Suggestions on feeding LPS

[lvreefer]

So I'm really starting to get into LPS corals and was wandering what the best way to feed them is? I have done a search on here with most of the people spot feeding Cyclops and mysis shrimp. I can see that working for blasto’s and acan’s, but what about larger polyps like cynarina and scolymia? A sticky in this forum listing the coral and suggested feeding with type of food and how often would be awesome! Seems like a common question here on this thread.

- Thanks

 

[Bcollins111900]

Spot feeding of like you have posted, cyclopeeze and mysis works well. I will sometimes feed my larger corals squid, clams, and shrimp.

 

[IndyReefMan]

I spot feed mine frozen whole krill and silversides.

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Smaller food is generally more desirable--it is much easier to digest. I wouldn't suggest anything larger than mysis shrimp for most corals, though many will certainly take much larger pieces of food. Target feeding works fine, but generally I just add some 'coral mush' to the tank at night and allow all the corals and other animals to catch it at will.

cj

 

[shaggydoo541]

Stick with the smaller food (mysis/cyclop) like others suggested. Larger food particles often get regurgitated. I had my open brain half digest a damsel before spitting out the remains which I had to net and flush.

 

[porky]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8130709#post8130709 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MCsaxmaster
Target feeding works fine, but generally I just add some 'coral mush' to the tank at night and allow all the corals and other animals to catch it at will.
cj

I agree, I prefer to let my LPS "hunt" for food as opposed to being fed... IME, it's easy to over feed when you start spot feeding.

 

[tjgreen]

I've wondered about that - when feeding LPS, how much is too much, and can I actually hurt them by overfeeding (beyond the typical problems with excess nutrients)? I only wonder because I recently got my first acan frag; I feed it every day, and it never seems to get full - shortly after feeding, it's back open and ready for more.

Tim

 

[shaggydoo541]

It is hard to overfeed. But by giving it pieces of food that is too large to fully digest you will not harm the coral put pollute the tank. The coral will digest as much as it can and will spit up the undigested portion which, unless you pull it out, will float around in your tank and cause some problems.

If you are just feeding mysis/cyclops (as is common) then the coral will most likely fully digest and daily feedings will promote a lot of growth. But you still have the problem of pollution as not all the food you put in gets to the coral. I used to feed daily and noticed excellent growth in my LPS. I don't have the time anymore and feed 1-3x week now.

 

[MCsaxmaster]

The primary limitation in how much food can be fed to a coral is the rate with which they can digest it. Most corals will consume and digest progressively more and more food showing no saturation up to natural upper ranges of food availability. Of course we can go beyond this density if we want. Literally the more food the more benefit to the coral. I'd feed them as much as they'll eat, ideally.

cj

 

[lux_06]

yeh i feed my elegance pretty big peices of my fish food mixture, never seen it regurgitate anything, i dont care if it went back into the tank either as something will eat it.... my acan tho, i need to get those pieces smaller as it jsut wont swallow the whole thing if its too big.

 

[downset]

Daily feedings make Lords and micros grow like crazy!

 

[tjgreen]

Didn't realize corals could spit up too - my wife might be right, this tank IS my new baby.

I've noticed the acan's explosive growth - I nicknamed it 'tribble'. I don't quite get why they're so !@#$!$ expensive if they grow this fast; at this rate, I'm gonna be giving out frags for Christmas.