those of us who may be led astray into fouling our water.

ok, aside from the things I could point you to bring readily available with a google search should you go that route... I've run 1000+ gallon prop systems for years that were never fed, written a book on farming corals, referenced the resident expert chemist, and pointed out that photosynthetic literally means the coral doesn't need supplemental feeding.

If you still need me to debate someone whose core argument is "nuh uh I read it in documents and coral magazine", then post a thread in the chemistry forum here about whether or not you need to feed photosynthetic corals, or kraken could post a thread there about how corals totally need to be fed because ________, either way you're gonna get a repeat of what I've said.

[organism]

Originally Posted by zoafarm

Although I do occasional feed Reef Chili and/or Rod's, I find my best results come when I kinda of ignore my tanks for a while.

Best advice in the thread right there. I'd feed my tanks all the time if it outperformed either sporadic feeding or not feeding them at all, but it doesn't.

And for some individuals that are new to the hobby, it can lead to the reason they leave the hobby frustrated. Many tanks that I see with serious problem, are caused by people overfeeding fish and/or coral.

+1

[Reef_Paddy]

Originally Posted by NSimpkins

Ive heard a lot of good stuff about Reef Chili from BRS. There is a video on YouTube. I have ordered and looking forward to trying.

+1 for Reef Chili. I also use Zeovit Coral Snow.

[Sydoriakp]

i do understand that fouling water is no good but we are assuming that this guy is new... maybe he isnt planning on dumping the bottle in after all the thread was named deciding what to feed..... not do i feed... corals are not plants.... im not trying to fight im just saying there was no need for it... my 2 cents and i agree with organsim dont overdo anything nothing good happens fast...

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by organism

ok, aside from the things I could point you to bring readily available with a google search should you go that route... I've run 1000+ gallon prop systems for years that were never fed, written a book on farming corals, referenced the resident expert chemist, and pointed out that photosynthetic literally means the coral doesn't need supplemental feeding.

If you still need me to debate someone whose core argument is "nuh uh I read it in documents and coral magazine", then post a thread in the chemistry forum here about whether or not you need to feed photosynthetic corals, or kraken could post a thread there about how corals totally need to be fed because ________, either way you're gonna get a repeat of what I've said.

Zooxanthellae will provide the coral with some nutrition through photosynthesis, however it is agreed upon that coral itself, depending on the type, will eat various foods. If you've read Eric Borneman's book, only one resource but there are others, then there's one solid reference point.

Through experience I believe you're doing your corals a disservice if you don't supplement their feeding beyond lighting for zooxanthellae algae. I've seen increased coloration, polyp extension and growth through target or broadcast feeding.

Can you overfeed? Certainly. Could your corals be getting enough nutrition depending on how you feed your fish? Certainly.

I would never tell anyone you don't need to feed your corals because there are many variables and people run their tanks differently.

Oh, and I've tried Dr. G's LPS Max and BRS's Reef Chili. Not sure about the Dr. G's but have seen results with the Reef Chili.

[organism]

Originally Posted by Johnseye

Zooxanthellae will provide the coral with some nutrition through photosynthesis, however it is agreed upon that coral itself, depending on the type, will eat various foods. If you've read Eric Borneman's book, only one resource but there are others, then there's one solid reference point.

Zooxanthellae provides the coral with all nutrition it needs to survive and grow, I'd recommend asking google or in the reef chemistry forum here if you think otherwise. Also, "will eat" =/= "must eat." Feeding your corals is not a bad idea when done correctly, but it's easy for people to screw up their water and stop corals from growing, especially new hobbyists. Soooo many newer people quit the hobby because their tanks get covered in algae that ate their corals after someone told them they had to feed their corals. At the end of the day you won't find anything legitimate, anywhere, saying that photosynthetic corals must eat to thrive because it's already been disproven several times over.

I've ran huge ULN vodka-dosed farm systems for years that were never fed, everything from mushrooms to SPS grew like crazy and I sold tons of corals. My display now is also ULN and was never fed until a few months ago to get my rock anemones spawning. I've had mushrooms, zoanthids, LPS and SPS grow so fast I have to give them away sometimes. Awesome pink goniopora in there that grows pretty fast too. No food. According to this thread my tank and those huge farm systems shouldn't exist.

I'll say it again: this thread is pretty much pure misinformation that has been disproven for decades. If anyone is in doubt, go post in the reef chemistry forum or spend some time on google because this is not a debate. We might as well be exchanging opinions on "is the text on this page in English."

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by organism

Feeding your corals is not a bad idea when done correctly, but it's easy for people to screw up their water and stop corals from growing, especially new hobbyists.

There we go.

[strout]

Originally Posted by rdrbssr11

I use coral frenzy once a week the night before I do my water change. I shut my skimmer off for about as hour as well.

I started doing this also, except I do it the morning before the water change, since I have mostly SPS corals. I am using Oyster eggs since that is what my LFS sells, and something called Fuel. What I didn't do like you was turn the skimmer off a bit, I will now, I didn't think of that