large tank feeding
- Thread starter bighen
- Start date
Well, this is a tricky question that we all probably struggle with (some more than others
). I have a 375g with 30+ fish and a 470g with 30+ fish, included in each tank is about 9 anthias which require frequent feeding of mysis shrimp which is what they will eat reliably. I also have a Copperband Butterflyfish in each tank, they are picky and slow eaters of mysis shrimp as well. This means I need to feed enough at one time that my anthias can gorge but the Copperbands will still get enough. Too many people starve their CBB fish and they die
The other fish are all more versatile and eat like pigs. The main thing is to feed enough variety and target feed the finicky eaters, watch to make sure they are getting the food too. I usually overfeed for sure, but my cleanup crew in the sandbed, the shrimps, crabs, etc all need to eat as well. I run a hefty skimmer, provide large water changes, run carbon, gfo and a sulphur denitrator to keep the nutrients on the low side so I can grow acropora.
). I have a 375g with 30+ fish and a 470g with 30+ fish, included in each tank is about 9 anthias which require frequent feeding of mysis shrimp which is what they will eat reliably. I also have a Copperband Butterflyfish in each tank, they are picky and slow eaters of mysis shrimp as well. This means I need to feed enough at one time that my anthias can gorge but the Copperbands will still get enough. Too many people starve their CBB fish and they dieThe other fish are all more versatile and eat like pigs. The main thing is to feed enough variety and target feed the finicky eaters, watch to make sure they are getting the food too. I usually overfeed for sure, but my cleanup crew in the sandbed, the shrimps, crabs, etc all need to eat as well. I run a hefty skimmer, provide large water changes, run carbon, gfo and a sulphur denitrator to keep the nutrients on the low side so I can grow acropora.
Chris27
New member
For the fish, I've been lucky enough to train them. When I walk up to the tank they all just show up in the corner and I can feed them by hand. I have a Controller, so I just shut down the pumps and skimmer and feed away - usually two - three times a day. I also put a heavily stocked algae clip in there everyday for them - if you can believe it everyone (anthias, clowns, angel, tangs, gobies, basslets) eats the nori.
As for the corals, I spot feed with a sea-squirt, phyto, mysis, that sort of thing.
I run a couple of reactors, large skimmer, and have a huge clean-up crew.
It really helps keep the filter socks clean by having the pumps off when feeding.
As for the corals, I spot feed with a sea-squirt, phyto, mysis, that sort of thing.
I run a couple of reactors, large skimmer, and have a huge clean-up crew.
It really helps keep the filter socks clean by having the pumps off when feeding.
bighen
Member
thats exacly what is was wondering it sound almost impossible
Well, this is a tricky question that we all probably struggle with (some more than others
The other fish are all more versatile and eat like pigs. The main thing is to feed enough variety and target feed the finicky eaters, watch to make sure they are getting the food too. I usually overfeed for sure, but my cleanup crew in the sandbed, the shrimps, crabs, etc all need to eat as well. I run a hefty skimmer, provide large water changes, run carbon, gfo and a sulphur denitrator to keep the nutrients on the low side so I can grow acropora.
itachi
Member
Well, this is a tricky question that we all probably struggle with (some more than others
The other fish are all more versatile and eat like pigs. The main thing is to feed enough variety and target feed the finicky eaters, watch to make sure they are getting the food too. I usually overfeed for sure, but my cleanup crew in the sandbed, the shrimps, crabs, etc all need to eat as well. I run a hefty skimmer, provide large water changes, run carbon, gfo and a sulphur denitrator to keep the nutrients on the low side so I can grow acropora.
I have a similar issue with a 240, but i have 25 anthias and 20 or so other's including wrasses and a couple tangs. Keeping nutrients down is a big issue since my tank is sps dominated .. I've fought with it for awhile now trying to get it dialed in. All i can say is more water ! , bigger skimmer and possibly carbon dosing.
I love my anthias, but since I love acropora more, I should have chosen different fish
Carbon dosing works, but there is something about it that I don't like, not really sure what, but my gut said no more. With vodka dosing for several months, everything got clogged with detritus. My sponges, standpipes, sumps, etc....all got nasty coatings of slime.
Carbon dosing works, but there is something about it that I don't like, not really sure what, but my gut said no more. With vodka dosing for several months, everything got clogged with detritus. My sponges, standpipes, sumps, etc....all got nasty coatings of slime.
Fitchguy
Member
Chris27--That is because you have an amazing teacher and LFS in Virginia Beach Called REEFCHIEF! I too feed exactly like you except I don't shut down skimmers and pumps. But all my fish eat Nori like its going out of style, I could feet one algae sheet a day if I didn't feed anything else. But in a cup I mix Rods Food, a cube of: Mysis, Brine, Krill, Cyclops, plankton, and then soak with vitamins and selcon and garlic, then add cut up nori and mix it all up and feed.
Eric the half-bee
Passer of gasses
I have a little different approach. My tank is 400 gal with 12 tangs , 2 eels, 4 wrasses & various other fish. I drop in frozen foods, flakes, pellets, live shrimp and nori 3-4x/week.
majikmike9999
New member
I have a 330 and it has been up for a couple of months, I have been turning my pumps off and feeding frozen cubes I tell you that it is a bit of a pain but i am getting it more and more automated so hopefully it gets better
bighen
Member
Chris27
New member
You got that strait! We all wish you lived here so you could host a little get together and we could all see that monster of a tank you've been working on. You've got to post some more pics for us to gawk at.
I second the Nori - it's like crack for my fish. I've seen too many tangs in other's tanks and they just don't look healthy. By feeding a sheet or two of Nori a day, Tang's stay nice, fat and healthy.
My normal fish slop is very similar, it usually contains defrosted / strained Mysis, Brine, plankton, emerald entree, jumbo mysis, prime reef, squid and nori pieces. A healthy pour of garlic, selcon, and vitachem is added to the mix making it all the better. I will many times just feed each fish with tongs, however with 4 tangs, 3 clowns, 3 chromis, 2 Eng gobies, coral beauty, Royal Gamma, 2 anthias, spotted puffer and a 6 line it can take some time.
ricwilli
Member
Everyone here that have posted is talking about feeding 2-3 times a day. Mysis, frozen cubes, planktons, squid etc etc etc...... Don't any of you work? LOL! How are you guys automating the feeding during working hours? I have a feeder with only pellets. I leave my home to go to work at 5:15am and don't get home till 6:30pm.
Eric the half-bee
Passer of gasses
No , I have mostly LPS and soft corals along with 9 clams and 2-3 SPS.
Eric the half-bee
Passer of gasses
I feed in the evening after the kids are in bed. Not multiple times/day.
majikmike9999
New member
I only feed once a day as well, i am starting to think maybe i don't feed enough?
Chris27
New member
In the morning before work, I put a generous amount of algae on a clip. When I get home from work I'll check out the tank and then feed. At night, after I get the kids in bed I will feed some more.
Not gonna lie to you, my nitrates never test at 0, they stay pretty solid around 5, every once in a while around 10. I love fish, love feeding them, and love having a whole bunch of them, so I don't keep SPS. I decided that if I want that many fish, I had better stick with LPS and Softies so I don't have to kill myself doing water changes twice a week.
I run Carbon, Brightwell Phosphat R, a larger skimmer, and do 30 Gal water changes every week or two, so everything stays pretty happy.
Not gonna lie to you, my nitrates never test at 0, they stay pretty solid around 5, every once in a while around 10. I love fish, love feeding them, and love having a whole bunch of them, so I don't keep SPS. I decided that if I want that many fish, I had better stick with LPS and Softies so I don't have to kill myself doing water changes twice a week.
I run Carbon, Brightwell Phosphat R, a larger skimmer, and do 30 Gal water changes every week or two, so everything stays pretty happy.
phuzzykins
New member
I generally feed twice a day, once as soon as I get home from work (or around 4pm if I'm not in the office that day), and once around 9pm.
The display tanks get a mix of krill, mysis, spirulina brine shrimp, clams, marine algae, and cyclops. I thaw and rinse enough to last two or three days, and just keep it in the fridge in a plastic beaker.
If there's no nuisance algae for my herbivores to graze on, I feed nori as well.
Maybe once a week, I feed spectrum pellets.
Fish in quarantine get fed according to their specific needs. Once they're eating well, I feed fairly heavily to condition them before they go into the display tank.
The display tanks get a mix of krill, mysis, spirulina brine shrimp, clams, marine algae, and cyclops. I thaw and rinse enough to last two or three days, and just keep it in the fridge in a plastic beaker.
If there's no nuisance algae for my herbivores to graze on, I feed nori as well.
Maybe once a week, I feed spectrum pellets.
Fish in quarantine get fed according to their specific needs. Once they're eating well, I feed fairly heavily to condition them before they go into the display tank.
