Feed your fish

[Paul B]

Flakes and pellets will keep your fish alive, but that's about it. The frozen you feed is just so much better

 

[ca1ore]

It's interesting how perceptions (and reality) have shifted. Ten years ago it was de rigueur to maintain a low nutrient reef system by feeding sparingly. Many fish were thus unkeepable (and have persisted in that designation to today, even if it's no longer true) and the rest were thin, unhealthy, and ripe for things like ich. Today it is not only possible, but relatively easy, to maintain systems with acceptably low nutrient levels whilst also feeding your fish to healthy levels.

I maintain both SPS and a large population of pseudoanthias in my tank (probably too many ). The latter is simply not possible in a tank that gets infrequent feedings. It's kind of funny in a way: other than new livestock, I spend more each month on fish food than I do anything else (well, not counting electricity because that's a 'hidden' cost).

 

[alex gonzales]

Love this post, because I'm in the hobby mostly because I love fish, although I have a 400 gal mixed reef. Can you tell us Paul, exactly what you feed your fish. Only been in the hobby for about seven years (but kept freshwater fish for 22yrs previously ) and mostly feed pellets and pre-packaged frozen. I have lost many fish in those 7yrs, but like a lot of people, thought that was the norm. What you posted makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

 

[kissman]

Flakes and pellets will keep your fish alive, but that's about it. The frozen you feed is just so much better

I agree but i leave for work at 5:30am and get home about 4:30pm lights start coming on at 9am. I like to feed twice a day and can't do frozen till i get home

 

[Paul B]

I spend more each month on fish food than I do anything else (well, not counting electricity because that's a 'hidden' cost).

Can you tell us Paul, exactly what you feed your fish.

Fish food for me is very little, probably less than $12.00 a month.
My biggest expense is live worms which cost me $2.00 for a small cup. I supplement the worms with clams. A large chowder clam is about fifty cents and lasts me a month. I also have some frozen Mysis and now I have some commercially prepared fish food only because a company gave me some to try but I don't generally buy it. I hatch brine shrimp every day but that is because I have a few pipefish, and pairs of ruby red dragonettes, shrimpfish, and mandarins. If I did not keep those types of fish, I would not have to hatch the shrimp. I could run my tank on worms and clams (if I didn't have those last fish) I do not add any vitamins, garlic or anything else to the food as those foods don't need anything else and I could be sure their diet is perfect because almost all of my fish are spawning and I never have a dead or sick fish.
Shrimp fish

 

[dkeller_nc]

Today it is not only possible, but relatively easy, to maintain systems with acceptably low nutrient levels whilst also feeding your fish to healthy levels.

Well, unless you're a certain someone that thinks siphoning out your sump, vacuuming the sandbed and blowing off rocks with a turkey baster is the only thing necessary to accomplish that...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[PhaneSoul]

I don't know what your talking about. The only money I spend is electricity, food and salt every few months. About an hour a week with maintenance and that's it. That's also with sand. When mine was bb it was less time. Unless you wanna count the 3 mins several times a day I feed my fish.

 

[MBC2012]

Paul B.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on feeding fish again. How often do you feed and how much at a time? You mentioned a chowder will last you month?

 

[Paul B]

I feed most of the fish once a day, They get some clam and live blackworms, sometimes some frozen Mysis. The mandarins, pipefish, shrimpfish, ruby red dragonettes get new born brine shrimp once or twice a day in a feeder.
A large chowder clam lasts me about a month, but they are huge, maybe 4" wide.

 

[BigCountry74]

flakes and pellets will keep your fish alive, but that's about it. The frozen you feed is just so much better

x2

its actually cheaper in the long run to feed you fish good food also. unlike humans

a bag of fresh frozen raw shrimp will last me a long time. and it's only 8 bucks for example. yeah you have to cut it up into small chunks. yes its a little more work. but like paul said the difference in your tank/fish is night and day.

 

[Lucky Lefty]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences Paul. I think you're definitely on to something, and what you've explained here I hope to do myself successfully.
Just wondering, when was the last time you added a fish to your system? Do you only use certain sources for your fish? To hear you've never had a dead or sick fish is.. reassuring to say the least considering not qt'ing like most rant and rave about today.
Do you dip your fish or any other medications prior to introducing them?
Just curious, don't mean to interrogate.
So far I've only drip acclimated, and made sure each fish is well fed and everything seems to be going fine (Knocking on wood).

 

[Paul B]

I added a shrimp fish a few days ago and two more a week before that. A few months ago I added a ruby red dragonette and a month before that I added another one.
I originally added 3 shrimpfish but the next day one was covered in parasites and died so I replaced him. The rest of my fish do not get sick or parasites. I do not dip them, medicate them, sing to them or anything else. I acclimate them for 15 minutes or do and throw them in the tank where most of the time, they die of old age. I have had deaf fish but normally it is from old age but sometimes it would be from bullying. But that would happen as soon as I put it in. I realize the people who have to quarantine (and most people probably should) don't believe me because they can't explain immunity. But I know all about it. They can't explain how I could put an ich infected fish in my reef with no worries as I have been doing for decades. They feel my tank is a time bomb. If it is, it has had one heck of a run. It's all about food.
I buy fish from anywhere where I am and even collect them in the sea

 

[Lucky Lefty]

Thanks a lot for the response. I think I understand and agree with your approach.Much appreciated.