Feeding and water changes

[daveverdo]

Lately, I have been trying to feed less. But every once in a while I try to feed my LPS and usually make a mess of things. Lots of missed spot feeding/ Even with all the flow off, a fish swimming by will push the food off the coral and things like that. I usually plan this feeding before a water change. My set up does not allow easy vacuuming of the sand bed so that isn't an option on a regular basis.

So the question is: How long after a feeding should I do dthe water change?

Dave

 

[pimpinitup6969]

Dave, what alot of people do (including me) is cut the top off of a plastic soda bottle and feed through the opening on the top. fish cant get it and flow makes no difference. I normally spot feel all lps an hour before a water change.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Good question, and there's probably multiple answers!

In my case, I feed heavily the day before a water change. This is when I'll feed frozen foods, Selcon, and Coral Frenzy.

Right before the water change, I puff up the sand bed and blow off the rocks with a turkey baster, and if I'm dosing lanthanum chloride, will do that as well.

So the short answer to your question is: I change my water 24 hours after a heavy feeding.

 

[reefboy87]

I normally feed my LPS at night after the lights have been off for awhile and the fish are sleeping. I'll turn the filter off for a bit and turn one of the power heads off as well. With the fish asleep and the tank pretty calm, there's not much around that'll bother the corals while they're feeding.

As for the sand bed...what kind of sand do you have? I know people have mixed feelings on them, but you can always throw a sand-sifting goby in there to keep the sand bed white and airerated as well. Any detrus or waste that settles into your sand, he'll find. I have an orange diamond goby and love him, but if you want to cover your sand bed with coral, it's not the best choice.

 

[toddmh]

I have to do my spot feeding at the same time as feeding the rest of the tank,if not my skunk cleaner will rob the food right out of my Dendro's mouth