Feeding Clowns

[mattyg18]

Hello All - I've got a pair of Black Ice Snowflakes that are about 3 months old. I've had them for about a month now. They tend to stay in the far-left-back-top part of my 60 gal cube most of the time. They will occasionally venture to the bottom but only in that are. There are no other fish in the tank; just corals and a bunch of snails. When feeding them I need to turn off my pump/overflow and powerhead otherwise the pellet food gets sucked into the overflow and they don't have a chance to eat. I'm feeding them at least twice a day. Although they don't eat much they are eating. I've also tried the mice shrimp with success in the medicine dropper.

My question is that since i'm shutting down the pump and powerhead every day 2-3 times a day for about 2-3 minutes is that doing any damage to this equipment?

If anyone has any thoughts i'd greatly appreciate it. Or if you think this should be posted in the "Clownfish" section please let me know. I am fairly new at this although figured it would be appropriate posting here.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lespaul339]

I think you should be fine.

 

[mattyg18]

Just making sure. Thanks lespaul339

 

[Animagus]

Before you feed your Clownfish you might want to soak the pellets in a cup of water for about 5 minutes beforehand. This will soften them up a little and keep them from floating into the overflow. You can also pour in 2 or 3 pellets at a time, so overfeeding shouldn't be an issue. GL.

Btw, once the pellets are waterlogged you shouldn't have to turn off your pumps. You'll have to experiment a little, but you'll find a spot where you can pour the pellets in and the currents will carry the pellets right to where your Clownfish spend most of their time.

 

[mattyg18]

I actually tried soaking them first and they just fall to the bottom before the clowns eat them. They will feed better if the pellets are floating on the top. They seem to be pretty picky with feeding.

 

[Diana A]

I turn off everything expect my lights every day. I have been doing that for years. My clowns will not eat anything that has sunk to the tank floor.

 

[Hal]

My question is that since i'm shutting down the pump and powerhead every day 2-3 times a day for about 2-3 minutes is that doing any damage to this equipment?

Technically, yes. Most pumps don't have a soft start feature, so everytime you start them up it puts a high torque on the rotor of the pump, as well as an inductive spike. Neither of these is good for the pump long term. BUT, the typical lifespan of a pump these days is so high that I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Jon0807]

You could try one of these https://www.amazon.com/Nutrafin-Max-Feeding-Ring-Suction/dp/B0002DI0TI

It takes some training and the pellets do end up falling to the bottom eventually, but you won't have to turn your pumps off

 

[mattyg18]

Just bought the ring. Big Thanks. Great Idea
and hopefully it works.