Am I under feeding?

[saltlife757]

I have a 180 gallon tank with
4 chromis
3 cranberry anthias
1 hippo tang
2 clown fish
1 Watchman goby

All fish are about 2-3 inches. I feed them 1 cube of mysis shrimp every morning and 3x1 inch sheet of algae in the afternoon.

Water parameters are all perfect except nitrates hover around 5 ppm.

 

[CodyRVA]

I'm guessing these are the little frozen cubes the size of a marble give or take? If so, i would say you can feed more, but tread carefully, you don't want to over do it. You can always test it; just add a little bit more slowly over several days and if you start seeing algae spring up or uneaten food floating around, then it's obviously too much food.

 

[oodan]

I have more fish then that and a smaller tank and I feed them less the. That I have a tall 50 6 fish and 8 coral 1 anm and I give them flakes in the am win I get my coffee about a pinch then I cut a cube I. Half I do mis shrimp and then a green blend cube that rotates one day shrimp one day green stuff this is win I get home from work and I check water lvl a wipe down on glass and then a beer for myself

 

[dbrewsky]

The question is- after you feed the cube of mysis, do you see any remaining shrimp floating around? If the food is being eaten within 5 minutes then you can try to feed more if you wish. Do their bellies seem to be full after your normal feeding?

 

[jsker]

You will know when your nitrates and phosphates go up.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Many of the fish you have eat small meals all day long in the wild. Feeding the same amount of food, but slpit up between more meals would suit your fish better.

 

[saltlife757]

I'm guessing these are the little frozen cubes the size of a marble give or take? If so, i would say you can feed more, but tread carefully, you don't want to over do it. You can always test it; just add a little bit more slowly over several days and if you start seeing algae spring up or uneaten food floating around, then it's obviously too much food.

Yeah it's the frozen kind. Thanks for the advice!

 

[saltlife757]

I have more fish then that and a smaller tank and I feed them less the. That I have a tall 50 6 fish and 8 coral 1 anm and I give them flakes in the am win I get my coffee about a pinch then I cut a cube I. Half I do mis shrimp and then a green blend cube that rotates one day shrimp one day green stuff this is win I get home from work and I check water lvl a wipe down on glass and then a beer for myself

Haha appreciate the insight. Sounds like a good routine

 

[saltlife757]

The question is- after you feed the cube of mysis, do you see any remaining shrimp floating around? If the food is being eaten within 5 minutes then you can try to feed more if you wish. Do their bellies seem to be full after your normal feeding?

So I defrost the shrimp in a cup with a tiny bit of garlic extract and tank water, then drain the water out of the cup and slowly feed with feeding tongs. All of the food is gone within 5 minutes. I guess they seem full? I'm not really sure how to tell. I think slowly increasing their food might be a decent idea. I'm just nervous about overdoing it.

 

[dbrewsky]

So you are feeding a relatively small number of fish in a 180. Feeding a bit extra food will not be the reason you end up with any nutrient related issues. I would agree if you can, give the fish a feeding earlier in the day and just make sure any food that you do provide is eaten. Just feed within reason, if you see you fish with big bloated bellies all day, then you know they are getting too much food. Likewise, if you are starting to see more algae over time or nitrate/phosphates are trending upwards dangerously, you will be able to determine if you need to re-evaluate.

 

[saltlife757]

So you are feeding a relatively small number of fish in a 180. Feeding a bit extra food will not be the reason you end up with any nutrient related issues. I would agree if you can, give the fish a feeding earlier in the day and just make sure any food that you do provide is eaten. Just feed within reason, if you see you fish with big bloated bellies all day, then you know they are getting too much food. Likewise, if you are starting to see more algae over time or nitrate/phosphates are trending upwards dangerously, you will be able to determine if you need to re-evaluate.

Thanks for the help! I think I'm going to continue feeding them a cube in the morning and add one more cube in the afternoon when I get home from work. I'll probably start with half a cube to be safe and increase if my phosphates and nitrates stay relatively low.

Appreciate your help

 

[Paul B]

You have 12 fish about 2 or 3". You are underfeeding.

 

[twilliard]

You have 12 fish about 2 or 3". You are underfeeding.

Paul where is your writeup on this?
I think I remember seeing you have one

This is kind of the same basis

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/does-tank-size-limit-fish-size.243971/

 

[saltlife757]

You have 12 fish about 2 or 3". You are underfeeding.

11 fish*

 

[saltlife757]

You have 12 fish about 2 or 3". You are underfeeding.

Appreciate the help, just nervous I will throw my parameters out of whack. Everything has been extremely stable for several months now. Taking things slow has definitely been beneficial.

Still new at this, and glad everyone is so helpful here

 

[Paul B]

Paul where is your writeup on this?
I think I remember seeing you have one

This is kind of the same basis

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/does-tank-size-limit-fish-size.243971/

Twillard, I write so much I forget where I posted it. Here is some.

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/want-healthy-spawning-fish-feed-them-properly-5010/

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/marine-fish-heal-through-slime-3962/

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/wish-were-fish-with-lateral-line-system-6482/

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/marine-aquarium-motto-be-prepared-3844/

I also do Fairy Tales.

 

[Bunkinator]

I feed a lot , like my fish to be as fat and healthy as they are in the wild, I export the nutrients with a good export system , mechanical , bio, fuge chemical/ reactors

I thaw and drain frozen food before feeding , feed a variety of fm foods , mega marine , mega marine angel , sprialina brine , mysis , krill , macro algae , well fed fish are generally more healthy

 

[Bumgrundle]

I run 1 cube of Mysis around noon, a 3x4 flap of nori and 1 wet finger tip of flakes later in the evening. I also use 2 of the 3 feeding aids from the Gormet Gadget Collection. Both help keep down the waste in the tank. (6x fish in a 90g)