v1...rotate
A Reef In The Sky
Definitely an interesting read. Thanks for posting the links :thumbsup:
Best food for SPS in mixed reef?
- Thread starter Gold Stripe
- Start date
Definitely an interesting read. Thanks for posting the links :thumbsup:
No matter what system we have in place, chaeto, pods, etc, we can't replicate the natural LIVE food sources available to corals in the ocean. Paul_B made a good point in another thread that fish fry are a major part of reef nutrition. I would venture a guess that even some corals eat a live fry every now and again.
Now combine that with naturally sustained populations of pods, which are in turn fed by naturally sustained phytoplankton, and it becomes clear how tough it is to feed coral a natural live diet within our closed systems.
Now combine that with naturally sustained populations of pods, which are in turn fed by naturally sustained phytoplankton, and it becomes clear how tough it is to feed coral a natural live diet within our closed systems.
Not a bad idea to use, then again there's many other alternatives.
I'd give it a shot, or get some from someone and test it out to see how you like it.
I've had success with oyster eggs and cyclops.
Also, kalkwasser.
As far as feeding is concerned, if the corals look happy and PE is good then I'm happy. Regardless of what others tell me.
Reading from a book, and first hand experience is different.
I guess all the articles everyone is following sets a norm for the population to follow.
I'm going with what ever works for me.
Don't let someone else tell you how to raise your kids
Allmost
New member
Not a bad idea to use, then again there's many other alternatives.
I'd give it a shot, or get some from someone and test it out to see how you like it.
I've had success with oyster eggs and cyclops.
Also, kalkwasser.
As far as feeding is concerned, if the corals look happy and PE is good then I'm happy. Regardless of what others tell me.
Reading from a book, and first hand experience is different.
I guess all the articles everyone is following sets a norm for the population to follow.
I'm going with what ever works for me.
Don't let someone else tell you how to raise your kids
+1 again lol
coral snow is just ca-mg no ? used to clear the water and get nutritions to the corals? and kalk is only lime water to increase ca, kh, mg and hopefully bond a bit with po4.
about feeding, I have tried many different things, almost all that has been posted here, but when I see my healthy coral is still healthy, doesnt matter if I feed or not, then I stop feeding them
lol, all those papers say "IF the corals is not healthy, it may be not getting all nutrition it needs" I do have many none-photo corals in the seahorse tank connected to SPS and I do feed those guys reef roids once in a while.
Allmost
New member
yes my bad, the Zeovit coral snow is ca/mg.
DaddyJax
New member
Well said Plyle.
Gold Stripe
New member
Well its my thread, at least it was, so I figure I will chime in.
I am looking for the best all around SPS food in a mixed reef because thats what I have. As those of you with experience know, a mixed reef is in itself a contradiction. I have taken deep water corals and shallow water corals and forced them to cohabitate in a small glass box. The natural environment for these animals is very different from one another and I am trying to make sure that they ALL have what they need to thrive.
Some come from the open oceans with moderate currents and vast volumes of water while others come from lagoons with rolling tides and richer waters. How do you ensure that they are all getting what they need? Feed like hell and then try and keep the water quality as high as possible by mechanical, biological and chemical means.
I have a 65 Gal tank with 4 fish so fish poop may not be sufficient. I have a 20L refugium that rotates between nasty and relatively clear. I adjust my skimming and feeding based on the appearance of my corals and my refugium.
I am relatively new to SPS so I have little experience in keeping them. The ones I have now are growing very well and while not bright by any means, are coloring up nicely and should continue to do so as long as I give them what they need.
I asked a, what I thought was, a fairly easy question to gain some insight into what food I could start experimenting with to measure the impact it had on my SPS and the rest of my corals.
Sorry I started a fire storm. But I did manage to get some suggestions so I guess it wasn't a complete waste of time.
I am looking for the best all around SPS food in a mixed reef because thats what I have. As those of you with experience know, a mixed reef is in itself a contradiction. I have taken deep water corals and shallow water corals and forced them to cohabitate in a small glass box. The natural environment for these animals is very different from one another and I am trying to make sure that they ALL have what they need to thrive.
Some come from the open oceans with moderate currents and vast volumes of water while others come from lagoons with rolling tides and richer waters. How do you ensure that they are all getting what they need? Feed like hell and then try and keep the water quality as high as possible by mechanical, biological and chemical means.
I have a 65 Gal tank with 4 fish so fish poop may not be sufficient. I have a 20L refugium that rotates between nasty and relatively clear. I adjust my skimming and feeding based on the appearance of my corals and my refugium.
I am relatively new to SPS so I have little experience in keeping them. The ones I have now are growing very well and while not bright by any means, are coloring up nicely and should continue to do so as long as I give them what they need.
I asked a, what I thought was, a fairly easy question to gain some insight into what food I could start experimenting with to measure the impact it had on my SPS and the rest of my corals.
Sorry I started a fire storm. But I did manage to get some suggestions so I guess it wasn't a complete waste of time.
DaddyJax
New member
Dont let them get you twisted. Happens here all the time. It is actually good for the hobby but sucks when it happens to your thread.
In a mixed reef and only having 4 fish I would say that the food that was mentioned above is worth looking into. start small and simple with the sps. Sounds like you are on the right path so far.
In a mixed reef and only having 4 fish I would say that the food that was mentioned above is worth looking into. start small and simple with the sps. Sounds like you are on the right path so far.
plyle02
Active member
Welcome back Jason, I think, or just refer to you as DaddyJax...lol... You actually got me inspired several years back to get into sps and I thank you for that... Hope all is well, many people have changed around here, I doubt they remember your contributions and unbelievable corals and coloration you acheived a few years back... I remember many would post pics of their corals, and threads would go silent after you posted pics...
Good to see you around here almighty Thread Stopper....Ha, Ha,Ha.....
DaddyJax
New member
Welcome back Jason, I think, or just refer to you as DaddyJax...lol... You actually got me inspired several years back to get into sps and I thank you for that... Hope all is well, many people have changed around here, I doubt they remember your contributions and unbelievable corals and coloration you acheived a few years back... I remember many would post pics of their corals, and threads would go silent after you posted pics...
Wow, I am actually blushing! Thank you! I am glad to see you are doing well and are helping people out. I have really had the itch for a while now but not quite ready yet.
Once again, my apologises to the thread starter for going off topic, it wasn't my intention.
I posted useful articles on coral feeding to help others not to debate what I do, I prefer to guide others to people who know much on the subject, who do the scientific research, articles and debates.
When I want info on reef chemistry I read Randy's or Boomer's articles, when I want info on coral feeding I read Eric's and many others.
As for 'Best foods' I'd personally go with a DIY coral food based on Eric's recipe.
Frozen foods
This makes up perhaps 20-30% of the mix - some are from an aquarium store, some from the grocer, some can be cultured
Artemia - adult
Artemia nauplii (baby brine shrimp) (enriched, if possible)
Mysid shrimp
Sea urchin roe
Flying fish roe
Rotifers
DT's oyster eggs - this is a new additions and one of my very favorite coral foods. Particle size and nutrition is excellent.
Dried Aquarium Foods
this makes up the majority of my mix - probably 40%
Golden Pearls - all sizes available, but a majority of the smallest size
Cyclop-Eeze
VibraGro
Powdered marine flake
Phytoplankton - doesn't need to be alive since the mix is frozen, but make sure it is high quality. I don't expect it does much, but just in case some of the species utilize it, great. If not, the zooplankton and other filter feeders wiil -makes up maybe 2% of mix or less?
Supplements
makes up maybe 2-5% of mix?
Super Selco ( a big squeeze)
Sea Green Vitamin supplements - various brands, powdered, from Whole Foods market
I have also been known to add Echinacea capsules, the skins of colorful vegetables and fruits, various pigment complexes of carotenoids, etc. and/or antioxidants from Whole Foods market. I am also now adding SeaVive, a beta glucan/vitamin C and protein complex (all natural) into my fish foods, which due to its powdered form, also will potentially be a coral food.
In terms of preparation, I puree the solid seaoods, mix in the frozen thawed ingredients, soak the dry/powdered ingredients in the wet ingredients, combine them all together and let them sit for a few hours, and then freeze them into small flats in ziplocs in the freezer. I usually wind up with about 50.00 in foods per batch and make about a gallon or so of food that lasts a couple or more months.
No problem Here's another article by Sanjay Joshi.
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b/sbj4/aquarium/reeffood/feeding.htm
I posted useful articles on coral feeding to help others not to debate what I do, I prefer to guide others to people who know much on the subject, who do the scientific research, articles and debates.
When I want info on reef chemistry I read Randy's or Boomer's articles, when I want info on coral feeding I read Eric's and many others.
As for 'Best foods' I'd personally go with a DIY coral food based on Eric's recipe.
Frozen foods
This makes up perhaps 20-30% of the mix - some are from an aquarium store, some from the grocer, some can be cultured
Artemia - adult
Artemia nauplii (baby brine shrimp) (enriched, if possible)
Mysid shrimp
Sea urchin roe
Flying fish roe
Rotifers
DT's oyster eggs - this is a new additions and one of my very favorite coral foods. Particle size and nutrition is excellent.
Dried Aquarium Foods
this makes up the majority of my mix - probably 40%
Golden Pearls - all sizes available, but a majority of the smallest size
Cyclop-Eeze
VibraGro
Powdered marine flake
Phytoplankton - doesn't need to be alive since the mix is frozen, but make sure it is high quality. I don't expect it does much, but just in case some of the species utilize it, great. If not, the zooplankton and other filter feeders wiil -makes up maybe 2% of mix or less?
Supplements
makes up maybe 2-5% of mix?
Super Selco ( a big squeeze)
Sea Green Vitamin supplements - various brands, powdered, from Whole Foods market
I have also been known to add Echinacea capsules, the skins of colorful vegetables and fruits, various pigment complexes of carotenoids, etc. and/or antioxidants from Whole Foods market. I am also now adding SeaVive, a beta glucan/vitamin C and protein complex (all natural) into my fish foods, which due to its powdered form, also will potentially be a coral food.
In terms of preparation, I puree the solid seaoods, mix in the frozen thawed ingredients, soak the dry/powdered ingredients in the wet ingredients, combine them all together and let them sit for a few hours, and then freeze them into small flats in ziplocs in the freezer. I usually wind up with about 50.00 in foods per batch and make about a gallon or so of food that lasts a couple or more months.
No problem
Here's another article by Sanjay Joshi.http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b/sbj4/aquarium/reeffood/feeding.htm
Allmost
New member
lol ok I'm sorry lol your thread
I too have a mixed tank, well SPS connected to softies connected to seahorse tank connected to FOWLR ! lol and when I do feeding, I see no good signs on the SPS ! so I rather not feed if no difference, so wanted to know if others are seeing anything positive
I guess I should have started another thread, but hey, I hope we all learned something here, nothing can be learned if no debated and ppl just folow blindly haha
Allmost
New member
Once again, my apologises to the thread starter for going off topic, it wasn't my intention.
I posted useful articles on coral feeding to help others not to debate what I do, I prefer to guide others to people who know much on the subject, who do the scientific research, articles and debates.
When I want info on reef chemistry I read Randy's or Boomer's articles, when I want info on coral feeding I read Eric's and many others.
As for 'Best foods' I'd personally go with a DIY coral food based on Eric's recipe.
Frozen foods
This makes up perhaps 20-30% of the mix - some are from an aquarium store, some from the grocer, some can be cultured
Artemia - adult
Artemia nauplii (baby brine shrimp) (enriched, if possible)
Mysid shrimp
Sea urchin roe
Flying fish roe
Rotifers
DT's oyster eggs - this is a new additions and one of my very favorite coral foods. Particle size and nutrition is excellent.
Dried Aquarium Foods
this makes up the majority of my mix - probably 40%
Golden Pearls - all sizes available, but a majority of the smallest size
Cyclop-Eeze
VibraGro
Powdered marine flake
Phytoplankton - doesn't need to be alive since the mix is frozen, but make sure it is high quality. I don't expect it does much, but just in case some of the species utilize it, great. If not, the zooplankton and other filter feeders wiil -makes up maybe 2% of mix or less?
Supplements
makes up maybe 2-5% of mix?
Super Selco ( a big squeeze)
Sea Green Vitamin supplements - various brands, powdered, from Whole Foods market
I have also been known to add Echinacea capsules, the skins of colorful vegetables and fruits, various pigment complexes of carotenoids, etc. and/or antioxidants from Whole Foods market. I am also now adding SeaVive, a beta glucan/vitamin C and protein complex (all natural) into my fish foods, which due to its powdered form, also will potentially be a coral food.
In terms of preparation, I puree the solid seaoods, mix in the frozen thawed ingredients, soak the dry/powdered ingredients in the wet ingredients, combine them all together and let them sit for a few hours, and then freeze them into small flats in ziplocs in the freezer. I usually wind up with about 50.00 in foods per batch and make about a gallon or so of food that lasts a couple or more months.
No problem
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b/sbj4/aquarium/reeffood/feeding.htm
I personally dont like copy pasting others work, I like to experiment and change my method based on observation
every tank is different. but our goals are all the same. PS. dont let a little debate bother you
what's wrong with sharing your info to teach me something ? I'm sure everyone here can agree that we still have not reached the end of reef keeping and there are still many many more info to come .Man, I'm glad this thread was going. I've been wondering if I should feed my corals or not, especially since some are gradually loosing color but my water parameters are at the recommended levels and my lighting is the same as other tanks around me that have better results with coral.
When you guys feed, do you turn off your powerheads and return pumps?
When you guys feed, do you turn off your powerheads and return pumps?
1 week into using Kent Coral Accel, and I haven't noticed any difference except slightly more polyp extension on SPS and LPS... it's so subtle that it could be even be a placebo effect. Oddly, my gorgonian looks a tad bit better (still looks like crap though). I don't turn off PH's and pumps. I just squirt the food and let it ride.
Question: if feeding corals a proper diet requires all those different parts, what exactly is fish poop doing for SPS corals, nutritionally? And what evidence do we have that they eat fish poop (or the biological degradations of)?
Question: if feeding corals a proper diet requires all those different parts, what exactly is fish poop doing for SPS corals, nutritionally? And what evidence do we have that they eat fish poop (or the biological degradations of)?
M88A2
New member
hey i know this was a few posts back but i just stumbled onto this thread. i just recently started getting into sps and love the idea of a self sustaining feeding cycle. are there any specific inverts u suggest i should get? i have 2 cleaner shrimps that i never see with out eggs, bumblebee snails, banded torchus snails, nassarius snails, blue leg hermits, 1 fire shrimp and 1 emerald crab. they are in a 29 gallong tank with 4 fish so im not sure if the bio load will be too much. geat thread btw. exactly the kind of stuff i need to be reading.
Allmost
New member
Similar threads
