Feeding Corals??

[thetoyman13]

I have a 90 gal reef tank and a 29 gal bio-cube--both with many corals in them. I feed them some PHYTOPLEX, and ZOOPLEX once a week, is there anything else i should feed them, or is there something better??
Both tanks are a little over a year old and both are full of live rock,all corals in both tanks are doing beautiful.

 

[black cobra]

Why only once a week? It says you can give them 1ml per 10 gallons per day..... I feed mine daily and everything is doing fantastic so far

 

[meowzer]

Wouldn't it depend on what corals are in there?

 

[black cobra]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2987826
Wouldn't it depend on what corals are in there?
Why? I can't think of a coral that wouldn't benefit from Phyto or Zoe

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by BLACK COBRA
http:///forum/post/2987840
Why? I can't think of a coral that wouldn't benefit from Phyto or Zoe

I just figure if you put that in daily you would be adding too much into your water...I know if you feed too much you can have problems...
If I fed my corals 1ml per 10 gallons I would be giving them over 20ml's....that seems like a lot...but I am no expert...Just trying to learn more

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2987843
I just figure if you put that in daily you would be adding too much into your water...I know if you feed too much you can have problems...
If I fed my corals 1ml per 10 gallons I would be giving them over 20ml's....that seems like a lot...but I am no expert...Just trying to learn more

You could have problems by adding the recommended amount which is on the back of the bottle. You can easily pollute the tank and end up with algae issues. Not all corals will benefit from phyto. Filter feeders will benefit from phyto.

 

[coastie81]

I also feed my corals, cyclop-eeze and rotate mysis shrimp also. Just my .02

 

[coastie5685]

Most softies feed off of phyto no? I have candy cany n ric... Would they tkk mysis? N torch? Should I b fine with weekly feeding of phyto?

 

[pbnj]

I'm a once-a-week coral feeder.

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by Coastie5685
http:///forum/post/2991242
Most softies feed off of phyto no? I have candy cany n ric... Would they tkk mysis? N torch? Should I b fine with weekly feeding of phyto?
Yes, most soft corals will benefit from phyto as well as clams and feather dusters. Candy canes will accept mysis and I believe some people feed them to rics. I have never seen a ric eat so I am not sure. Torch will also accept some meaty foods but personally I don't feed mine. The best way to tell if you are adding the right amount is to do the following. You want to acclimate your tank to the new food source. I know DTs says to use half the recommended serving early on. You want to turn off filters and skimmers during feeding. Leave the powerheads on so it moves throughout the tank. Spotfeeding phyto is recommended. I have a coco worm and clam so I feed phyto twice per week at the recommended serving. I know most brands suggest feeding everyday but I would only do that if your tank is loaded with softies and filter feeders. Your tank water should clear up in about an hour. If it doesn't then you might be feeding to much.

 

[meowzer]

Green Ricordias will eat...I take tweezers, pick up a piece of mysis and lay it in it...it then closes up and eats it.

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2991369
Green Ricordias will eat...I take tweezers, pick up a piece of mysis and lay it in it...it then closes up and eats it.
Nice to know, thanks for sharing. I bought the super squirt for feeding my corals so I would never have to put my hand in there unless it was an emergency. I have a clown that bites and has ZERO respect for me.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2991389
Nice to know, thanks for sharing. I bought the super squirt for feeding my corals so I would never have to put my hand in there unless it was an emergency. I have a clown that bites and has ZERO respect for me.

I have not been bitten by a clown...only attacked by a 3 spot damsel...LOL....I bought that squirt thing too...I HATE IT...It's good for liquids, but the opening is too small to hold onto anything like a baster can.
I actually extend it and use it to blow sand off my purple capricornis...my sandsifter LOVES to cover that thing.

 

[jerryatrick]

I agree that the end of the super squirt is to small. I took a knife and made it larger. The thing that I don't like about the baster is that everything seems to fall out of it before I can spot feed.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2991398
I agree that the end of the super squirt is to small. I took a knife and made it larger. The thing that I don't like about the baster is that everything seems fall out of it before I can spot feed.
LOL...That's why I use the tweezers for my ricordia...nothing in that tank tries to eat me..

I have a baster that is used for candy making (I think) it is half the size of a turkey baster, and is a little easier to get the food to stay on....A LITTLE I SAY...