I think this is a fair question for a newb like myself

[redstang]

How much should I feed my fish? The clowns were easy as they both love pellets and when they stop eating they're done. Flake is more difficult though. The clowns eat pellets off the surface but the blenny, and certainly the goby, won't stray far from their chosen home. The blenny loves flake and will eat a pellet here and there as well. Goby seems to eat both willingly.

So how much flake food? A pinch? Should I leave the MP10 on but turn the return pump off? Should I target feed the goby? Seems to me like I'm feeding too much but I really don't know.

A newb guide to feeding would be awesome!!!!:thumbs:

Thanks all!

 

[budsreef]

If the MP10 has a feed mode, put it in it when feeding to slow the pump down. I leave my return pump running. Try just a pinch at first and if it all gets eaten in about 5 minutes you can add untill they won't eat it in that amount of time. If you are worried about the goby getting any at the bottom you can use a baby medicine feeder to squirt the food down towards the goby or if you have long tweezers just grab some flakes and shake them loose towards the bottom.

 

[wally]

I'm wondering the same thing. I'm not sure if I should turn off my powerheads while I feed and/or my return pump.

 

[siavashv]

Yes. Put your mp10 on feed mode. You can adjust it to 5 minutes of feed time. Factory is set to 10 min. I turn one if my return pumps off. I leave the one that feeds my chiller on and I turn my skimmer off too. When the mp10's come off feed mode I turn everything back on.

In terms of food, I think it's best to change it up too. I use pellets, flakes, rod's food, pe mysis, brine shrimp, and cyclopese. I change it up all the time. I also add Rotifers and reef plankton if I'm not giving something that the coral will eat.

As far as how much to give, I think it's good to gauge how much they eat in a five minute span. Then act accordingly. These fish can go days without eating. Not that you should do that, but I think you should caution on the short side if you're feeding every day like me. The downside is that they won't eat everything and it will pollute your tank. Also the key with turning things down or off is that when food is flying everywhere, they can't get it fast enough and then it goes in the rocks and again pollutes your tank. Feed with a turkey baster or something like that so you can squirt in a bit at a time to give them a chance to eat what you have put in before the next serving. Hope that helps.

 

[acroholic]

When I feed I put my return pump on standby mode for 10 minutes and put the vortechs on feed mode.

 

[ralph atl]

Switch to PE Mysis and hakari brine 50-50...IMHO

 

[redstang]

Thanks for the "feed" back. I did put the MP10 into feed mode and that seemed to work fairly well as the goby seemed to have an easier time catching food. I do have a couple frozen options as well that I'll mix in. I'll probably try to do frozen once or twice a week.

 

[qasimja]

I feed seaweed three times a week and mysis or mixed marine cuisine every other day

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[mvm]

IMO, I think flakes are useless. Too small and too much waste. That being said, if you plan to feed flakes, hold them below the waters surface before you let them go. That way, they won't end up in the overflow.

 

[redstang]

MvM;679719 wrote: IMO, I think flakes are useless. Too small and too much waste. That being said, if you plan to feed flakes, hold them below the waters surface before you let them go. That way, they won't end up in the overflow.

Yeah, figured that one out. The fish seem to love it too.

 

[crew]

I feed pellets everyday with frozen about twice a week. Coral frenzy on Tuesday and Friday. All pumps turned off

 

[frantz]

I have one of the little floating rings that works really well with flakes in both my 120 and 25. As the food starts to sink the power heads move it about the tank and the fish eat it up. There may be some waste but the fish and coral all are very happy and the ring keeps most of it from going right into the sump.

 

[crewdawg1981]

Frantz;682557 wrote: I have one of the little floating rings that works really well with flakes in both my 120 and 25. As the food starts to sink the power heads move it about the tank and the fish eat it up. There may be some waste but the fish and coral all are very happy and the ring keeps most of it from going right into the sump.

I made one of these for my pellets by cutting the bottom off of a rectangular tupperware container and taping it to the tank trim... works great.

 

[redstang]

That's actually a great idea!