Feeding the fish

[rick58]

Since overfeeding seems to be a common source of problems (and underfeeding must be worst) I am wondering if there is a way to judge whether I am feeding my fish too much or too little. I am especially concerned with underfeeding - I do test my water regularly for Nitrates and Phosphates for indications of possible overfeeding. My little fish seem to be the worst indicator for overfeeding (they're always hungry). I do look at them to see how healthy they look but being new to this I'm not sure I'd recognize an underfed clownfish or Royal Gramma.
I am currently feeding them twice a day and slowly put in food trying to limit the amount that gets wasted. The amount is about what they can eat in a 2 minute period.
Any insights are welcome.

 

[fishfreek]

I feed my fish once a day, i feel this is plenty. If i notice phosphate rising i cut back to feeding every other day. I feed nori every day (on a clip) and alternate feedings of brine shrimp, formula one, formula two, sprulina flakes once a day. I add kents Zoe vitamins to most foods for additional nutrition. Also, feed my lps corals once a week eighter silversides or formula one. This is what i do for a feeding schedule. It sounds like your feeding schedule also will work fine. What are you feeding?
My fish always look hungry too. I think its natural for them to alwys be looking for food, thats what they do in the wild. HTH

 

[rick58]

I alternate formula one formula one,formula two, spirulina flakes and Nutrafin's Marine Complete.

 

[fallen04]

in the wild your fish would try to feed all day and be very dissapointed. most species feed only a few times a week. and alot of predators feed less than that more like once every ten days. like my predator tank i feed once every four days and they know when its the fourth day because they start cruising the top of the tank waiting for the food guy.

 

[nm reef]

I feed with a large assortment of frozen/fresh/flake foods......both my reef and my fish only get a heavy feeding on even numbered days and I direct feed my corals about once a week.

 

[don berry]

I personaly believe that you should only feed your tank every other day. I think feeding twice a day is excessive and will only lead to nitrate problems.

 

[joe's reefer]

use my homemade stuff now(squid, mussel, clam, seafood and garlic all blended with water and frozen in flats) i feed whatever they ca eats in 3-5 minutes and i feen my shrooms a dead guppy once every 2 weeks or so and my corals phytoplex.