I posted this question earlier, and received zero replies. Anyone? Bueller, Bueller??
When to feed What?
I was curious as to when to feed what size food? I have a few heavily stocked mixed reefs.
To feed, I have; marine snow, phytoplankton (DT's, &Bioplankton), rotifers (phytofeast), Cypopeeze (frozen), zooplankton (frozen), and frozen brine/mysis mixes like marine cuisine and emerald entree.
So, my question(s); Should I feed small particle foods, like phytoplankton in the morning or evening?
Is there any sequence of food particle size that occurs in the ocean?
When all the micro-organisms come out at night, are they stirring nutrients up into the water column,
or removing nutrients, so that suspended food has been consumed by morning?
*When does the fluctuation of heat from day to night cause the currents to bring nutrient rich upwellings up from deep water?*
When do the larger zooplankton tend to be actively presented as food for the reefs?
Is it best to feed small and then later feed larger particles or vice-versa?
All that being presented, I will say how I tend to feed; I used to feed 2X a day, now days I'm down to 1X every few days, or 1X per day. I usually feed the smallest particle size first as to get my turbastea to open, I give it some time to simmer, and for the food to be absorbed (no return/skimmer), Then I put in some cyclopeeze followed by a cube of either the marine cuisine or emerald entree (this is for the fish). If I have time/ambition I feed zooplankton directly to the sun-corals via XL syringe (I got it from a bar, it was filled with liquor and holds like 3 shots) I sometimes have cyclopeeze and phyto in the syringe as well. I hit the favia and blasto's with this also. They love It!
I was starting to build up too many nutrients from all the food but, I stayed on top of things and now parameters are perfect again. It took some serious house cleaning but should be done regularly anyway. I get away with feeding every few days because I took out the fish in one tank. The other tank that still has fish is fed 1x per day, most days. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
I know that my ecosystem would benefit most, from a constant supply of the right amount of phyto but, an auto doser just is not on the horizon yet. So until then what would be your suggestions on; When to Feed What?
When to feed What?
I was curious as to when to feed what size food? I have a few heavily stocked mixed reefs.
To feed, I have; marine snow, phytoplankton (DT's, &Bioplankton), rotifers (phytofeast), Cypopeeze (frozen), zooplankton (frozen), and frozen brine/mysis mixes like marine cuisine and emerald entree.
So, my question(s); Should I feed small particle foods, like phytoplankton in the morning or evening?
Is there any sequence of food particle size that occurs in the ocean?
When all the micro-organisms come out at night, are they stirring nutrients up into the water column,
or removing nutrients, so that suspended food has been consumed by morning?
*When does the fluctuation of heat from day to night cause the currents to bring nutrient rich upwellings up from deep water?*
When do the larger zooplankton tend to be actively presented as food for the reefs?
Is it best to feed small and then later feed larger particles or vice-versa?
All that being presented, I will say how I tend to feed; I used to feed 2X a day, now days I'm down to 1X every few days, or 1X per day. I usually feed the smallest particle size first as to get my turbastea to open, I give it some time to simmer, and for the food to be absorbed (no return/skimmer), Then I put in some cyclopeeze followed by a cube of either the marine cuisine or emerald entree (this is for the fish). If I have time/ambition I feed zooplankton directly to the sun-corals via XL syringe (I got it from a bar, it was filled with liquor and holds like 3 shots) I sometimes have cyclopeeze and phyto in the syringe as well. I hit the favia and blasto's with this also. They love It!
I was starting to build up too many nutrients from all the food but, I stayed on top of things and now parameters are perfect again. It took some serious house cleaning but should be done regularly anyway. I get away with feeding every few days because I took out the fish in one tank. The other tank that still has fish is fed 1x per day, most days. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
I know that my ecosystem would benefit most, from a constant supply of the right amount of phyto but, an auto doser just is not on the horizon yet. So until then what would be your suggestions on; When to Feed What?
