Clownfish tank floor is getting messed up with sinking pellets

[Be4Sims]

2 baby clowns they can't seem to catch them fast enough and substrate is covered in "sinking marine pellets' I try to feed them a tiny bit 3 times a day but,,, they cant catch them before they sink and it is a mess. Will these pellets rot and stink up the tank?
What do you feed? and how?

As well, I'd like to know , how to get them to sleep in their "flower pot", I placed it on its side, after a few days of nothing. I punched the bottom out so they could swim out the back if they choose to, they still haven't gone in it.... any suggestions?
I appreciate your help.!

 

[IdahoCindy]

Yes, they will cause trouble. Perhaps you can use a turkey baster to get them out. Other people can help you on what to feed.

 

[OrionN]

I feed mine flakes. Mixed them in water and dump into my DT. I also mixed thaw out Mysis or plankton.
If I use sinking pellets I would drop one at a time right in front of the clown fish and would not drop another until he finish eating that one

 

[billnPS]

Cyclopeeze & mysis has always worked for me.

 

[m0nkie]

Maybe add more clean up crew to help you clean up the mess if ur too lazy to manually siphon it out. But i would try other food first. My clowns love mysis, brine, nutramar and flakes. Pellets sink too fast as they are always near the top

 

[edavis]

get some hermit crabs or nassarius snails and they will clean up the rotting food

 

[Be4Sims]

Is a gravel vacuum okay? i made a home made one with an air stone and it does a good job. It catches the detritus and a bit of the Live sand which I wash the gunk off and then rinse in Sea water and return to the tank is this okay to do or NO?
http://diyfishkeepers.com/forum/showthread.php?9193-Air-Stone-Gravel-Vaccum

 

[Navyblue]

Give them time and they might learn stuffs on the floor can be eaten, but probably not when you feed 3x a day though.

Also it's a good idea to have some kind of scavenger in a tank. My favorite is serpent star, they are effective, hardy and live pretty much infinitely.

 

[Azedenkae]

2 baby clowns they can't seem to catch them fast enough and substrate is covered in "sinking marine pellets' I try to feed them a tiny bit 3 times a day but,,, they cant catch them before they sink and it is a mess. Will these pellets rot and stink up the tank?
What do you feed? and how?

As well, I'd like to know , how to get them to sleep in their "flower pot", I placed it on its side, after a few days of nothing. I punched the bottom out so they could swim out the back if they choose to, they still haven't gone in it.... any suggestions?
I appreciate your help.!

Yes, they will cause trouble, if your filtration system is not up to par.

Mine eats from the bottom all the time. Yours probably just haven't learnt that behaviour yet. Once they do, no need to worry.

As for the flowerpot... nothing. They will go in if they like it is all I can say.

 

[Rot26]

My clownfish will spit out the pellets all the time. They simply will not eat them. I have to give them flake or frozen mysis for them to eat at all.

 

[tomslick]

I have two white Ocellaris that eat them all the time.I only feed every other day and the Nessarious come alive out of the sand if any get by.The pellet size might be a factor?