Feed smarter, not feed less

[AquaKnight]

Throwing this out there. I've always sorta been bothered when someone recommends "to feed less," generally a reply directed at someone, usually a person newer to the hobby, whose having side issue(s) with their tank. Unfavorable water parameters, algae and other nuisance problems, etc.

The thing is, I am willing to bet, the person with the issues is probably already feeding what myself or others consider barely enough, and who knows what they're feeding. Fish being fed a sole diet of brine and Tetra flakes, probably could use all of the food they're getting.

IMHO a tank with hair algae and adequately fed fish, is better then a tank with no nuisance algae and starving fish.

Instead of people giving a blanket recommendation of "feed less," suggest better alternatives. Stop feeding poor quality foods, such as cheap can flakes, that pollute . Rinse frozen foods, so all the thawed water and nasties aren't dumped into the tank. This is usually overlooked with mysis. When feeding, reduce water movement so less food is wasted behind the rocks, down the overflow, etc.

 

[JuliusJames]

Are you gna run this town tonight like kanya

 

[greech]

I it necessary to actually rinse frozen foods? I feed 1/4 cub of mysis each day in addition to some F1&2 flake and a few NLS pellets. I drain the frozen once thawed but I don't rinse and redrain.

I also use a medicine dropper to feed and only add small amounts until it's all eaten. All pumps off.

 

[stunreefer]

:thumbsup: Agreed!

Graham, it's not 100% necessary to rinse foods, but as mentioned, you get rid of unecessary additional nutrients that would otherwise be added to your tank.

I rinse foods like P.E. Mysis and Hikari Krill, but not foods like O.N. Angel Forumal and Rod's Food. Rinse in RO/DI water.

 

[greech]

Thanks Austin, I will start rinsing. I have a small net I can use. Assume I should use tank water to rinse?

 

[khaosinc]

the one thing I've been doing since I finally got around to getting a controller is setting a feed mode that kills the return pump (and starts it up later because I would forget). I already see a difference in the algea in a couple of weeks.

 

[jefathome]

Thanks Austin, I will start rinsing. I have a small net I can use. Assume I should use tank water to rinse?

I rinse mine in regular tap water... No issues so far. It isn't like you are going to add a huge volume of it.

 

[klepto]

Thanks Austin, I will start rinsing. I have a small net I can use. Assume I should use tank water to rinse?

I would recommend using tank water for rinsing. Using DI or freshwater will noticeably degrade your food.
Using COLD tank water to thaw and rinse (if desired) your food in is an excellent method. I learned about it from Pete's post on this seahorse page.

http://www.seahorse.com/index.php?o...Itemid=218&func=view&id=739&view=flat&catid=2

I volunteer at a public aquarium and part of my job involves food prep. It has been emphasized to me that rinsing seafood should be kept to a minimum (ideally not at all). This is largely because nutrition is lost through rinsing. Also, over rinsing food will take away from it's ability to prompt a good feeding response.

 

[kirkaz]

Good post AK, in fact since you recommended I "rinse" my PE Mysis, I've noticed my skimmer isn't quite as negatively affected, essentially just removes some of the additional oil, I think the benefit outweighs the negative in this case.

 

[SDguy]

This is largely because nutrition is lost through rinsing.

Can you elaborate on this part? I've heard this before, but I'd like to know exactly what is being rinsed away, and how? Why wouldn't it "rinse away" once it hits the tank water anyways? How long of a rinse are we talking about here? I just always assumed we are interested in the nutrition within the food. I personally rinse all my meats prior to using them in cooking. Am I rinsing something away that is not found within the meat itself?

TIA

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I would recommend using tank water for rinsing. Using DI or freshwater will noticeably degrade your food.
Using COLD tank water to thaw and rinse (if desired) your food in is an excellent method. I learned about it from Pete's post on this seahorse page.

http://www.seahorse.com/index.php?o...Itemid=218&func=view&id=739&view=flat&catid=2

I volunteer at a public aquarium and part of my job involves food prep. It has been emphasized to me that rinsing seafood should be kept to a minimum (ideally not at all). This is largely because nutrition is lost through rinsing. Also, over rinsing food will take away from it's ability to prompt a good feeding response.

While this may be totally fruitful for your public aquarium, we should try not to compare apples and oranges. A public aquarium exhibit may have IMMENSELY greater filtration than a home aquarium, or even flow through, it which case it would be a calculated risk to not rinse. That may not be prudent or wise for a home aquarist.

But, I, too, would like to hear how rinsing degrades food.

 

[klepto]

Honestly Peter, I haven't come across any definitive information regarding rinsing and nutrition. I will inquire about that for you. I am speaking largely from personal observation.

Essentially, I think that the water is going to start to break down the food. Fresh water will will do this even faster.

" You want to thaw the shrimp in water that is about as salty as their own bodily fluids so there is little or no difference in osmotic pressure." (from the above link)

This is especially noticeable with smaller foods like brine and mysis, although I have also seen much larger pieces of seafood that degrade after excessive freshwater exposure. The lipids that are crucial to good nutrition are going to be lost as well as the texture and lifelike appearance of the food. Try doing a side by side test.. One thaw with refrigerated tank water and another with room temp DI using brine and/or mysis. After 5,10 and 20 minutes look at; the appearance of the food (brine works good for this- with their long appendages) and the amount of oils that have leached into the water (more noticeable with PE of course) you are thawing with. I haven't done this exact test myself, but I'm willing to bet that with the cold saltwater thaw, you will see a more lifelike and less degraded mysid/shrimp. Also, there will be less oil leached into the cold SW. Its important not to crush or over agitate mysis or brine when thawing so that the individuals remain intact.

I personally rinse all my meats prior to using them in cooking. Am I rinsing something away that is not found within the meat itself?

I used to always rinse my meats (I still rinse some fish- depending on how fresh it is). I stopped a while ago and I'm happy with the switch. In many countries across Europe they air chill chicken as opposed to soaking it in water, which is common across the US (have you ever noticed that 5% of what you are paying for with chicken is 'retained water'). We claim that by keeping the birds in water, bacteria is less of a concern. But what we sacrifice is quality. If you can find some, try to get hold of some air chilled poultry. I believe you will taste the difference. The texture of the skin is much crispier and the meat is amazingly rich and more flavorful. This is just a related subject I thought could serve as an example. I'm hinting that with conventional poultry, lots of the oils have already been rinsed away unfortunately.. I don't know about rinsing other meats, but if I do rinse something, I pat it try with a paper towel afterward. I have been told by a reliable fish wholesaler that keeping fish dry is very important. He said it keeps bacteria from degrading the fish, and thus keeps the fish from taking on a foul smell.

 

[klepto]

While this may be totally fruitful for your public aquarium, we should try not to compare apples and oranges. A public aquarium exhibit may have IMMENSELY greater filtration than a home aquarium, or even flow through, it which case it would be a calculated risk to not rinse. That may not be prudent or wise for a home aquarist.

I hear you on that point. I definitely try to limit the amount of oils that enter my tank. Usually I decant what I am feeding to help with this. Slow thawing has worked very well for me. The head on my skimmer used to get knocked back for hours every time I fed even a small amount of PE. Now, I can enrich my food and feed more without effecting skimming anywhere near what I used to.

I think it's prudent for the home aquarist to use his or her time effectively. I believe minimizing rinsing can allow aquarists to deliver more nutrition to their animals with fewer feedings.

 

[colbar]

I am led to believe that rinsing the frozen food gets rid of the phosphates that build up on anything frozen. I am in South Africa and you guy are always talking of P E mysis, and also black worm. Please can you explain what PE mysis is. We have frozen mysis here, but what does PE stand for and never heard of black worms before. Many thanks for an interesting thread.

 

[klepto]

PE : a brand of Mysis relicta. it stands for Piscene Energetics