DIY Food vs commercially available

[CapitolsRock]

hey all,

I looked at some of the threads about food and food requirements of various reef fishes but I'm still not sure.


I'm guessing most folks have seen the youtube video about food preperation by Americanreefchannel. I thought it was interesting but didn't see any information about what the prices are or how to purchase it. The fact the food doesn't stink and can be prepared in batches from freeze dried product is appealing. The holy grail of having reef fish with "true" coloration seems to be coming closer and closer to reality.Cost dictates everything (or does for most of the world) and if it's as "affordable" as they say it is ,sounds like they've got a winner and the DIY option isn't worth the trouble.

Anyone using this product?


I wonder what binding agent is used? Pectin?

 

[jschultzbass]

I use a combination of pellets, and frozen. My list includes NLS Spectrum pellets once a day and either Rod's food or LRS Reef Frenzy for frozen once a day. The two best frozen foods IMO. Check them out.

 

[Dmorty217]

hey all,

I looked at some of the threads about food and food requirements of various reef fishes but I'm still not sure.


I'm guessing most folks have seen the youtube video about food preperation by Americanreefchannel. I thought it was interesting but didn't see any information about what the prices are or how to purchase it. The fact the food doesn't stink and can be prepared in batches from freeze dried product is appealing. The holy grail of having reef fish with "true" coloration seems to be coming closer and closer to reality.Cost dictates everything (or does for most of the world) and if it's as "affordable" as they say it is ,sounds like they've got a winner and the DIY option isn't worth the trouble.

Anyone using this product?


I wonder what binding agent is used? Pectin?

I have a entire book on the feedin and health of saltwater fish and here is a picture out of the book on what they suggest to feed. I am in the process of getting everything on the list and will let you know how it goes but the quality of the DIy food seems much higher

 

[Dmorty217]

I have a entire book on the feedin and health of saltwater fish and here is a picture out of the book on what they suggest to feed. I am in the process of getting everything on the list and will let you know how it goes but the quality of the DIy food seems much higher

 

[CapitolsRock]

I use a combination of pellets, and frozen. My list includes NLS Spectrum pellets once a day and either Rod's food or LRS Reef Frenzy for frozen once a day. The two best frozen foods IMO. Check them out.

thanks jschultzbass I look forward to seeing what you've found and I'll look up those brands.

I have a entire book on the feedin and health of saltwater fish and here is a picture out of the book on what they suggest to feed. I am in the process of getting everything on the list and will let you know how it goes but the quality of the DIy food seems much higher

DIy food seems much higher - That makes sense to me. Preparing "targeted" batches for each individual setup would make much more sense and could be more cost effective - less spoilage too.

Convenience is key to success IMO, if you don't have time to care for the tank then the die is cast. I had a 150 some years ago and I just didn't have the time to take care of it anymore so I sold it. Feeding romaine,nori,formula 1 and 2 plus, mysis and some DIY food was a real pain and the smell was terrible. I really like this "silver bullet" solution these guys are offering - where- the food is in a semi-solid form (no mess) and as is breaks up - bits of it feed the other tank inhabitants.

What book are you reading?

 

[Dmorty217]

What book are you reading?[/QUOTE]

This one, has a ton of good information in it

 

[EddieJ]

thanks jschultzbass I look forward to seeing what you've found and I'll look up those brands.



DIy food seems much higher - That makes sense to me. Preparing "targeted" batches for each individual setup would make much more sense and could be more cost effective - less spoilage too.

Convenience is key to success IMO, if you don't have time to care for the tank then the die is cast. I had a 150 some years ago and I just didn't have the time to take care of it anymore so I sold it. Feeding romaine,nori,formula 1 and 2 plus, mysis and some DIY food was a real pain and the smell was terrible. I really like this "silver bullet" solution these guys are offering - where- the food is in a semi-solid form (no mess) and as is breaks up - bits of it feed the other tank inhabitants.

What book are you reading?

I use the HPD from American Reef and my fish love it!!! Plus you can mix Selcon, VitaChem or whatever you like with it. It's 20 bucks for a container.

 

[Ambition]

Rods looks like a great food going off of the list of ingredients, but I'm not a fan of the garlic. Garlic is something I refuse to feed to my fish since most of the benefits people say aren't backed up scientifically. It doesn't do much in the way of curing diseases, on there is evidence that the compounds responsible for a boosted immune system quickly breaks down in saltwater, and long term use may lead to fatty deposits.

I prefer a DIY method and have read the book shown above as well as "The Complete Illustrated Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes" by Matthew Wittenrich. The book contains a home food recipe as well. I'm playing around with food for the fish I plan on breeding soon.

 

[CapitolsRock]

read all the posts.....



Somebody mention the science behind garlic - is it good or bad....etc. This hobby seems to be 80% hard science and 20% by-gosh-and-by golly fiddling/experimenting.....Honestly, how could I add to all this considerable experimenting by the more experienced hobbiests. If the product really is 20 bucks plus some Selcon then I'm sold on it before I buy

 

[tfp]

I've been using the HP Food from Americanreef for a few months now. it sinks and the majority of my fish go nuts for it

 

[Paul B]

I buy live clams and freeze them, then I shave off thin slices every day. They also get live worms and sometimes Mysis. I have been feeding this for decades and my fish are old and most of them are spawning.

 

[EddieJ]

Here is a video of my fish going after some HPD from American Reef.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AfODhwAvpU&feature=player_detailpage

 

[extra3d]

I only feed NLS Pellets and NLS Flakes! my fish look great and they love it!!

Mike

 

[SDguy]

I basically feed my fish everything I can get my hands on.... multiple brands of pellets, all sorts of frozen fish specific foods like mysis and plankton, and all sorts of seafood meats from the grocery store (shellfish, not fish).

 

[el aguila]

I used to make my own food, but Larry of "Larry's Reef Frenzy is local to me and I know him.

He buys direct from the NC coast and gets his seafood fresh off of the boats without the phosphate perservatives added to it. It is just about impossible to buy seafood without the perservatives added unless you are getting it fresh of the boats, so in my mind I feel better about feeding Larry's than my DIY.

Otherwise as previously noted this is just part of the variety that I feed - NLS pellets, prawn roe, black worms, mysis, enriched brine, small krill, cyclopeze, I culture copepods, etc, etc

 

[Christoph]

I like what this guy did for food. Been meaning to try it myself. The cool thing about it is you can add exactly the food your particular fish eat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ9TfYWH26Y&feature=fvwp&NR=1
FF to 7:25 to see