Home made reef food recipie . . . .

Northtampatang · 02/19/2006, 06:27 PM

Well, many of you know there are tons of home made fish food recipies floating around out there. Here is one I have been using for a while that is quick, easy and cheap to make. I began using it because I wanted to know exeactly what I was feeding and I wanted it to be tailored to my specs.

Here it is:

3/4 lb whole white shrimp. (from publix's seafood area, fresh not preciosly frozen)

3/4l lb Cod (same as above, you can substitute whatever fish they may have on sale to save a few bucks)

3 tbs of frozen bar type Cyclop-eeze (I like this over the freeze dried can becuase it doesnt all float to the top)

two sheets of Nori (dried seaweed) for omnivores like tangs, rabbit fish, etc. (can be purchased at most grocery stores in the Asian food section

1/2 flat of formula 1 (I had it lyling in the freezer so I figured I'd use it up)

Total cost for the ingredients listed above are under $15.00 and are fresh!
Total prep time is only about 20 minutes from start to clean-up and you are set for a couple of months (this is enough to feed my two reef tanks 180 and 15 nano for at least six weeks).

*note, these ammounts and ingredients are fully adjustable and you can tailor them to your specific tanks inhabitants. *

Dump it all in a blender ( you may need to add RO water to get it to mix properly and get it to the texture you want, otherwise it will be like a giant glob. Also as an after thought, you may decide to use a mixture of RO and SW as I have heard that coral poylps may have an eaiser time ingesting a food that is closer to corect salinity, but full SW may not freeze properly for storage).

I portion up the almost 2 lbs of food in many smaller containers so that you do not have to repeatedly thaw out a large block to be able to break off single feeding amounts. If you are worred about not being able to use it all up in a timely manner, dont sweat it too much becuase the frozen shelf life is months as long as you are not thawing and refreezing te whole thing daily. Also, dont be shy to give some to other local reefers, you may be surprized and get a frag in exchange

best part of all, you know exactly what is in the food you are putting in the tank and do not have to worry about phosphate laden water that most companies use in packaging, and you know it is made fresh before freezing.

Feel free to expand or add any home recipe you may be using

Lizard333 · 02/19/2006, 09:02 PM

I am new but what is formula 1??

Andrew · 02/19/2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lizard333
I am new but what is formula 1??

Its a type of fish food. I did a quick google search for some pictures and theres some pictures of the bottles here:

http://www.atlantisaquatics.co.uk/ac...efishfood.html

Lizard333 · 02/19/2006, 09:34 PM

Looks Tasty.........

NCreefwannabe · 02/20/2006, 12:08 AM

I can get shrimp here basically anytime I need totally fresh from the morning its caught lol. But my question is. Once I buy however much, after I get the meat out, do i need to do anymore cleaning? Say cleaning like you would do if you were eating them yourself?

Northtampatang · 02/20/2006, 04:19 AM

NCreefwannabe
I peel the shrimp, but do not bother de-vaining them. Most people de-vain shrimp before they eat them, but t really is not anything that even runs the risk of making one sick.

Andrew
I used the frozen formula 1, it comes in cubes and are sold in flats. FWIW, I have heard from more than a few people that the flakes are high in phosphates.

funkyman · 02/20/2006, 07:07 AM

Thank you for the recipe. I'm going to give it a shot.

Agu · 02/20/2006, 08:08 AM

I also make fish food but I'd warn against using "fresh" seafood !!

Buy the frozen prepackaged seafood if possible. I know that sounds wrong but fresh seafood is usually treated with polyphosphates to preserve freshness. Although that information has to be divulged if you ask, there's no way for the clerk in the store to know if what you're buying has been treated. Frozen and packaged seafood has to have the ingredients on the label. In addition if it's being frozen the processer can cut out the expense of adding preservatives to the seafood. You really don't want to add unnecessary phosphates to your tank.

Do a search for polyphosphates and seafood for more information.

NCreefwannabe · 02/20/2006, 07:18 PM

the clerk? I buy seafood from the beach lol, caught that morning. From individual guys, not corporations. I shouldnt have to worry about this right?

NCreefwannabe · 02/21/2006, 10:18 AM

?

Northtampatang · 02/21/2006, 11:18 AM

I dont think that you would have to worry about it if you were buying dock-style fresh seafood, I think he was refering to the not prevously frozen seafood that makes it to the supermarket

02/19/2006, 06:27 PM	#1
Northtampatang Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 1,631	Home made reef food recipie . . . . Well, many of you know there are tons of home made fish food recipies floating around out there. Here is one I have been using for a while that is quick, easy and cheap to make. I began using it because I wanted to know exeactly what I was feeding and I wanted it to be tailored to my specs. Here it is: 3/4 lb whole white shrimp. (from publix's seafood area, fresh not preciosly frozen) 3/4l lb Cod (same as above, you can substitute whatever fish they may have on sale to save a few bucks) 3 tbs of frozen bar type Cyclop-eeze (I like this over the freeze dried can becuase it doesnt all float to the top) two sheets of Nori (dried seaweed) for omnivores like tangs, rabbit fish, etc. (can be purchased at most grocery stores in the Asian food section 1/2 flat of formula 1 (I had it lyling in the freezer so I figured I'd use it up) Total cost for the ingredients listed above are under $15.00 and are fresh! Total prep time is only about 20 minutes from start to clean-up and you are set for a couple of months (this is enough to feed my two reef tanks 180 and 15 nano for at least six weeks). note, these ammounts and ingredients are fully adjustable and you can tailor them to your specific tanks inhabitants. Dump it all in a blender ( you may need to add RO water to get it to mix properly and get it to the texture you want, otherwise it will be like a giant glob. Also as an after thought, you may decide to use a mixture of RO and SW as I have heard that coral poylps may have an eaiser time ingesting a food that is closer to corect salinity, but full SW may not freeze properly for storage). I portion up the almost 2 lbs of food in many smaller containers so that you do not have to repeatedly thaw out a large block to be able to break off single feeding amounts. If you are worred about not being able to use it all up in a timely manner, dont sweat it too much becuase the frozen shelf life is months as long as you are not thawing and refreezing te whole thing daily. Also, dont be shy to give some to other local reefers, you may be surprized and get a frag in exchange best part of all, you know exactly what is in the food you are putting in the tank and do not have to worry about phosphate laden water that most companies use in packaging, and you know it is made fresh before freezing. Feel free to expand or add any home recipe you may be using __________________ Share the love not the pests, dip all incoming corals all the time! Current Tank Info: 15 Long T5's and LED's / 20 long Drilled w/T5's and Halide, I-Tech

02/19/2006, 09:02 PM	#2
Lizard333 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 81	I am new but what is formula 1?? __________________ Bueller. Bueller. Bueller......... Current Tank Info: 28 gallon JBJ, new 160....

02/19/2006, 09:34 PM	#4
Lizard333 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 81	Looks Tasty......... __________________ Bueller. Bueller. Bueller......... Current Tank Info: 28 gallon JBJ, new 160....

02/20/2006, 04:19 AM	#6
Northtampatang Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 1,631	NCreefwannabe I peel the shrimp, but do not bother de-vaining them. Most people de-vain shrimp before they eat them, but t really is not anything that even runs the risk of making one sick. Andrew I used the frozen formula 1, it comes in cubes and are sold in flats. FWIW, I have heard from more than a few people that the flakes are high in phosphates. __________________ Share the love not the pests, dip all incoming corals all the time! Current Tank Info: 15 Long T5's and LED's / 20 long Drilled w/T5's and Halide, I-Tech

02/20/2006, 08:08 AM	#8
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I also make fish food but I'd warn against using "fresh" seafood !! Buy the frozen prepackaged seafood if possible. I know that sounds wrong but fresh seafood is usually treated with polyphosphates to preserve freshness. Although that information has to be divulged if you ask, there's no way for the clerk in the store to know if what you're buying has been treated. Frozen and packaged seafood has to have the ingredients on the label. In addition if it's being frozen the processer can cut out the expense of adding preservatives to the seafood. You really don't want to add unnecessary phosphates to your tank. Do a search for polyphosphates and seafood for more information. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/20/2006, 12:08 AM	#5
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	I can get shrimp here basically anytime I need totally fresh from the morning its caught lol. But my question is. Once I buy however much, after I get the meat out, do i need to do anymore cleaning? Say cleaning like you would do if you were eating them yourself?

02/20/2006, 07:07 AM	#7
funkyman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lorain, Ohio Posts: 1,811	Thank you for the recipe. I'm going to give it a shot.

02/20/2006, 07:18 PM	#9
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	the clerk? I buy seafood from the beach lol, caught that morning. From individual guys, not corporations. I shouldnt have to worry about this right?

02/21/2006, 10:18 AM	#10
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	?

02/21/2006, 11:18 AM	#11
Northtampatang Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 1,631	I dont think that you would have to worry about it if you were buying dock-style fresh seafood, I think he was refering to the not prevously frozen seafood that makes it to the supermarket __________________ Share the love not the pests, dip all incoming corals all the time! Current Tank Info: 15 Long T5's and LED's / 20 long Drilled w/T5's and Halide, I-Tech