daytonians
New member
Wanting to add my first SPS. What do you guys feed yours?
What to feed SPS ?
- Thread starter daytonians
- Start date
samsfishnchips
Premium Member
Re: What to feed SPS ?
that's a loaded question, because is very complex, the way I see it, it is not as simple as per say a fish, "feed X, and he/she will be healthy"...
corals, specially sps are very complex, and depending on the species, their requirement changes, and also based on your goal, and that question can't be simple answered in one post, you will need to learn and do research
and let me give you an example based on above responses
phytoplankton, cyclopeeze, oyster eggs sometimes.
people have their own recipes that works for some and just don't work for others
fish poop
in some cases where bio-load of the tank is low, some report fade colors, increase in fish number in many cases bring richer deeper colors
My understanding is that phyto is too small, and cyclopeeze is too large for the SPS in our tanks.
many researchers do mention that this is true, but what about a case where these items are added to the tank, and in turns feeds things that rather feed corals...
daytonians, good luck on your search and in the mean time research these
lighting
flow
coral placement
additives
fish load
filtration
system setup (BB, DSB, SSB, ...)
refuge
and so on,
sam
that's a loaded question, because is very complex, the way I see it, it is not as simple as per say a fish, "feed X, and he/she will be healthy"...
corals, specially sps are very complex, and depending on the species, their requirement changes, and also based on your goal, and that question can't be simple answered in one post, you will need to learn and do research
and let me give you an example based on above responses
phytoplankton, cyclopeeze, oyster eggs sometimes.
people have their own recipes that works for some and just don't work for others
fish poop
in some cases where bio-load of the tank is low, some report fade colors, increase in fish number in many cases bring richer deeper colors
My understanding is that phyto is too small, and cyclopeeze is too large for the SPS in our tanks.
many researchers do mention that this is true, but what about a case where these items are added to the tank, and in turns feeds things that rather feed corals...
daytonians, good luck on your search and in the mean time research these
lighting
flow
coral placement
additives
fish load
filtration
system setup (BB, DSB, SSB, ...)
refuge
and so on,
sam
daytonians
New member
I have researched all those things. My tank is doing great. I just wanted input as to what people feed. I know that many people feel SPS don't need fed at all, and can get all they need from good lighting.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I'm positive my fish don't get all the food I feed.
I'm positive the corals don't get all those leftovers - but accidents happen
I also have been happiest with the tank's overall health when feeding a DIY fish food - which has been blended in part, and has some small particulate + small meaty foods involved [CE, a couple varieties of powder/particulate food in small amounts, rotifers, and smaller pieces of a variety of seafood/shellfish].
Not really heavily feeding towards the corals - but the food itself has some that is likely too small for the fish to bother with.
As for how it gets to coral, how much it helps, whether it needs special attention - IMO that's quite a question. Food's path to the coral could be simple - or quite convoluted.
Were the fish eating and pooping it?
Were the corals catching some?
Was the bacteria/etc eating it and then getting caught by the corals?
Were the microfauna booming and feeding things?
Was the bacteria on the surface of the coral getting it and then providing it to the coral?
Were there any of the many other ways moving the stuff that I turkeybaste to the coral?
Heck if I know, but all seem possible.
I always aim to feed just barely under what I can export - and to export a lot. I figure that if I want it to grow fast, color up nice - that I'd like to give it all the energy it could possibly use; provided I'm not fouling the water in the process.
I'm positive the corals don't get all those leftovers - but accidents happen
I also have been happiest with the tank's overall health when feeding a DIY fish food - which has been blended in part, and has some small particulate + small meaty foods involved [CE, a couple varieties of powder/particulate food in small amounts, rotifers, and smaller pieces of a variety of seafood/shellfish].
Not really heavily feeding towards the corals - but the food itself has some that is likely too small for the fish to bother with.
As for how it gets to coral, how much it helps, whether it needs special attention - IMO that's quite a question. Food's path to the coral could be simple - or quite convoluted.
Were the fish eating and pooping it?
Were the corals catching some?
Was the bacteria/etc eating it and then getting caught by the corals?
Were the microfauna booming and feeding things?
Was the bacteria on the surface of the coral getting it and then providing it to the coral?
Were there any of the many other ways moving the stuff that I turkeybaste to the coral?
Heck if I know, but all seem possible.
I always aim to feed just barely under what I can export - and to export a lot. I figure that if I want it to grow fast, color up nice - that I'd like to give it all the energy it could possibly use; provided I'm not fouling the water in the process.
Serioussnaps
New member
I feed my tank cyclopeeze, phyto and DT's oyster eggs..i am BB and it is extremely clean so i like the idea of getting food sources if not just nutrient sources in the tank...
some people claim they have seen them eat cyclopeeze but i dont buy it...i try to watch my acros and they dont take it...HOWEVER I DOO GET A RESPONSE FROM ACROS WITH DT'S OYSTER EGSS..I HAVE SEEN IMPROVED COLOR USING IT AND THE POLYPS GET HAPPY AN EXTEND MORE SO WHEN I FEED IT AND TURN THE SKIMMER OFF FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS....the improved color was completely controlled where nothing was changed in the tank except for feeding DT's..DONT ASK ME WHY I DOSE PHYTO EXCEPT MICROFAUNA ENJOY IT...OTHERWISE I DONT KNOW WHY I FEED IT
I LIKE THE OYSTER EGGS THOUGH
some people claim they have seen them eat cyclopeeze but i dont buy it...i try to watch my acros and they dont take it...HOWEVER I DOO GET A RESPONSE FROM ACROS WITH DT'S OYSTER EGSS..I HAVE SEEN IMPROVED COLOR USING IT AND THE POLYPS GET HAPPY AN EXTEND MORE SO WHEN I FEED IT AND TURN THE SKIMMER OFF FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS....the improved color was completely controlled where nothing was changed in the tank except for feeding DT's..DONT ASK ME WHY I DOSE PHYTO EXCEPT MICROFAUNA ENJOY IT...OTHERWISE I DONT KNOW WHY I FEED IT
I LIKE THE OYSTER EGGS THOUGH
gary faulkner
New member
Homemade recipe, like Eric's.
Phyto, like Melev's
Fish Poop, like most everyone else.
Good water params.
Lots of flow.
Lots of light.
Good skimmer to remove any excess.
HTH
Phyto, like Melev's
Fish Poop, like most everyone else.
Good water params.
Lots of flow.
Lots of light.
Good skimmer to remove any excess.
HTH
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I can't prove anything about whether the coral got much out of it ... but here it's catching some in it's slime-web.
Frankysreef
Active member
cool pic
Random Aquarist
New member
I've been wanting to start a plankton farm when I start up my tank. Should I just feed phyto or should I grow zooplankton and/or rotifers to feed acro's?
daytonians
New member
Thanks for all the input guys! It's appreciated.
Curious, the guys who feed DT's to your tank, how much do you feed?
Curious, the guys who feed DT's to your tank, how much do you feed?
daytonians
New member
Expedition,
How often do you feed that?
How often do you feed that?
