My tank burps when I feed. Is the tank alive and eating?

[phoenix20]

So what happens when you feed that causes the water in the tank to change? I soak my frozen mysis and brine in garlic guard and selcon, so when I feed, there is some liquid goo that goes in the tank.

Should I remove the liquid stuff before I drop a spoon full of the food into the water? I'm wondering if putting garlic gard into the tank water is bad because the fish can't really drink it up.

Is it just supposed to soak into the food, and then you just feed the solid stuff -- or is it good to get a spoonful of the liquidy goo too?

Whenever I feed, my overflows all the sudden start burping for about 10-15m. The skimmer bubble line decreases about 2-3". After the 10-15m, the tank goes back to normal with no burping / regular skimming.

So what gives?

 

[jennm]

I wouldn't add Garlic Guard directly to the water. Soak the food in it first.

The sound in the tank changes because the oils in the food break surface tension - your skimmer will stop fractionating for a while, and the way the water moves through the system changes a bit. It's normal.

Jenn

 

[phoenix20]

Yeah, i'm not adding the garlic guard directly into the water. I'm thawing 4-5 cubes of different frozen foods in a bit of the garlic guard. When the food thaws out and becomes mushy, its consistancy is pretty liquidy.

So, should i strain out the garlic guard after the food thaws out and just be left with the mush? I guess i'm adding too much garlic guard?

 

[hackman72]

I always thaw the food first, drain it, and then add the garlic.

 

[phoenix20]

Ah. Wise one. The force is strong in you.

 

[phoenix20]

It takes me a week to go through all the food. I just take 4-5 cubes of different things -- marine cuisine, mysis, brine, emerald entree etc. Mix it together, and give a few bits to the fishes twice a day.

 

[james s_]

Hackman72;403027 wrote: I always thaw the food first, drain it, and then add the garlic.

+1 :up:

 

[weaglereefer]

What about if the oils cause the skimmer to stop working for a bit. This would change the water level inside the skimmer, and possibly that section of the sump (maybe the water level rises 1/2" and puts the end of the drain line below the water?), causing back pressure on the drain plumbing.

 

[schwaggs]

ares;403031 wrote: 4-5 cubes? is this a real big tank or real small cubes?

+1 I had the same reaction!

 

[snowmansnow]

thats a LOT of food for one feeding unless its like a 500 g tank or somethin

 

[jaustin]

he said he mixes the food up and feeds over a few days, not all at once. The oils you add from the food stops the skimmer for a while.

 

[jaandgc]

Before the crash, I always fed 5 cubes per day. I did have 15 good size fish (7tangs) and never had a problem.