Do you use a "Feed Mode" or turn off your pumps when you feed?

[azbigjohn]

I have always just thrown the food in, as the fish seem to do fine chasing everything, and I figure some of the smaller bits will get to the corals. When I spot feed the corals once or twice a week, I use a feed mode to turn off all the circulation for 15 minutes, and the skimmer for 30.

Just for curiosity sake, and due to a spike in Nitrates, I decided to use feed mode to feed my fish. No, usually, when I approach the tank, everyone is front and center, knowing that my presence and routine means food is on the way. The last two times I hit "feed mode" as I approached the tank, everyone scattered to their hiding spots, and the food went untouched... Literally (well, I only stood there about 5 minutes, but no one came out in that time.) I turned the pumps back on as I walked away, and everyone eventually came out to eat.. Has happened twice...

Do you think I should go back to feeding with the pumps still on, or will the fish finally learn to associate "feed mode" as literally being "feed mode" rather than, "Oh, no, the ocean stopped moving?" and running for cover?

 

[Scott.h]

They will get used to it after a few weeks and the pumps shutting off will trigger them to know its feeding time. I use feed mode daily and add coral food occasionally during this time also.

 

[saltyhog]

Agree with Scott. If I sit on the couch and turn my MP's off (which is all I turn off when I feed) my fish scramble to the end of the tank I usually feed from) and go in to a frenzy. LOL. They will figure it out.

 

[elFloyd]

I ramp down the MPs ten minutes before feeding time. Fish sense the change and swarm under the autorfeeder.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I hit the feed mode on my RW's via jb wave controller, but leave the return pump running always. Leftovers go to the inverts.

Fish know when the pumps go off and see me open the canopy.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I hit the feed mode on my return pump in my AIO. Broadcast feeding I leave the wave makers on. Spot feeding, everything goes into feed mode.

 

[Mal11224]

I definitely use feed mode on my mp10 pumps. It helps keep the food from going into the sump for the most part. Im surprised that your fish act that way. Most fish could care less as long as food is coming. They should get used to it. Try a little at a time so that it doesn't settle on the bottom of the tank to decay.

 

[Salty1962]

With my controller, Neptune APEX, I turn off all of my controlled pumps. I keep one running at slow speed to circulate the food.

 

[KorL]

I only use feed mode if spot feeding coral

 

[mtraylor]

Agree. My fish are the same. I turn the pumps off so the less aggressive fish can feed. Once the pumps kick back on the corals may get some scraps of what was left.

 

[AllAboutThatWrasse]

I shut off my return and skimmer via a DJ power supply, since my water level changes in my sump. By that time and when switch off my MP10's my fish are in a frenzy waiting to be fed!!