Chemistry vs Nutrition

[Hemlawk]

Hi !

My tank is doing fairly well. Livestock and Coral seem happy.

I have a question: Do I need to feed the corals Reef Roids if the parameters are good? Ive been using Red Sea Coral Pro salt with my water changes. Feeding the fish flakes, pelts and Mysis on a rotation. And feeding the coral Reef roids 2-3 a week.
Current status:
Salinity - 1.025
Mg - 1480
kH- 9.8
Cal 450

 

[eatbreakfast]

Reef roids are a boost to the diet of corals. They are seperate from the chemical needs of the corals. Feeding is a way to help accelerate growth.

 

[Brew12]

Hi !

My tank is doing fairly well. Livestock and Coral seem happy.

I have a question: Do I need to feed the corals Reef Roids if the parameters are good? Ive been using Red Sea Coral Pro salt with my water changes. Feeding the fish flakes, pelts and Mysis on a rotation. And feeding the coral Reef roids 2-3 a week.
Current status:
Salinity - 1.025
Mg - 1480
kH- 9.8
Cal 450

IMO you don't need to feed photosynthetic corals at all, regardless of the quality of the parameters you listed. If you don't keep these parameters stable your coral won't do well even if you do feed.

You "may" need to feed them if you run low or no nitrates or phosphates.

With steady parameters you may want to feed your corals even if it isn't required. I would think long and hard about changing your practices if you are having success with what you are doing.

 

[Hemlawk]

Ok I appreciate it.
Actually my phosphates are a little high. I have some brown algae on the substrate. Maybe i'll cut back on feeding the coral for a bit and see what happens.

 

[mcarroll]

Do I need to feed the corals Reef Roids if the parameters are good?

Current status:
Salinity - 1.025
Mg - 1480
kH- 9.8
Cal 450

Can you post your current PO4 and NO3 test results as well as letting us know what numbers you have seen in the last few tests?

If you have fish, and feed them well, there's a good chance you don't need to feed your corals. Fish poop and pee are absolutely the preferred coral food – complete nutrition and VERY probiotic.

I would try to transition to feeding more live, refrigerated and/or whole-frozen sea foods instead of the dry flakes and pellets. Phosphate content should be more balanced and nutritional content should be better.

I'd try to feed >50% live/frozen and <50% dry flake/pellet. (If you can do even better than 50/50 live, your fish will love you for it! Corals too.)