What food for filter feeders?

[tirtza]

What food would you recommend for my new coral? The coral are one tiny mushroom frag (the size of a dime), one small Candy Cane frag, and two small Kenya Tree frags. I understand that they are filter feeders, what's the best feeding technique and food to feed them?
BTW.... I'm currently feeding my 3 fish frozen mysis, cyclops, and Formula 1.

 

[bang guy]

What species of Mushroom? Most don't need to be fed. I wpuldn't bother trying to target feed the Kenya either.
For the Candy Cane the Mysis and Cyclops will work just fine. Wait until you see the feeding tentacles. That will usually happen just after lights out or after you have fed the rest of the tank. It will get by without feeding but it will grow a LOT faster if you target feed it.

 

[tirtza]

I'm not sure what species of mushroom it is. Perhaps you can tell me....
It looks like this

Should I spot feed it?

 

[kiefers]

some folks, me included, sometimes spot feed their corals and these shrooms as well. You can feed them mysis, brine, or pellets. Some don't feed at all.
When spot fed, these mushrooms will fold up and slowly trap their food in and swallow it down. I have 3 different varieties of shrooms including blue and purple. I do spot feed when I feed my sun coral.
So, entirely up to you.

 

[reefkprz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/390211/what-food-for-filter-feeders#post_3454085
What species of Mushroom? Most don't need to be fed. I wpuldn't bother trying to target feed the Kenya either.
For the Candy Cane the Mysis and Cyclops will work just fine. Wait until you see the feeding tentacles. That will usually happen just after lights out or after you have fed the rest of the tank. It will get by without feeding but it will grow a LOT faster if you target feed it.
I concur
most of then mushrooms get enough food from your tank that spot feeding is redundant and actually does little more than add more pollution to your tank.

 

[tirtza]

Quote:
For the Candy Cane the Mysis and Cyclops will work just fine. Wait until you see the feeding tentacles.
I still haven't seen any feeding tentacles....at least I don't think I have. What do they look like? How long are they? How should I feed it? I really hope it's not starving to death while I figure this out.
Also....does anyone know what type of mushroom this is?

 

[bang guy]

The Mushroom is a Discosoma sp.
The feeding tantacles will typically come out after the main lights are turned off or a few minutes after you feed the rest of the tank. They're not usually very long for Candy Cane Coral but the length can vary quite a bit. Are you feeding the tank Cyclop-Eeze? Squirt a few at the Candy Cane to see if you can prompt it to extend feeding tentacles.

 

[bang guy]

Here's a picture I took of a Candy Cane that is ready to feed:

 

[beaslbob]

I agree with bang and used to feed cyclopeeze to my corals. I used frozen, cut a small part off, put in in a turkey baster and squirted each coral.
I also used go culture micro algae on rotifers for the true filter feeders as well.
my .02

 

[tirtza]

I haven't been using Cyclop-eeze, is this what you're talking about? (oops, sorry about the link. here's just a picture)
Should I turn off the pumps and power heads before I feed?
Bang Guy - I looked at the picture you provided, are the feeding tentacles coming out from the center of each head? Are they the brownish colored things?

 

[bang guy]

Yes, brownish things. The mouth is in the very center and the feeding tentacles form a loop on the head.
Tentacles retracted:

 

[tirtza]

Oh okay! I know what you are talking about now. I have seen those tentacles come out, I just didn't realize what they were. Should I turn off the water flow when I feed?

 

[bang guy]

It will help a lot to have the waterflow off. And you can feed any minced raw seafood. Scallops, shrimp, whitefish, squid, etc. You might find those to be more affordable than store bought fish food. Mysis and Cyclops are very good though, just not very cheap.

 

[slice]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/390211/what-food-for-filter-feeders#post_3454733
I still haven't seen any feeding tentacles....at least I don't think I have. What do they look like? How long are they? How should I feed it? I really hope it's not starving to death while I figure this out.
Here is my candy cane looking for a good meal:

The only time I see them like this is hours after lights out, and they usually come out twice the length shown here.
Sometimes they will come out a little during light hours if I have just fed the tank heavily.