Feeding SPS

[SkyReef]

I recently got this acropora coral frag, seen here in my 75-gallon reef tank after 4 days of being placed in my tank. It looks healthy so far...

I'd like it to feed it right, so it can grow big and strong.What do you all feed your SPS Corals? I've read that people have good results with Oyster Feast and Reef Roids. What about you?

Thanks.

 

[UTCReefer]

I wouldnt concentrate on feeding your SPS, They will get most of what they need from your lights. Its better to keep your nutrients in check and not increase your phosphates or other things that will slow growth.

 

[SkyReef]

I wouldnt concentrate on feeding your SPS, They will get most of what they need from your lights. Its better to keep your nutrients in check and not increase your phosphates or other things that will slow growth.

Thanks, UTC. My water quality is stable and fairly decent. I read an article that strongly proposed feeding corals, with a seemingly scientific basis for the premise. In essence, it posited that people often overestimated the value of light for SPS growth and underestimated the value of feeding corals. I'll try to track down the article and post the link. Thanks.

Later edit: here is the link to the Reef Central thread I was talking about: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1843241

 

[Myka]

Thanks, UTC. My water quality is stable and fairly decent. I read an article that strongly proposed feeding corals, with a seemingly scientific basis for the premise. In essence, it posited that people often overestimated the value of light for SPS growth and underestimated the value of feeding corals. I'll try to track down the article and post the link. Thanks.

Later edit: here is the link to the Reef Central thread I was talking about: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1843241

I haven't read the link you provided, but UTC is right. Most tanks don't need to feed their SPS. As time goes on, our equipment and methodologies are getting more advanced and we have the ability now to strip the water of nutrients to the point where it is detrimental to the corals. In these aquariums people have been experimenting with dosing nitrate and phosphate because the levels are so low they are undetectable with test kits, and there is no algae in the tanks. It's these tanks that are usually run with high-end equipment and experienced reef keepers that run into this problem, but not always. Most people need to work on getting nutrients down, not up through feeding.

 

[Horace]

I had the problem in my SPS tank from lock of nutrients.

I was adding very little food to the tank, low amount of fish, I had a large skimmer, and was even dosing carbon source such as vodka to reduce phosphate/nitrate to undetectable levels.

As a result, my colors became very washed out, and coral growth came to a halt (except for my monitporas). Acros basically became light in color and showed little to no growth.

I tried a million things, thinking it must be light...finally i just started feeding to the point where nitrate was detectable (1-2ppm range), and all the sudden BOOM...growth and color came back.

In general, all that was needed was to feed the fish more, and increase the bioload on the tank. Spending huge amounts of money on all sorts of additives is IMO often wasted money. Just add more fish, and feed them GOOD food...thats all you gotta do.

 

[Pife]

FYI check the dates on the threads you are reading.