What and When to Feed
- Thread starter Mikeeeee
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Mr. Microscope
New member
If you've got fish in your tank, you're solid. But if you're running a fishless system, Coral Frenzy is good. I've heard good things about Rod's Food too. Some of the bigger palys and protopalys will "eat" food, but the smaller zoas just benefit from nutrients in the water. Of course, all zoas are photosynthetic, but do require protein in addition to the sugar they produce by photosynthesis. Just like plants need nutrient rich dirt in addition to the sun.
Friday Night
New member
Fish waste.
organism
code monkey
Thing is the more you feed and try to speed up growth the more nitrates and phosphates will end up in your water and ironically they're either grow slower or stop growing entirely. By far the best zoanthid growth I've seen is in clean systems where, like the above people have said too, fish poop is the best and only food for the corals.
A. Grandis
Active member
Hummm...
I do feed my zoas and have some fishes in the system also.
I see them growing more when I feed them directly than when not feeding.
Tried on and off feeding for many times (years).
I do partial water changes every 2 weeks (5 - 10%).
Skimmer 24/7.
T5s for 10 hours (actinics) and 8 hours (other bulbs).
I believe the zoas really like the clean water (recycled water, in nature).
One can see how they love and open with the water changes. Specially natural sea water!!
I see lots of detritus on them all the time in their natural environment.
That's why I feed them.
We do need to watch for excess nitrates and phosphates in our systems, as we know.
I do know that if you feed too much the system will tell you.
Algae can be a tragic consequence of that and the zoas could get hurt, yes.
If you don't feed they will survive for long periods of time, but most of the time it won't be the same.
I've noticed that if you don't offer some particle food once an a while for them to ingest they loose their ability to react and there is a lack of energy to fight back against any problem that may occur.
Some of the problems I'm talking about are partial bleaching, partial colony eaten by fish, and partial bacterial infection. If they are fed in a regular basis (not excessively) they are stronger to fight back.
They growth is faster. No questions about that. Sorry, that's what I see.
Good water motion comes with feeding. Feeding with no pumps on can help them to be directly fed without waste their food. Turn pumps on after 10/15 min. finishing feeding.
Corals (SPS/LPS) also should be fed in small amounts IMO.
It's the good balance of the nutrients in the system that will avoid problems.
Just my US$.02.
Grandis.
I do feed my zoas and have some fishes in the system also.
I see them growing more when I feed them directly than when not feeding.
Tried on and off feeding for many times (years).
I do partial water changes every 2 weeks (5 - 10%).
Skimmer 24/7.
T5s for 10 hours (actinics) and 8 hours (other bulbs).
I believe the zoas really like the clean water (recycled water, in nature).
One can see how they love and open with the water changes. Specially natural sea water!!
I see lots of detritus on them all the time in their natural environment.
That's why I feed them.
We do need to watch for excess nitrates and phosphates in our systems, as we know.
I do know that if you feed too much the system will tell you.
Algae can be a tragic consequence of that and the zoas could get hurt, yes.
If you don't feed they will survive for long periods of time, but most of the time it won't be the same.
I've noticed that if you don't offer some particle food once an a while for them to ingest they loose their ability to react and there is a lack of energy to fight back against any problem that may occur.
Some of the problems I'm talking about are partial bleaching, partial colony eaten by fish, and partial bacterial infection. If they are fed in a regular basis (not excessively) they are stronger to fight back.
They growth is faster. No questions about that. Sorry, that's what I see.
Good water motion comes with feeding. Feeding with no pumps on can help them to be directly fed without waste their food. Turn pumps on after 10/15 min. finishing feeding.
Corals (SPS/LPS) also should be fed in small amounts IMO.
It's the good balance of the nutrients in the system that will avoid problems.
Just my US$.02.
Grandis.
howze01
New member
I recently (about 6 weeks ago) redid some things in my tank which included moving frags from the rack in my DT to the rock work (where it's much brighter). At the same time I started using Reef Pearls. Since then, frags that never grew new polyps have started going crazy. Others that were already spreading have spread much faster. Not sure if the change is from the Reef Pearls or the move but I am going to keep using the Pearls just in case that's what has helped them!
A. Grandis
Active member
Thanks for the tip! That's another food I'll try in the future.
I just ordered some Coral Frenzy to try for the first time.
Someone posted before about it.
All zoanthids do like some flow.
Some species of zoas don't like strong flow and some do like strong flow.
A distributed water motion in the tank as a whole is very good.
To target feed once a week is enough once their energy comes mainly from the zooxanthellae [we can't forget that part!]. Once a week alone will boost some growth.
Some of my fishes eat some of the coral food (particles) as well, and I won't feed them after feeding the zoas.
There is more to it...alkalinity, temp, light...
It's the balance of the system, but coral food helps.
Fun, fun, fun.
Grandis.
I just ordered some Coral Frenzy to try for the first time.
Someone posted before about it.
All zoanthids do like some flow.
Some species of zoas don't like strong flow and some do like strong flow.
A distributed water motion in the tank as a whole is very good.
To target feed once a week is enough once their energy comes mainly from the zooxanthellae [we can't forget that part!]. Once a week alone will boost some growth.
Some of my fishes eat some of the coral food (particles) as well, and I won't feed them after feeding the zoas.
There is more to it...alkalinity, temp, light...
It's the balance of the system, but coral food helps.
Fun, fun, fun.
Grandis.
MikeandNicole
New member
I agree flow is a huge part of zoanthid growth. My frag rack is directly across my tank from a mp40 turned all the way up (57g 3 foot tank) and I have gotten amazing growth up there. When my zoas don't get flow, they get the brown algae slime and I lose them.
I also got the reef pearls last week, BE VERY CAREFUL with them the are loaded with phosphates and nitrates and if you don't have the proper filtration they can throw off your tank params very quickly. I am doing about half the recommended dose twice a week (on wednesday and then on saturday, I do water changes on sundays). I am still way too early to tell if they help, but I will post if I see "crazy" growth going on.
I also got the reef pearls last week, BE VERY CAREFUL with them the are loaded with phosphates and nitrates and if you don't have the proper filtration they can throw off your tank params very quickly. I am doing about half the recommended dose twice a week (on wednesday and then on saturday, I do water changes on sundays). I am still way too early to tell if they help, but I will post if I see "crazy" growth going on.
A. Grandis
Active member
Thanks, MikeandNicole!
If it's really loaded with nitrates and phosphates we shouldn't feed, I guess.
There are other foods that have lower nutrient impact.
Perhaps mixing with other foods or feeding really small amounts.
Good to know!
Grandis.
If it's really loaded with nitrates and phosphates we shouldn't feed, I guess.
There are other foods that have lower nutrient impact.
Perhaps mixing with other foods or feeding really small amounts.
Good to know!
Grandis.
dublo8
New member
If your intent on attempting to feed your zoa's try reef roids by polyp labs. The small grain size would be perfect (IMO) for there small mouth size. I mix it with reef chili from BRS when I feed my SPS. Seems to do something for the zoa's. It also seems to have more nutritional value than other coral foods out there. (comparing container nutrient data side by side).
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A. Grandis
Active member
Are Reef Roids and Reef Chili low nutrient foods?
Thanks for the names!!!
I like to try new stuff all the time.
Does anyone know about Credabel Coral Food?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0X7vu3Qz1Y&feature=related
Love to see them closing and getting robust/reproducing!!!
I've had a major problem (bleaching and melting) when I moved my tank 2 years ago and they've got much better after I began to feed them with Microvore (Brigthwell Aquatics). I think that was the first food I've offered. After that, other coral foods. They were struggling for 6 months before I've decided to feed. Everything else was the same. That was the beginning of the search for coral food for zoas. Than, they came back to their colors and health. Didn't loose any colony for the moving. I also saw them eating some mini fish pellets, like the Spectrum, while feeding the fishes.
I would like to see people just trying to feed very small amounts to their zoanthids once a week, to test. I'm sure in a month They would notice some difference, depending on what they're feeding them. In 6 months they would notice the colonies "fatter" and strong. Just a small target feeding once a week in a good system. Low nutrients, because of the possible algae problems.
When I didn't feed them they were growing fine, but not better then now.
Because they also absorb nutrients from water I like to dose once an a while some liquid foods close to the pumps. Very small!! If you watch them carefully you can see their reaction to it. Now I'm also dosing aminos and trying again vitamin C. Very tiny amounts... to see what happens.
Another $.02.
Please post your experiences here. I would love to hear about other foods.
If they poop, they eat!:twitch:
Cheers!
Grandis.
Thanks for the names!!!
I like to try new stuff all the time.
Does anyone know about Credabel Coral Food?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0X7vu3Qz1Y&feature=related
Love to see them closing and getting robust/reproducing!!!
I've had a major problem (bleaching and melting) when I moved my tank 2 years ago and they've got much better after I began to feed them with Microvore (Brigthwell Aquatics). I think that was the first food I've offered. After that, other coral foods. They were struggling for 6 months before I've decided to feed. Everything else was the same. That was the beginning of the search for coral food for zoas. Than, they came back to their colors and health. Didn't loose any colony for the moving. I also saw them eating some mini fish pellets, like the Spectrum, while feeding the fishes.
I would like to see people just trying to feed very small amounts to their zoanthids once a week, to test. I'm sure in a month They would notice some difference, depending on what they're feeding them. In 6 months they would notice the colonies "fatter" and strong. Just a small target feeding once a week in a good system. Low nutrients, because of the possible algae problems.
When I didn't feed them they were growing fine, but not better then now.
Because they also absorb nutrients from water I like to dose once an a while some liquid foods close to the pumps. Very small!! If you watch them carefully you can see their reaction to it. Now I'm also dosing aminos and trying again vitamin C. Very tiny amounts... to see what happens.
Another $.02.
Please post your experiences here. I would love to hear about other foods.
If they poop, they eat!:twitch:
Cheers!
Grandis.
AC2020x
Marine Conservationist
I don't have any zoas yet but I'm planning on getting some soon. My plan is that I am going to be spot feeding them a small amount just with normal tank feeding. I have a small reef chili feeding jar (from bulk reef supply) that I put PE mysis / cyclops in. Then mix in some selcon and reef chili. This combo seems to feed the tank quite well and I think the polyps will enjoy it.
This feeding is meant for the entire tank.. not just the polyps.
my 2 cents.
This feeding is meant for the entire tank.. not just the polyps.
my 2 cents.
dublo8
New member
I think they are extremely high nutrient foods.
Reef chili you can get only from BRS and it's kind of a grainy coral food. Has tons of stuff in it for every mouth size. Check it out on their website and read about it first.
Reef Roids is from my understanding a very very high nutrient food. Comparing nutrient data (from the label of course) and then comparing it to coral frenzy it blew it away as far as what was in it. Like by 3-5x more nutrients from proteins. It is a very powdery substance, totally stinks like fish though. Both of these will last you well over a year, since you don't have to use that much of it.
A. Grandis
Active member
Thanks dublo8! I'll try them in the future.
I've got my Coral Frenzy and fed it today for the first time.
Really good reaction from the polyps. All the zoanthids in the tank went crazy. They liked very much and captured the particles even with the slow current, not only the target feeding. There is something in it that really triggers the feeding for the zoanthids.
Nice stuff!
It didn't make the water cloudy. We can see the micro particles everywhere. Smells strong too. I'll watch for the algae in the tank to see if that will be a problem, but I didn't put too much of it, so i think it's going to be fine.
There are some small brown oval particles that even the fish liked them.
I'll have to wait so I can order more food.
I get plenty for now.
Grandis.
I've got my Coral Frenzy and fed it today for the first time.
Really good reaction from the polyps. All the zoanthids in the tank went crazy. They liked very much and captured the particles even with the slow current, not only the target feeding. There is something in it that really triggers the feeding for the zoanthids.
Nice stuff!
It didn't make the water cloudy. We can see the micro particles everywhere. Smells strong too. I'll watch for the algae in the tank to see if that will be a problem, but I didn't put too much of it, so i think it's going to be fine.
There are some small brown oval particles that even the fish liked them.
I'll have to wait so I can order more food.
I get plenty for now.
Grandis.
A. Grandis
Active member
No algae problem until now with the Coral Frenzy. It's a pretty clean type of food.
Last time (Saturday) I fed the whole tank with it.
I'm still amazed by the zoas' reaction to the particles!!!
I've got a colony that was hurt for many months and it is beginning to open after I fed CF. Could be coincidence too, but maybe not.
I have other colonies there were eaten by a fish (my mistake to try a "planktivore" Genicanthus bellus) and they are coming back too.
They love it!!
Thanks again for the tip!!!
Grandis.
Last time (Saturday) I fed the whole tank with it.
I'm still amazed by the zoas' reaction to the particles!!!
I've got a colony that was hurt for many months and it is beginning to open after I fed CF. Could be coincidence too, but maybe not.
I have other colonies there were eaten by a fish (my mistake to try a "planktivore" Genicanthus bellus) and they are coming back too.
They love it!!
Thanks again for the tip!!!
Grandis.
bigfoot610
New member
When i ran a zoa tank i fed the reefchili and i added LIVE phytoplankon to the tank everyday in about 4 months my colonies doubled in size and slowed when i stopped the phyto. 20 heads to probably 60 is awsome growth and the LOVE flow i had a HOB filter turned into a fuge and the zoas would grow up the glass and stop where the waterspill from the hob started give them lots flow but an indirect flow they dont like being blown away
A. Grandis
Active member
Hey bigfoot610,
Thanks for sharing. Did you just put the live phytoplankton in the tank?
No target feeding?
Don't they bring the phosphates too high?
Nice to hear that!
Grandis.
Thanks for sharing. Did you just put the live phytoplankton in the tank?
No target feeding?
Don't they bring the phosphates too high?
Nice to hear that!
Grandis.
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