Austin goes Rimless - Dudester's 203g mixed reef
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Dudester
Premium Member
Well after looking at the broccoli for a few hours, both tangs have decided to mow it down. This pleases Dudester! Melev, as for the duration of boiling (blanching) the broccoli, it's all about rendering the vegetable soft enough to allow the tangs to eat it, while avoiding a soggy mess that falls apart in the tank. I blanched mine for about a minute and a half, then transferred it to ice cold water. The pieces were then cut into portions and laid out to dry before placing them into a freezer bag for future use. But again, I think using pre-frozen organic broccoli is how I'll proceed one I use up all of this.
robster - I'll give the cucumber and zucchini a try some time, thanks. BTW, I got some filter socks from the place you recommended and they are great, thanks for the link!
Jonathan, I will continue to feed nori, I just like being able to throw in some more variation, that's all.
chrismunn - Thanks for the very nice words, much appreciated. Let me know when you need some help.
Mike
robster - I'll give the cucumber and zucchini a try some time, thanks. BTW, I got some filter socks from the place you recommended and they are great, thanks for the link!
Jonathan, I will continue to feed nori, I just like being able to throw in some more variation, that's all.
chrismunn - Thanks for the very nice words, much appreciated. Let me know when you need some help.
Mike
jnarowe
New member
Here’s how I do it. This is essentially Marc’s recipe and method with some minor changes:
All items are RAW!! I don't use every item listed below in every batch, and the first 5 are not needed to save cost.
Frozen Cyclops (optional)
Frozen Mysid (optional)
Frozen Plankton (optional)
Frozen Brine (optional)
Frozen Formula 2 (optional)
Frozen Mixed Seafood (Asian store, clams & mussels removed)
Frozen Shrimp
Frozen Krill (optional)
Vitamins
Garlic (Garlic Guard or fresh minced)
Shredded Nori (Kizami)
Spirulina (large pellets)
Fresh Seafood (If Available)
I chop the mixed seafood and shrimp. I soak and rinse all frozen items with RO/DI water and allow it to drain thoroughly. Then I mix all ingredients together and ladle into Zip-Loc bags, flatten, and freeze.
When I feed, I thaw in tank water with more vitamins, shredded nori, and drain through a fine shrimp net. Then I place in bowl and dip the bowl in the tank slowly feeding while the fish do their thing.
Discussion:
I do not like putting in pellet foods or powdered spirulina. The whole reason why i make this food is to stay away from pellet and flake food which incorporates too much phosphate and nitrate, and has very little solid food value.
The primary issue is that flake and pellet foods aren't real food in a sense. They cost a fortune per ounce vs. using frozen foods, regardless of whether you are using "people" food or fish food.
Plus you know exactly what your fish are getting and you can tweak it with vitamins you are comfortable with. Volume wise I use about 60 - 70% "human" food in my mix.
I also feel that the cyclops may be more of a risk that it is worth, just because of the particle size. It's extremely difficult to rinse and strain it, and I feel the pollution it causes may be fairly high because of that.
The Garlic is optional of course, and that is a topic all its own. Sherman is always ragging on me for using garlic, just as I rag on everyone else for putting lettuce, broccoli etc. in their tanks. And he's probably right, but it as been my experience that it has helped my fish stay strong in the face of disease. It "may" help boost the immune system but whether that will ever be proved is doubtful. One thing is clear to anyone who has farted in the shower, scents travel fast in water, and it seems to really attract the fish to the food.
One of the most important parts of feeding IMO, is straining the food once you have thawed it. I had for some oddball reason forgotten to do this for consecutive months, and I saw a drastic change in my nuisance algae and water quality. I can only assume it would be MUCH worse in a smaller system.
Another thing to note is that I also remove clams and mussels from the mixed seafood I get at the Asian store. The reason for this is that I don't want my fish getting a taste for clams, and both clams and mussels have a high waste to protein content. They are practically half crap.
On the flip side, shrimp and scallops are extremely high in protein and virtually zero waste product. They have a very high protein to weight ratio, so I tend to go heavy on those two. Scallops are expensive, but shrimp can be found rather cheaply at Asian stores.
And I do not turn off any pumps. I know most reef keepers do, but I like for the food to remain in the water column rather than sink, and I like all the fish to get an equal chance at the food. By turning off the pumps, the food stays in one location, and then the biggest bullies get the bulk of it.
And I also usually have animals in my overflow to get anything that makes it all the way there. This includes a nice gaggle of aiptasia and currently 2 neon blue gobies.
All items are RAW!! I don't use every item listed below in every batch, and the first 5 are not needed to save cost.
Frozen Cyclops (optional)
Frozen Mysid (optional)
Frozen Plankton (optional)
Frozen Brine (optional)
Frozen Formula 2 (optional)
Frozen Mixed Seafood (Asian store, clams & mussels removed)
Frozen Shrimp
Frozen Krill (optional)
Vitamins
Garlic (Garlic Guard or fresh minced)
Shredded Nori (Kizami)
Spirulina (large pellets)
Fresh Seafood (If Available)
I chop the mixed seafood and shrimp. I soak and rinse all frozen items with RO/DI water and allow it to drain thoroughly. Then I mix all ingredients together and ladle into Zip-Loc bags, flatten, and freeze.
When I feed, I thaw in tank water with more vitamins, shredded nori, and drain through a fine shrimp net. Then I place in bowl and dip the bowl in the tank slowly feeding while the fish do their thing.
Discussion:
I do not like putting in pellet foods or powdered spirulina. The whole reason why i make this food is to stay away from pellet and flake food which incorporates too much phosphate and nitrate, and has very little solid food value.
The primary issue is that flake and pellet foods aren't real food in a sense. They cost a fortune per ounce vs. using frozen foods, regardless of whether you are using "people" food or fish food.
Plus you know exactly what your fish are getting and you can tweak it with vitamins you are comfortable with. Volume wise I use about 60 - 70% "human" food in my mix.
I also feel that the cyclops may be more of a risk that it is worth, just because of the particle size. It's extremely difficult to rinse and strain it, and I feel the pollution it causes may be fairly high because of that.
The Garlic is optional of course, and that is a topic all its own. Sherman is always ragging on me for using garlic, just as I rag on everyone else for putting lettuce, broccoli etc. in their tanks. And he's probably right, but it as been my experience that it has helped my fish stay strong in the face of disease. It "may" help boost the immune system but whether that will ever be proved is doubtful. One thing is clear to anyone who has farted in the shower, scents travel fast in water, and it seems to really attract the fish to the food.
One of the most important parts of feeding IMO, is straining the food once you have thawed it. I had for some oddball reason forgotten to do this for consecutive months, and I saw a drastic change in my nuisance algae and water quality. I can only assume it would be MUCH worse in a smaller system.
Another thing to note is that I also remove clams and mussels from the mixed seafood I get at the Asian store. The reason for this is that I don't want my fish getting a taste for clams, and both clams and mussels have a high waste to protein content. They are practically half crap.
On the flip side, shrimp and scallops are extremely high in protein and virtually zero waste product. They have a very high protein to weight ratio, so I tend to go heavy on those two. Scallops are expensive, but shrimp can be found rather cheaply at Asian stores.
And I do not turn off any pumps. I know most reef keepers do, but I like for the food to remain in the water column rather than sink, and I like all the fish to get an equal chance at the food. By turning off the pumps, the food stays in one location, and then the biggest bullies get the bulk of it.
And I also usually have animals in my overflow to get anything that makes it all the way there. This includes a nice gaggle of aiptasia and currently 2 neon blue gobies.
erics3000
Active member
I tried some romaine lettuce and they didn't touch it. I agree alot of the formulated foods are great. I alos think that mixing it up once in a while is a good thing. Also keeping in mind there digestive systems like J mentioned.
I had Iguanas for a while and they were mainly vegatarians about 80%. They could not eat anthing acidic like oranges. They really liked when tghey had a litle calcium everynow and then and I think it really helped them out overall.
I picked up a 10lb bag of mixed up seafoon for $11. I just need to pick up some of the other goodies to mix in with it. What specific vitamins do you use J? I think I saw Paul use some of C.
I had Iguanas for a while and they were mainly vegatarians about 80%. They could not eat anthing acidic like oranges. They really liked when tghey had a litle calcium everynow and then and I think it really helped them out overall.
I picked up a 10lb bag of mixed up seafoon for $11. I just need to pick up some of the other goodies to mix in with it. What specific vitamins do you use J? I think I saw Paul use some of C.
Dudester
Premium Member
To contribute to this conversation, my feeding regimen is similar to Jonathan's. I do use garlic in the mix, and I only use fresh seafood from a good grocery store. I do not use brine (poor nutrition if it's not gut loaded) or plankton, and my vitamins consist of Selcon and Zoe. Before mixing it up in a food processor the ingredients are rinsed in RO/DI, and I use the same freezing technique as mentioned. I don't strain my food, however. I break off as much as I want to feed and drop it into the Wavebox. I turn off the sump return pumps. No need for food to go into the overflow and sump, as far as I'm concerned. I do leave the closed loop and wavebox on for the same reasons Jonathan mentioned. Since there's nori in my food mix I don't add nori (or broccoli) to the clip every day. I probably only do this 2 or 3 times/week, actually.
As for an update on my tank, I'm happy to say that after 48 hours the ich is almost completely gone from the PBT. Today I did a water change, siphoned sand, changed filter socks, and tweaked the Ca reactor as the calcium/alk demand has increased a little recently. I'm starting to see a little coralline algae growing on the return nozzles and overflow acrylic (FINALLY!), and the new frags are definitely growing already. Sorry for the lack'o pics. You'll notice that my first listed interest is my daughter, and as it was beautiful today in Austin, all of my non-maintenance time was spent with her. Again, sorry to disappoint, I'll try to make it up to you all soon.
As for an update on my tank, I'm happy to say that after 48 hours the ich is almost completely gone from the PBT. Today I did a water change, siphoned sand, changed filter socks, and tweaked the Ca reactor as the calcium/alk demand has increased a little recently. I'm starting to see a little coralline algae growing on the return nozzles and overflow acrylic (FINALLY!), and the new frags are definitely growing already. Sorry for the lack'o pics. You'll notice that my first listed interest is my daughter, and as it was beautiful today in Austin, all of my non-maintenance time was spent with her. Again, sorry to disappoint, I'll try to make it up to you all soon.
jnarowe
New member
Must be nice to have the great weather. That's why so many people live half a year here, and half a year there.
I only used a nori clip for a couple of weeks because I observed the fish tearing off pieces and a lot of it getting under the rocks. I see this when I watch other people feed their tanks too. That's what got me on the whole shredded nori kick in the first place.
I only used a nori clip for a couple of weeks because I observed the fish tearing off pieces and a lot of it getting under the rocks. I see this when I watch other people feed their tanks too. That's what got me on the whole shredded nori kick in the first place.
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
Hey Chris,
If things are going well for you, dont change it! I started feeding my Red Sea Regal Angel broccoli because all it was eating was mysis, she wouldnt touch anything else. I tried the broccoli in desperation after it was reccomended to me by Lee Birch, leebca on some forums...
Surprisingly, the Regal went nuts for the broccoli and stayed quite healthy for year until one of my Ritteri anemone's wandered into a pump. The tentacles got shredded, the nematocysts from the shredded tentacles went through the water column, and killed all my fish except the clowns....amazingly enough, the Ritteri is still alive....that was well over a month ago..
I currently have a small Purple Tang, a medium Tomini Tang, and a small Vanuatu Regal in QT...the two tangs eat pretty much everything, the Regal just picks at things...not wildly optomistic on its future....
Dudester,
No problems with posting up about the broccoli...the whole point of this website is to share info...besides what works in one case, may or may not work in another. I hadnt thought of the organic frozen broccoli...I need to look into that.
Another thing you might consider, I aquired a small 1 cc syringe from a friend of mine who is a diabetic and a reefer. The syringe was clean, and I use it to inject the broccoli with either Zoe, or Selcon....doesnt stay in a whole lot longer than it would other wise, but a little longer which I assume means the fish are getting more of it...
Nick
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