How should I feed my filter feeders?

tirtza

tirtza

Member
I only have two Kenya Trees and a large Feather Duster. I've heard opposing views regarding how they should be fed.

  • One oppinion was to just leave them alone, that they will get what they need from what's in the water column.
    The other oppinion was that I should feed them phytoplankton.
*On a side note: The guy at the LFS said that by adding a few more filter feeders it could help prevent some of the food from being waisted and adding to water quality problems.
Right now, I feed my 3 fish once a day: garlic soaked mysis, Formula 1, and once or twice I week I also feed them (and my candy cane coral) Cyclops with a turkey baster.
I just purchased Kent Marine PhytoPlex for my filter feeders.....thinking that they needed it or would benefit from it. Do they actually need it or should I return it? The only concern I have is adding to many nutrients and creating a (bigger) problem with Cyano.

What are you thoughts??? Should I keep it or not? Will adding a few more filter feeders help prevent any waste (I really don't mind adding more since I really love my new Feather Duster)? If you think I should use it, how much and in what way should I use it?
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member

I only have two Kenya Trees and a large Feather Duster. I've heard opposing views regarding how they should be fed.
  • One oppinion was to just leave them alone, that they will get what they need from what's in the water column. The other oppinion was that I should feed them phytoplankton.

*On a side note: The guy at the LFS said that by adding a few more filter feeders it could help prevent some of the food from being waisted and adding to water quality problems.

Right now, I feed my 3 fish once a day: garlic soaked mysis, Formula 1, and once or twice I week I also feed them (and my candy cane coral) Cyclops with a turkey baster.

I just purchased Kent Marine PhytoPlex for my filter feeders.....thinking that they needed it or would benefit from it. Do they actually need it or should I return it? The only concern I have is adding to many nutrients and creating a (bigger) problem with Cyano.


What are you thoughts??? Should I keep it or not? Will adding a few more filter feeders help prevent any waste (I really don't mind adding more since I really love my new Feather Duster)? If you think I should use it, how much and in what way should I use it?

I think with the amount you are already feeding that you don't need the PhytoPlex. I would try to target feed the Kenya Trees and Feather Duster with the Cyclops when you go to feed the Candy Cane.
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
Okay, thanks! I'll return the PhytoPlex tomorrow and maybe get another Feather Duster....
I'm glad I kept the store receipt!
How often do should I target feed the Kenya Trees and Feather Duster?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/390839/how-should-i-feed-my-filter-feeders#post_3463124
Okay, thanks! I'll return the PhytoPlex tomorrow and maybe get another Feather Duster....
I'm glad I kept the store receipt!
How often do should I target feed the Kenya Trees and Feather Duster?
Remember a little goes a long way...turn off the skimmer for the day or you will only be feeding the skimmer. Also keep in mind, what feeds the coral...feeds algae too. You don't need to target feed the kenya or the feather duster, in fact What floats away from your candy cane will be enough for them so don't add more.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/390839/how-should-i-feed-my-filter-feeders#post_3463124
Okay, thanks! I'll return the PhytoPlex tomorrow and maybe get another Feather Duster....
I'm glad I kept the store receipt!
How often do should I target feed the Kenya Trees and Feather Duster?
Remember to turn off the skimmer for the day or you will only be feeding the skimmer. Also do not add extra for the Kenya or Feather duster, what floats away from the Candy Cane when you spot feed it will be enough for them, so no need to spot feed them either. Keep in mind what feeds the coral feeds the cyano and algae...if you spot feed everything they won't absorb the extra from the tank helping your water quality...their purpose.
Get some coral food into a syringe and going just in front of the coral (not right on top of it) going with the water flow release the contents slowly. About 4ml. in the syringe. What floats away will be absorbed by filter feeders and algae...feed no more than 2Xs a week
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
If you are target feeding then leave the skimmer on. If you are using a product like PhytoPlex that is to watery to target feed then shutting off the skimmer is advisable. You would also have to know how long to feed the coral as you would add only enough for there to be a cloud of food for a small number of minutes to a couple of hours. One other way would be to use a ATO to add the food and to put the skimmer on a timer so that it is all automated.
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Geo is correct altho I believe these bottled coral food are junk and does nothing but pollute your tank. If I remember correctly you feed pretty heavy so no additional food should be needed. you can however chop some of you food into tiny pieces and spot feed the candy cane them. The feather duster will indeed catch some of those DOC's and be fine. Or you can go get some coral frenzy, a liitle goes a very long way so use in moderation.
Just my thoughts
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
I took back the bottled coral food (the PhytoPlex), and will stick to just spot feeding the candy cane. Like you said, the left overs should get to the 2 Feather Dusters (I added another one today), and the 2 Kenya Trees. That will be enough for them right?
I have a plastic syringe and some cyclops. Should I defrost the cyclops cube in some tank water or RO water? I'm afraid to put the cube in a net and have water run over it in order to defrost it.... the tiny little cyclops will probably run right through the net.
Quote:
The feather duster will indeed catch some of those DOC's and be fine.
What are 'DOC's?
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
use your tank water. Do you have a turkey baster? Take the cube of the cyclops or whatever you have and put it in the bulb of the turksy baster. Suck up some of your tank water. The temp of the tank water will melt, or, defrost the cube and you will be ready to spot feed.
Stay away from using RO water unless your topping off the tank.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
D.O.C's are Dissolved Organic Compounds. This whole discussion is one in which I sometimes wonder why people rinse their frozen if they have good filtration, a skimmer and coral. you rinse away the particulates small enough for filter feeders like the duster and most SPS.I have suggested this in the past for folks that have a cyano or algae problem and their filtration - water change methodology is not yet up to where their tank needs it but hey, their is food in that rinse water too. Including some phosphates that coral do need, just not in large quantities that the tank cannot consume. Also the stirring lightly of the top layer of sand in small patches gets some smaller particulates into the water column for food for the coral. Like fish poop!!!
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
I'm still having a cyano problem (I feel like I shouldn't see any at all, is that right?). It pops up again in very light amounts the day after I remove it. Like everyone has suggested, I won't rinse the cyclops, I'll just dissolve the cube of cyclops in a turkey baster before I squirt it near the candy cane like Keith had suggested.
Here's how I feed my fish:
I like to rinse the Formula 1 frozen cubes because the cubes have this annoying 'gel binder' that I'm not all that confident has any nutritional value. I put 1/2 of a Formula 1 cube and 1/2 of a Mysis cube in a tiny amount of RO water and microwave it for 10 seconds to defrost it. I mix the food up and then I pour it into a net (over the sink). Next I pour some RO water over the food so that it's thoroughly rinsed. Finally, I move the food from the net and put it in some water in a tiny (shot glass size) container with a garlic clove (that has some slits cut into it). I keep a lid on the little container with the food, water, and garlic clove and refrigerate it. I use it over the course of several days and feed tiny pinches of it to my 3 small fish each night.
Should I change my feeding process? Do you think it'd help the cyano problem?
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Looking at you tank pictures on the other thread I do not see a cyano problem. Yes you have a little but nothing to worry on. Just keep stirring those spots just before water changes. Keep your filters running and clean. How is the skimmer doing? Getting a nice brown stinky skimmate?
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/390839/how-should-i-feed-my-filter-feeders#post_3463255
I'm still having a cyano problem (I feel like I shouldn't see any at all, is that right?). It pops up again in very light amounts the day after I remove it. Like everyone has suggested, I won't rinse the cyclops, I'll just dissolve the cube of cyclops in a turkey baster before I squirt it near the candy cane like Keith had suggested.
Here's how I feed my fish:
I like to rinse the Formula 1 frozen cubes because the cubes have this annoying 'gel binder' that I'm not all that confident has any nutritional value. I put 1/2 of a Formula 1 cube and 1/2 of a Mysis cube in a tiny amount of RO water and microwave it for 10 seconds to defrost it. I mix the food up and then I pour it into a net (over the sink). Next I pour some RO water over the food so that it's thoroughly rinsed. Finally, I move the food from the net and put it in some water in a tiny (shot glass size) container with a garlic clove (that has some slits cut into it). I keep a lid on the little container with the food, water, and garlic clove and refrigerate it. I use it over the course of several days and feed tiny pinches of it to my 3 small fish each night.
Should I change my feeding process? Do you think it'd help the cyano problem?
Your making it alot more difficult than it has to be. However, I see what you are doing. Nonetheless.......
How long is several days? Make enough food to last 3-4 days. Fish food goes bad pretty quick.
No more water. no nada nope none...... quit.
Grab everything you listed above, put into a small container with garlic, put the lid on and put in refrig. Next day or later in the evening pull out the container and with a fork mash the food together and fold, not mix.
you will see a little water in the container from the food. That will be okay. Feed the critters and watch them loose their minds over the new recipe. (NO MORE WATER).........
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
Thanks, I really like your method. I appreciate how much easier it is! I always make enough food to last 3 days. My fish are going to be so much happier too.
 
tirtza

tirtza

Member
Quote:
well, no not the cyno. Lol
Let's hope the cyano is really really unhappy. That stuff is so annoying!
Quote:
Have you ever thought about making your own fish food?
I've definitely thought about it....but for right now since I only have 3 small fish it's probably not worth the work and will end up being expensive. Is this a wrong assumption? I've only got 2 clowns and a Fire Fish . Eventually I'll add a Midas Blenny in the next couple of weeks if I can actually find one....fingers crossed :) and a Royal Gramma later this spring.
How do you make your own food?
 
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