Feeding corals during lights on?

[Tflow256]

So I was always under the impression that corals should be fed at night as they extend their feeding tentacles/polyps after lights off. I was bored and just started Googling about various things and came across a few articles (such as this one: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/12/corals2 ) that suggested that feeding them at night may actually inhibit growth. Now I know not everyone does or needs to feed coral but as my nutrients stay very low, Phosphate @ .01 (Hanna phosphorus) and nitrate undetectable (Red Sea) I've begun picking up a few "snacks" for my coral like reef chili, oysterfeast and rotifeast. Now I'm wondering should I stick to the norm and feed at night or switch to the day time feeding? Anybody got any insight or input on this??

 

[rffanat1c]

I feed mine at noon all the time. They eat fine then

 

[tg1966]

We feed with lights on also.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Tflow, corals are like people, there are all kinds. Some corals do feed better at night. So do just find during the day. I have 4 NPS (they really need the food) corals and 3 of them do put polyps out during the day.

 

[Tflow256]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should have stated that my tank is currently all sps. I know there's been a ton of posts and polls on the subject but this was the first time I've read about a study like this.

 

[DSMreefer]

dumb question but will corals feed as long as they have PE? Or do they extend something different for feeding?

 

[Tflow256]

Think that depends on the coral. Some corals, like those in the euphyllia family, have specialized feeder/sweeper tentacles that pull food in to the polyps

 

[DSMreefer]

Think that depends on the coral. Some corals, like those in the euphyllia family, have specialized feeder/sweeper tentacles that pull food in to the polyps

Thanks, I have heard of them doing that. I actually have a frogspawn but have never seen it extends its sweeper tentacles. What about sps coral? Primarily acros and montipora? Do they extend sweeper tentacles?

 

[Tflow256]

This is kinda the reason for this thread, most corals seem to only extend their feeder tentacles during the night unless provoked with a teasing of food. Acros and montis do not have "feeder tentacles" in my experience

 

[fishinthewall]

I was under the impression you don't "feed" sps at all. You dose the tank to maintain trace elements. I'm very new please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Tflow256]

All corals, including sps require some sort of food. If you have nutrients present such as phosphate in the .02-.04 range and nitrates in the 2-5ppm range the there is usually food available for these corals without the introduction of other foods. They will still benefit from the occasional snack with these levels present. In my case where both phosphate and nitrate are near undetectable levels, the corals are at risk of starving and looking blah and possibly death.