Who Feeds Their SPS?

[LBCBJ]

Just got into SPS not long ago and was wondering if I should be feeding them or not. If so, what? (DT's?) Are feedings necessary for their survival or are they just benefical. Thanks for any input

 

[PL-Reef]

i feed mine lots of fish poop. IMO thats all they need.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Same here.

 

[LBCBJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7705729#post7705729 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plreef
i feed mine lots of fish poop. IMO thats all they need.

What does that mean?

 

[gnrlee]

That means they do nothing.

 

[gnrlee]

Every once and a while I'll add Seachems amino acids and some oyster eggs. I'm a big believer in amino acids.

 

[ScallopKing]

Once a week I add oyster eggs, that's it.

 

[LBCBJ]

Exactly what will SPS consume? Phyto, zooplankton, oyster eggs? Will they survive without any feedings, will they lose their color? Do you spot feed them? I've looked for articles on this but I can't seem to find any.

 

[GreshamH]

Most SPS will feed on small zooplankton (mainly their eggs and juvis), rotifers (eggs and juvis), oyster eggs, and other particlutes in around to 50ul size, but not phytoplankton (maybe incedently).

 

[Reefski's]

here is a link to get you started http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/eb/index.php

google reefkeeping eric borneman coral feeding and you will find lots of reading material

 

[ScallopKing]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7707820#post7707820 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LBCBJ
Exactly what will SPS consume? Phyto, zooplankton, oyster eggs? Will they survive without any feedings, will they lose their color? Do you spot feed them? I've looked for articles on this but I can't seem to find any.

What I know is (and that's not much!) that rotifiers and oyster eggs are what they consume, not phytos (I stopped dosing all phytos a couple months ago - I belive they are loaded with phosphates!).

I do not spot feed, just put the eggs in the water column, pumps on and all and let it go. I do not believe they will loose their color if the water quality is right without feedings and they do not require really anything but fish poop and light. I've added the eggs for a couple weeks now just as a supplement, just too soon to tell if it's of any value to the coral. HTH. Sean.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7705832#post7705832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gnrlee
Every once and a while I'll add Seachems amino acids and some oyster eggs. I'm a big believer in amino acids.

corals can't uptake amino acids. Adding them to the tank is just adding a nitrate source. You'd do just as well adding potassium nitrate, which is much cheaper.

 

[LBCBJ]

It depends if the vitamin supplement has Omega 3 fatty acids...these have found to be extremly important

 

[LBCBJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7708988#post7708988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
corals can't uptake amino acids. Adding them to the tank is just adding a nitrate source. You'd do just as well adding potassium nitrate, which is much cheaper.

Exactly what do you base this on?

 

[justinzimm]

I feed phyto. Don't know if it's the phyto, what's in the phyto water or the decomposting phyto, but the coral seems to like it. Is there any research on exactly what corals can and can't consume? Some people feed cylcopeez but I've never seen any SPS consume them.

 

[Ti]

i thought sps don;'t eat phyto

 

[Shawnts106]

Exactly what will SPS consume? Phyto, zooplankton, oyster eggs?

WOW! you are a newbie!

There is wayyy to much confusion in this thread.
SPS do NOT eat phytoplankton.

SPS DO! eat zooplankton, mainly the "babies" they CAN NOT eat adults to my knowledge.

I do not know if SPS can consume cyclops or not. I have not seen them, I believe it is too large.

Oyster eggs are a great food source for all SPS. Be carefull if you feed, underfeed as they are very dense. and have Phosphates in them.

ABOVE ALL, MOST SPS need very clean HIGHLY SKIMMED/CLEANED water. if you do NOT have a good skimmer/VERY LARGE REFUGIUM, then do frequent waterchanges, and it is best to do a WC after you feed.



But most people just give SPS loads of light and fish waste.


good luck.

 

[LBCBJ]

I'm not a newbie, that was long ago. I just can't find any two sources that affirm each other on this subject, so I was looking for a poll type situtation here.

Neither skimmers nor refugiums are necessary, as many have proven to me here on RC.

 

[Ti]

do sps eat daphnia?

 

[jt_redmist]

Threads like these always end up with the fish poop thing, and there's nothing wrong with that. I guess the next logical thing to do is feed your fish a high quality diet. High quality food in = high quality poop out for the corals :thumbsup: Having said that the Eric Borneman recipe comes to mind.

JT