New to LPS

[hunter57]

Hi,
I just upgraded my lighting so I could start getting into LPS corals. I now have some of the basic beginner corals such as trumpet, hammer and sun coral. I also have several softies. I just bought some marine snow and was wondering how often I should be feeding the corals with it. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

 

[plateboy3293]

I have a hammer and I feed him twice a week frozen mysis and the plate coral also eats mysis. The trumpet coral I researched and the site says they should be fed every other day because they do not contain the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae.

 

[Wrench]

I believe sun corals are to be fed daily.

I do not spot feed my hammer. I do not have a trumpet so I can't advise. Either way, Marine Snow wont cut it. You're going to need some frozen mysis to target feed your LPS.

 

[hunter57]

OK thanks

 

[musty baby]

Trumpets are photosynthetic. Sun corals will need to be fed 2 or more times per week and should not be classified as a beginner coral, IMO. Photosynthetic lps do not need but will benefit from additional feedings. They will take some advantage of the marine snow but would benefit more from targeted feedings. You can feed them, more or less, anything. It doesn't have to be frozen mysis.

 

[hunter57]

I thought that marine snow was designed for filter feeding corals. Is there any other reson to use it? Maybe for soft corals?

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Marine snow is so fine that it does work best for filter feeders; you can get a feeding response from a lot of LPS with it though.

Sun Coral/Tubastrea does need to be fed heavily and regularly. Marine snow would be OK, I personally use mysis and cyclopeeze
Hammer/Euphyllia sp. dont need to be fed, though you will see improved growth if you do offer it.
Trumpet/Candycane/Caulastrea does not have to be fed, but again, youll see improved growth if you do. I didnt feed mine for several years, and it did grow, but Slowly. Ive started to offer it mysis at least 3 times a week (when I feed my Tubastreas) and its health has improved markedly.

 

[hunter57]

Great information. Thanks!

 

[Catharsis70]

What brand of Mysis is everyone feeding? Are you chopping it up or feeding whole?

 

[Hormigaquatica]

I usually feed Piscine Energetics, though have used Hikari if PE wasnt in stock. I feed whole.

 

[musty baby]

^^^