Feeding time poll! What’s your pump strategy?

[Fasthandsslowmind]

Every option is valid it seems, I’m just trying to decide on a feeding method for me.

I have Blotchy Anthias and a juvenile multi bar so my feedings need to be often and are automated with an autofeeder.

My tank is a Cade 1800 S2/P at 228 gallons. Since I have a reefmat, it’s not the end of the world if the food goes into the overflow, but seems like a waste of money. Maybe the fish would eventually learn to seize the moment before that happens?

 

[WestMI-Reefer]

I hit feed on the powerheads but don’t bother killing the return and skimmer. Dealing with potential bubbles from return filling and skimmer tuning after every feeding seems illogical

 

[mike550]

I just leave everything as is, and let the fish chase the food.

 

[homer1475]

I kill my powerheads, and skimmer, leave the return running normal.

I don't want all the food pushed down the overflow, so I kill the powerheads for 10 minutes. Skimmer overflows from the oils in frozen, so I kill that for an hour. Return pump is enough to blow the food around.

 

[ajm83]

I stop the return and skimmer because it would overflow but leave the wavemakers running.

My only concern is preventing the food going straight down the overflow. I want it blowing all around the tank so all the fish can get to it.

 

[doubleshot00]

If I remember I turn off the powerheads. I have a cyano in my sand but the fish cant eat the food fast enough.

But when I turn the powerheads back on I usually run them at 90% for a minute to get everything stirred up.

I keep the return running as my demon clown fish needs to eat to.

 

[nothing_fancy]

The ritual for me is 9pm return and skimmer turn off, (2) out of (4) powerheads drop to 0% and slowly ramp up over the course of an hour. 10pm the return is back on, powerheads are back up, but I leave the skimmer off until 1am. 1 hour no filter, 4 hours no skimmer.

 

[Mschmidt]

I'm too cheap to smartify my pumps for feeding and too lazy and forgetful to do it manually. they get what they get. I did make a feeding cup that thaws everything slowly giving the whole tank time to get to it.