Now that the tank is cycled, the cleanup crew has decimated the hair algae, and I'm starting to add fish, I have a few questions regarding feeding...
I currently have 3 fish: an ocellaris clown, a coral beauty angel, and a little tiger goby that hitchhiked on the rock. Here's what I've been doing thus far: every a.m. I add a very small quantity of some chopped Formula One to the tank. The clown's a happy eater, the angel still a bit skittish (hides every time I go near the tank, so he hasn't eaten since I got him), and I haven't a clue what the goby lives off of. In addition, once a week I give the anemone and brittle stars some raw shrimp. So my questions are:
1. Is one daily feeding for the fish sufficient, at least for now? Is the angel's behavior normal?
2. Likewise, is once a week for the other critters ok?
3. I've had a bit of a problem with diatoms and cyano (the red stuff?) lately. I thought that was usually caused by too much nutrient in the water. So am I feeding to much? Or is this an expected byproduct of the tank maturing? (There's still lots of decaying sponge).
4. Should I be adding any liquid food? On the advice of the LFS, I've been adding Kent Phytoplex to the tank weekly, but now I'm wondering if I'm doing the tank a disservice.
5. A question about the cukes -- I have 3 that appear to do absolutely nothing 24x7 -- sometimes I prod them just to make sure they're still alive. I find them in new positions occasionally, but I sort of expected them to be plowing thru the sand, keeping it clean. Is this normal as well?
Appreciate any & all responses -- thanks!
I currently have 3 fish: an ocellaris clown, a coral beauty angel, and a little tiger goby that hitchhiked on the rock. Here's what I've been doing thus far: every a.m. I add a very small quantity of some chopped Formula One to the tank. The clown's a happy eater, the angel still a bit skittish (hides every time I go near the tank, so he hasn't eaten since I got him), and I haven't a clue what the goby lives off of. In addition, once a week I give the anemone and brittle stars some raw shrimp. So my questions are:
1. Is one daily feeding for the fish sufficient, at least for now? Is the angel's behavior normal?
2. Likewise, is once a week for the other critters ok?
3. I've had a bit of a problem with diatoms and cyano (the red stuff?) lately. I thought that was usually caused by too much nutrient in the water. So am I feeding to much? Or is this an expected byproduct of the tank maturing? (There's still lots of decaying sponge).
4. Should I be adding any liquid food? On the advice of the LFS, I've been adding Kent Phytoplex to the tank weekly, but now I'm wondering if I'm doing the tank a disservice.
5. A question about the cukes -- I have 3 that appear to do absolutely nothing 24x7 -- sometimes I prod them just to make sure they're still alive. I find them in new positions occasionally, but I sort of expected them to be plowing thru the sand, keeping it clean. Is this normal as well?
Appreciate any & all responses -- thanks!
