Eric's "famous" coral food recipe

[BLUE LAGOON]

I also used the Garlic, for 2 years now.And since then,there has been no Ich.But you might to want to try this instead.Instead using garlic cloves.You can go to grocery store,where they have vitamins.They sell Garlic tablets in the ( gel form).Just cut the capules, or puncher them and pour in.This makes it a lot easier than try to blend whole cloves of garlic.The gel will give you a better mixture.
Curt

 

[BLUE LAGOON]

I had been reading on the boards.That you can't get Golden Pearls.Does anybody have an up date on this?
Curt

 

[SPC]

Finally, it is my distinct impression and experience that our tanks can ordinarily handle rather monstrous loads of food if you either have good uptake or export or both.

Hi Eric,
I agree with this statement but was wondering if you would be a bit more specific on what you mean by "uptake" and "export"?
For instance, how do you get the detritus out of your tank?
Steve

 

[EricHugo]

Garlic shoudl be fine, though I am unawware of any direct proof of its utility against ich. As for uptake and export...ptake is when organisms use nutrients and produce biomass...i.e. growth and reproduction or sequestration into non-living mass (skeleton, etc.) - export is removal - via harvesting, skimming, water changes, etc.

 

[SPC]

Eric, I have read where you have stated that you don't use a skimmer, what would you say your main export is on your system?
Steve

 

[EricHugo]

Growth - almost has to be. but this is off topic...if you want to ask more questions like these, let's start a new thread.

 

[David_Winther]

Eric,

What would you expect the shelf life on your mush to be if it was kept in the freezer?

Also, if I have a bottle of DT's in the fridge, how long does it stay good?

The reason I ask is that I am in the Navy and tend to go on "trips" every now and then and it would be great if I could leave the wife a 6 month supply of food without her having to worry about brewing her own or going to the LFS to buy whatever they happen to have on hand.

Thanks!

-David Winther
Oak Harbor, WA

 

[SawCJack00]

Blue Lagoon, actually I have used the gel cap form of garlic extract, but using garlic cloves is much easier. You simply drop a couple into the blender, and trust me, the blender has no problem with them. The mixing is just as thorough as with the garlic extract.

 

[EricHugo]

In the freezer, darn near forever...on DT's - I would contact Dennis Tagrin and ask him...not my product, you know?

 

[got chow]

Interesting recipe... Just caught this thread. I might end up trying it. I'll have to make sure my roomate and I take a 2 week vacation afterwards though. I don't think I can handle the smell and I'm damn sure he can't!!!

BTW Eric, how does your kitchen smell???

 

[EricHugo]

Badly when I make this food.

Wonderful otherwise. I like to cook

 

[sh8g8delik]

I was wondering eric, because this recipe sounds sooo complicated but clearly articulated, i was wondering for like the people who dont have time or the resources to make this scrumptious feast for the corals and inverterbrates, if you were willing to make batch or so with the intentions of selling it. I'm sure there are many of us out there very intrigued by your recipe and would be willing to pay for it if you were to sell it, i would pay any price for it because im a full time college student and dont really have the time or the store to nearby to buy all these sophisticated ingredients to make such a treat. Just thought i try

 

[EricHugo]

LOL - well, no one has ever asked me that before.

I don't think it would travel very well, nor could we probably afford frozen transport.

Also, I have neither time, desire, nor inclination to sell or market any aquarium products (except me words).

Besides, I'd be breaking a promise to someone I made a long time ago.

He told, if you want te keep your credibility, you can't sell things. He owned a store, and knew firsthand how knowledge, even if real and honest like his, becomes skewed or perceived to be skewed the minute you add money into the equation.

He was right. I think we can all name others who fit that bill, too.

I have never forgotten that and I never will.

But thanks for asking!

 

[sh8g8delik]

Never really thought about that, very thoughtful words. Thank you for replying though, i kinda figured itd be too much trouble, but your words are already valuble so that if you were ever able to sell your knowledge you be a millionaire. Just thought id show appreciation and acknowledge your helpful nature.

 

[ToiletTank13]

Eric,

I asked this in a pm but for the benefit of others here I'll post it again:

In using all the fresh clams, mussels, oysters etc., do you at all feel you are adding a substantial amount of metals into the tank?

I read somewhere out there about the high levels of certain metals in the clams, oysters & mussels you use in your recipe and was wondering if any testing was ever done on any of the molluscs included in the recipe?

I'll find the research on the topic of metals in these kinds of animals and post it if you feel it's at all relevant.

Thanks bud.

 

[Nitro Joe]

I am new to the salt world. I am having a great deal of fun, but I am truly green. If you wouldn't mind answering a couple, hopefully simple questions for me please Eric.

My tanks are new, but cycling nicely. There is, in both tanks, some fairly significant cyano growth (...I'm not talking small patches, but covering whole rocks, and slowly the entire surface of the gravel) and I was wondering about the phosphates in the frozen brine and Nutramin dry pellets I'm using now perhaps encouraging growth of such nuisances. A nice fellow referred me to your recipe here in this string http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=95042#post95042. Is this recipe low in phosphates? Does anything besides cyanobacteria thrive on/ or need phosphates? Am I sweating "the small stuff" here?

A few specific questions I have are:
#1. What are DT's?
#2. What is the "roe" of something? ...entrails?
#3. What are Echinacea capsules?
#4. Is Super Selco a name brand of vitamin supplement?
#5. Who makes Golden Pearls?

Certainly I am interested in feeding all my lovely little creatures a well-balanced diet, so your recipe is intriguing and I think I will give it a go. Thanks in advance.

Joe. :bum:

 

[ToiletTank13]

I'm definitely not the expert Eric is Joe,

But:

1. DT's are a brand of live phytoplankton used as food for certain corals, zooplankton and the small critters in a deep sand bed.

2. I believe "roe" is the eggs from a particular animal, such as fish "roe" is the eggs or entire egg sac from the female.

3. Echinacea is a commonly used herb by humans to increase bodily resistance to infection, or for "boils".

4. Super Selco is SUPER Self Emulisified Liquid Concentrate, the original being developed by Artemia Systems. It's commonly used as an enrichment for Artemia or rotifers. Most here use it in conjunction with coral feedings or an additive to their recipes.

5. Golden Pearls is manufactured by Tesgofarm Aqua.

For professional advice, Eric is the man!

Good luck.

 

[michaelg]

1. DTs is phytoplankton. bottom of the food chain.
2. Roe is an oriental? term referring to fish eggs. These vary in size depending on the fish they come from. Used in sushi.
3. Enichea is a terrestrial plant, the capsules you can find in a drug or health food store in the suppliments.
4. Super selco is super concentrated selcon. It is a vitamin/fatty acid suppliment in the aquarium trade.
5. Golden pearls are made by Brine Shrimp Direct.

 

[EricHugo]

See above for answers:

As to the bioaccumulation aspect, yes, I have though of that and given it some thought, but I have no data to support it one way or the other. All in all, my rationale is that its a human food source and some measure of testing has to go on to ensure that various beds are currently safe and probably not from polluted areas or that they are farm raised.

 

[EdKruzel]

Hello Eric (& All),
Interesting thread. I have been using a similar (not quite so complex) mixture for some time.

I find in feeding such a variety I can easily feed a greater amount being it caters to a greater diversity of life.

As to the garlic extract; I have used garlic in the past without observing any adverse effects, however I read some recent studies that it may have some negative attributes in the marine world.

I stopped using it long before this study simply because it had no bearing in my system.
In a low to stress free environment with a healthy variety of foods; fish have more than an ample immune system in defending against common parasites.

I have yet to witness a mature tank break out in a parasitic infection without a noticeable cause (poor diet, sudden stress from equipment failure, poor containment bioload...).
Fix the cause of the stress, and ensure a proper diet and parasites vanish.

I'll add a few of Eric's ingredients to my own in my next batch.

Take Care,
Ed