Ok, got through most of the reading...not all, but something struck me as I was reading.
"During sunset, the free zooplankton concentration rises quickly, as these animals migrate to the water column. This causes a rise in copepod (500-700 μm) concentration which is five times higher compared to daytime levels!"
http://www.coralscience.org/main/articles/nutrition-6/how-corals-feed
The article is talking about what happens in nature. That will depend on the place they observe and many variables, of course. That number can go up to many times higher than that. Five times is just an observation in a local where they got that result. Could be lower than 5X in some of the places where zoas are found too, of course, so...
The article goes on to mention that the enemy of hobbyist feeding live zooplankton is heavy skimming during this higher concentration of copepods...although it does reinforce the necessity of the skimmer.
If you are willing to feed live plankton with the skimmer running, yeah!! I wouldn't feed live plankton though...
Have you fed live zooplankton? Currently, my skimmer is always running. I was thinking of taking it off-line for two hours at night. Do you think this would have a negative effect?
I did in the past with collected plankton from the ocean!!! Not worthy. The reason I don't feed live plankton (yes, zooplankton is the only one I would feed, if so) is simply because we can substitute it by the available artificial cora food particles. Once the zoas are fed a high quality and right sized particle they will get what they need. Another reason is the crazy work one will have to put up with a live plankton (zooplankton) culture. Not to talk about the high nutrient level introduced in the system to be fed. No need for all that!!!
The text tell us how important food particles are for zoas thought! If they feed on plankton every day...
There is absolutely no need to stop skimming while target feeding artificial particle coral food or any live organisms to the zoas any time, if you do that correctly. Pumps need to be off while target feeding. I keep my return on and skimmer on 24/7. No problems.
Negative effects with the skimmer off for 2 hours? I don't think it would, but wouldn't do anything good either. If anything, it would stop removing organics for 2 hours. No reason at all to do that IMO. No sense. So, I wouldn't.
They are talking about trying to reproduce what nature does, just introducing the zooplankton in the system, not target feeding.
After reading this thread, I'm switching to Reef Roids for a while. I hope this thread stays alive. I've gained so much valuable information. Although everyone has different observations, they are much better than opinions.
Be careful with any food for inverts and fishes. Never overfeed them. Reef Roids is great when offered in moderated portions and in a target feeding process. Remember they can take only up to their limits. They're guts aren't that big. The result with Reef Roids is fast and even with small quantities offered to the zoas. You'll be able to tell in a week or so.
Pretty soon I'll try Reef Chili too. I've tried Coral Frenzy with very good response from the zoas and some improvement in growth/reproduction, just like Reef Roids. Moderation, remember!!
I'm glad you like the thread and hope to hear and learn from others as well!! :thumbsup:
