Coral feeding time day or night?

[Lavey29]

Just curious what the majority do as far as coral feeding either broadcast or direct. Do you feed during the day when everything is open and active or at night when they close up but send up feeding tentacles to?

I have been doing mine during the day but try to do phytoplankton plankton early evening. I have just started trying out AF build which requires dose after lights out though but it is more calcium focused and skeletal building.

 

[Lavey29]

Anyone have any input for this?

 

[codenfx]

I do both in the evening 3 hours before lights out. Broadcast phytoplankton every other day and AB+ reef energy everyday. Direct feed the scoly and duncan about twice a week.

 

[Spare time]

I think it depends on the coral. Some close up at night, some become space monstors at night. I don't like to spook the fish so target feeding is always during the day if I am doing that kind of stuff. However, I typically dose reef energy during the day as it can lower the pH. I always dose phyto at night as I figure most zooplankton will be out and about at that time.

 

[Lavey29]

I do both in the evening 3 hours before lights out. Broadcast phytoplankton every other day and AB+ reef energy everyday. Direct feed the scoly and duncan about twice a week.

do you have a mixed reef or corals that predominantly feed better in the evening?

 

[Spare time]

I think the purpose of AF build is meant to counter the pH lowering effects of their other coral food (of which they recommend dosing at night)

 

[Lavey29]

I wish there were some lab studies on daytime versus night time coral feeding and which showed greater results.

 

[Lavey29]

I think the purpose of AF build is meant to counter the pH lowering effects of their other coral food (of which they recommend dosing at night)

True but PH typically decreases slightly at night also even without the AF food. I have only been trying ti for a week now.

 

[Dkmoo]

Mixed reef here.

I direct feed reefroid goop to my LPS every 2 to 3 days. I dump a home made phyto brew every couple days. For SPS every other day I mix in a cube of oyster eggs with my mysis.

All feeding done during the evening..

If you have a decent size fish load then it doesn't really matter much bc a lot of the nutrients that the corals get will be the fish wastes that is generated constantly by your fish population.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Most coral will feed after lights go off. I shut pumps off for 5 minutes interval to broadcast feed and allow food to land on coral which my candy canes close up in unison. others also respond.
My best feeding experience over last couple decades has been under very low light

 

[Lavey29]

Most coral will feed after lights go off. I shut pumps off for 5 minutes interval to broadcast feed and allow food to land on coral which my candy canes close up in unison. others also respond.
My best feeding experience over last couple decades has been under very low light

my corals seem to close up tight as the lights dim out. Doesnt seem like they are in feed mode at all then for somereason.

 

[codenfx]

do you have a mixed reef or corals that predominantly feed better in the evening?

I have mix of LPS and Zoas. I haven't tried feeding when lights are out but they respond well whenever I feed. Recently started adding polyp booster before I feed, I find that opens them up more.

 

[Lavey29]

I will say that I broadcast feed everything. I over feed frozen so the corals can catch some on their own. I may try spot feeding a few LPS with roids but I know from past experience it really boosted my phosphate even feeding with a syringe. Perhaps my tank can accommodate it better now.

 

[Spare time]

True but PH typically decreases slightly at night also even without the AF food. I have only been trying ti for a week now.

Yeah I just remember seeing aquaforest say it on their website or a video. I am curious though how much it raises alk

 

[G Santana]

Feed everything between 3-5 pm.

 

[Lavey29]

Yeah I just remember seeing aquaforest say it on their website or a video. I am curious though how much it raises alk

You think build raises alk?

 

[blaxsun]

I generally feed my corals between 12-4pm, so midday. The fish feed them constantly.

 

[Spare time]

You think build raises alk?

I'm pretty sure it's "iodides, calcium, and carbonates." as I've seen other list it. Aquaforest says it won't raise alk but carbonates raise alk. So my guess is it's likely a very very tiny pH and tiny alk bump. However, their website also lists the ingredient as iodides and calcium carbonate. Calcium and carbonate is different than calcium carbonate and and for calcium carbonate to raise the pH you would need to have it dissolve to buffer the water (i.e. drop the pH, which I think would need to be below 7.8.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I've been feeding during the day. My LPS and anemones seem to prefer it...and I enjoy watching the feeding response.

 

[Lavey29]

I've been feeding during the day. My LPS and anemones seem to prefer it...and I enjoy watching the feeding response.

For some reason my corals seem more ready to eat in the daytime also.