Feeding too much?

[Kial]

So I'm currently fighting GHA (not extreme) and I think its possibly down to feeding too much. I feel like I have to put more than needed in so the 4x chromis don't eat literally everything before the other fish can get any. Other fish are 2x clowns, a foxface and a scopas tang.

My scopas and foxface don't seem to bother picking at algea on the rocks at all. Foxface is new though and only eats from the nori clip.

Could this be down to me simply providing enough food such as mysis,nori and pellets? I feed daily. Could really do with the algea eaters to do their job but don't want to starve the others.

How often are you feeding? Also can't really judge my nutrients as it says they are low. Obviously much higher due to the algea though

 

[divetoday]

What are your nutrient parameters? If you’re feeding mysis, pellets and nori to a tank with that few fish my gut says “yes” but the numbers don’t lie. What happens to your nutrients if you drop some feedings? IME, the algae eaters are good for maintenance but they’ll never beat back a system with too many nutrients.

 

[Kial]

What are your nutrient parameters? If you’re feeding mysis, pellets and nori to a tank with that few fish my gut says “yes” but the numbers don’t lie. What happens to your nutrients if you drop some feedings? IME, the algae eaters are good for maintenance but they’ll never beat back a system with too many nutrients.

Yeah I'm manually removing it but was hoping for them to atleast make an input lol

So my nitrates have consistently been 5-10 even before the hair algea. And my phosphates I can never really tell with the salifert test. But to my eyes it says zero. Which can't be right if algea is present.

 

[divetoday]

Yeah, I know about trying to read the salifert color tests. One of my best decisions was to get the Hanna checkers. Turns out I was way off in my guesses. And then I learned that the reason why my nitrates were so low was because it was all tied up in the GHA. ThIs hobby will drive you crazy, man. I would try slowly cutting back on the food and watching the fish and the results you get. I have had to go so far as to try to attract fish like your Chromis to one end of the tank while using a pipette to get food to slower feeding fish at the other end. Good luck!

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I'm currently fighting GHA (not extreme) and I think its possibly down to feeding too much. I feel like I have to put more than needed in so the 4x chromis don't eat literally everything before the other fish can get any. Other fish are 2x clowns, a foxface and a scopas tang.

My scopas and foxface don't seem to bother picking at algea on the rocks at all. Foxface is new though and only eats from the nori clip.

Could this be down to me simply providing enough food such as mysis,nori and pellets? I feed daily. Could really do with the algea eaters to do their job but don't want to starve the others.

How often are you feeding? Also can't really judge my nutrients as it says they are low. Obviously much higher due to the algea though

Feed what fish can consume in 2-3 minutes. Easier to add food than to remove it. Can cause high nitrate-phosphate-bacteria and ammonia .
I spoon feed mine giving me control of amount going into tank. Feed food such as LRS fish frenzy which provides needs for all your occupants. Mysis and pellets often not enough

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Did you start your tank with dry white rocks? That might be the possible source of phosphate that is feeding the algae. Feeding once a day is not overfeeding IMO. Its important to know the phosphate level, if you cant read your test, it might be time to get a new tester

 

[Kial]

Yeah, I know about trying to read the salifert color tests. One of my best decisions was to get the Hanna checkers. Turns out I was way off in my guesses. And then I learned that the reason why my nitrates were so low was because it was all tied up in the GHA. ThIs hobby will drive you crazy, man. I would try slowly cutting back on the food and watching the fish and the results you get. I have had to go so far as to try to attract fish like your Chromis to one end of the tank while using a pipette to get food to slower feeding fish at the other end. Good luck!

Definitely drives me crazy haha! Stressing about getting the hair algea a little more under control as I go away for 2 weeks next month!

Yeah I'll give that a go and get the chromis out the way first! Thanks

 

[Kial]

Feed what fish can consume in 2-3 minutes. Easier to add food than to remove it. Can cause high nitrate-phosphate-bacteria and ammonia .
I spoon feed mine giving me control of amount going into tank. Feed food such as LRS fish frenzy which provides needs for all your occupants. Mysis and pellets often not enough

I'll take a look at getting LRS food. The fish usually have everything eaten asap due to the chromis

 

[Kial]

Did you start your tank with dry white rocks? That might be the possible source of phosphate that is feeding the algae. Feeding once a day is not overfeeding IMO. Its important to know the phosphate level, if you cant read your test, it might be time to get a new tester

Nah I started with caribsea life rock. Yeah will look into getting a checker but I feel it will still read low due to gha?