Feeding corals

[Amy406]

I have had my reef tanks for two and three years. I have never fed my corals anything more than magnesium, calcium, and Alkaline. I have a little bit of everything. I was wondering what a good coral food is and suggestions on feeding them

 

[blaxsun]

I like Reef Roids and regular supplements (ReefEnergy AB+, etc.)

 

[Amy406]

I like Reef Roids and regular supplements (ReefEnergy AB+, etc.)

Thank you, Obviously there’s to pros feeding some extra, do you know of any cons?

 

[mdb_talon]

The only negative I know of to feeding more is it can spike your nutrients, but that largely depends on the tank. I feed a ton of food and have trouble getting nutrients above 0.

As far as dry food I like Reef Roids, Reef Chili, and Reef Candy (cheapest of the 3 and really liking it so far after a couple months). Can get from @ReefChasers.

I also use frozen rotifers, daphnia, "coral gumbo", "polyp poppers", and mysis regularly (for larger polpy LPS)

 

[Amy406]

The only negative I know of to feeding more is it can spike your nutrients, but that largely depends on the tank. I feed a ton of food and have trouble getting nutrients above 0.

As far as dry food I like Reef Roids, Reef Chili, and Reef Candy (cheapest of the 3 and really liking it so far after a couple months). Can get from @ReefChasers.

I also use frozen rotifers, daphnia, "coral gumbo", "polyp poppers", and mysis regularly (for larger polpy LPS)

Thank you. This helps. Do you also have fish in your roof tank?

 

[nereefpat]

What kind of corals?

Some, especially LPS like acans and duncans, noticeably grow if they are fed a couple times a week. I'm not convinced that most SPS need it at all.

 

[Duffer]

i use to go with Reef Roids until i realized it sent my phosphates thru the roof, for the last year i have been using Benepets

 

[Amy406]

What kind of corals?

Some, especially LPS like acans and duncans, noticeably grow if they are fed a couple times a week. I'm not convinced that most SPS need it at all.

I don’t have duncans but most everything else. I’m trying to encourage some gonis,chalices, acans and acros to grow.

 

[nereefpat]

I don’t have duncans but most everything else. I’m trying to encourage some gonis,chalices, acans and acros to grow.

I'm not a Goniopora expert, I would imagine they would appreciate it.

Acans (assuming Acan lords /Micromussa lordhowensis) can eat biggish meaty foods like Mysis, and they will pop up new heads if fed.

Maybe chalices, depending on which chalice and if the food is small enough.

Acros, meh...probably not much benefit. My opinion there.

 

[shakacuz]

i use to go with Reef Roids until i realized it sent my phosphates thru the roof, for the last year i have been using Benepets

compared to reef roids, how does it pair in regards to raising po4?

personally i feed my corals reef roids, reef chilli, redsea AB+ alternating every week. i broadcast feed lrs reef frenzy which does most of the work for me.

 

[mdb_talon]

Thank you. This helps. Do you also have fish in your roof tank?

Yes my fish eat some of the larger foods i mentioned previously, but also get TDO pellets a couple times a day.

I don’t have duncans but most everything else. I’m trying to encourage some gonis,chalices, acans and acros to grow.

I forgot to include, but I also feed a LOT of phyto. If I could only feed one thing (other than for fish food) it would be phyto. I am a believer that it helps things like goniopora. I always struggled with gonis before phyto... no issues since I started it.

 

[Amy406]

Yes my fish eat some of the larger foods i mentioned previously, but also get TDO pellets a couple times a day.


I forgot to include, but I also feed a LOT of phyto. If I could only feed one thing (other than for fish food) it would be phyto. I am a believer that it helps things like goniopora. I always struggled with gonis before phyto... no issues since I started it.

Super helpful, thank you

 

[Duffer]

compared to reef roids, how does it pair in regards to raising po4?

personally i feed my corals reef roids, reef chilli, redsea AB+ alternating every week. i broadcast feed lrs reef frenzy which does most of the work for me.

I have found my phosphates do not go up with Benepets. I have used Coral feast also with no rise in phosphates. I have reef roids and will broadcast once in a great moon when my phosphates are getting too low.

 

[Amy406]

I have found my phosphates do not go up with Benepets. I have used Coral feast also with no rise in phosphates. I have reef roids and will broadcast once in a great moon when my phosphates are getting too low.

Ok forgive my ignorance but are you not supposed to keep your phosphates down I have mine at 0

 

[shakacuz]

Ok forgive my ignorance but are you not supposed to keep your phosphates down I have mine at 0

at 0? no. close to 0? yes. ideally you want 0.02-0.05 po4.

 

[mdb_talon]

Ok forgive my ignorance but are you not supposed to keep your phosphates down I have mine at 0

Agree with @shakacuz . Personally i try to keep mine .05 to .1. lately with little success it keeps hitting zero

 

[Amy406]

at 0? no. close to 0? yes. ideally you want 0.02-0.05 po4.

Just goes to show, learn something new everyday. I will work on that

 

[X-37B]

I only feed my fish. The only corals I feed are scoly's once a week.

Po4 <.1 and no3 <5.
As long as you feed your fish heavy po4 at close to zero is ok, imo.

Remember that no3 and po4 levels that we test for are whats left over from what our export system is not removing.

 

[Rickybobby]

i feed frozen copepods mixed with reef roids

 

[sp1187]

Reef Nutrition's R.O.E.