Do we need food particles in our water column?

[WereAllNegan]

Is it necessary to have food particles in your water column? If I dose both nitrates and phosphates to keep them at a constant 10 and .03 do I still need food particles circulating in my tank? Isn't the use of mechanical filters and filter floss removing food particles from the water constantly?

The reason I ask is because I have an Eheim Surface Skimmer 350 that is extremely efficient at taking everything out of my water column. I takes all the food particles out within an hour of switching it on making my water crystal clear which is great but dont corals feed on small particles in the Ocean? I can easily spot feed corals like Duncans and Acans but my understanding is that Zoas as well as other corals rely on small particles like reefroids or reef chilli to feed right? Is having the correct levels of available nitrates and phosphates enough not to worry about free floating food in the water?
I've always wondered this. Why am I dumping reefroids, reefchilli and other powdered foods if my Eheim surface skimmer is just taking it all out within an hour. I already have the appropriate levels of nitrates and phosphates which is what corals use right? Any thoughts on this?

 

[davidcalgary29]

Food particles, no; plankton, yes. I wouldn't worry about spot-feeding anything unless you have no other organisms in the tank that can add nutrients through their waste. None of your softies or LPS are going to starve to death if you don't spot-feed them.

 

[WereAllNegan]

Food particles, no; plankton, yes. I wouldn't worry about spot-feeding anything unless you have no other organisms in the tank that can add nutrients through their waste. None of your softies or LPS are going to starve to death if you don't spot-feed them.

Ok that kinda makes sense to me. Isn't Reefroids and Reefchilli crushed up plankton though? Doesnt the filter floss in my Eheim surface skimmer pretty much trap everything down to those micron levels? Should I even broadcast feed these powdered foods if my Eheim is taking everything out within a few hours?