feeding with pumps on.

[sbdiver]

I have been feeding with my pumps on for over 10yrs. Yes I have to clean my filter socks more than normal. I have had most of my fish for around 5yrs and this is a mixed reef. Feeding with pump on helps keep levels down. Thinking of adding a alque scrubber, Looking for thoughts to all this, Thanks

 

[gideon2086]

I mean, I guess it depends on how you feed. If you turn the pumps off or to feed mode and then slowly put in the food you can ensure that it’s eaten before you add more. No wasted food this way and you shouldn’t have any uneaten. If you don’t want to stand around you can dump it in with the pumps on... but you’re wasting food.

 

[sbdiver]

I mean, I guess it depends on how you feed. If you turn the pumps off or to feed mode and then slowly put in the food you can ensure that it’s eaten before you add more. No wasted food this way and you shouldn’t have any uneaten. If you don’t want to stand around you can dump it in with the pumps on... but you’re wasting food.

yes, using gyro and nero5 keeps everything moving and not that much gets to the over flow.

 

[sbdiver]

yes, using gyro and nero5 keeps everything moving and not that much gets to the over flow.

feed only once a day

 

[andrewey]

Sorry, could you clarify what your question is? It seems like you've been feeding with your pumps on for the last 10 years and it's been working for you. If it works, why make a change? Is it because your nutrient levels have been going up recently, have always been elevated, etc?

 

[sbdiver]

Sorry, could you clarify what your question is? It seems like you've been feeding with your pumps on for the last 10 years and it's been working for you. If it works, why make a change? Is it because your nutrient levels have been going up recently, have always been elevated, etc?

went up but not bad. Just wandering if anyone else was doing this and also what you think about adding a alque scrubber

 

[Peace River]

I think it is possible to successfully feed with your pumps on. Factors include what you have in your tank and how your flow is configured. It is also reasonable to consider lowering flow or turning off flow on only some of the pumps during feeding. Additionally, I think algae scrubbers can be very beneficial for many tanks.

 

[sbdiver]

I think it is possible to successfully feed with your pumps on. Factors include what you have in your tank and how your flow is configured. It is also reasonable to consider lowering flow or turning off flow on only some of the pumps during feeding. Additionally, I think algae scrubbers can be very beneficial for many tanks.

thank you

 

[lapin]

I feed fish with pumps on and socks in.
When I feed my corals every Sunday, I take the socks out so the sponges in the semi cryptic fuge can get some real food.
For an algae scrubber, i have a basket of macro alage in the overflow box and light over my overflow box. That light causes the overflow screen ( egg crate) to grow algae. I have 2 screens, I swap them out and pressure wash the dirty one.

 

[zoomonster]

I pretty much do the same with pumps on feeding flakes, pellets and mysis multiple times a day. Makes the fish work to get the food and little or none ever hits the overflow. Of course I always put the food into the water and never just drop food on the surface. The only time I go to all off feed mode is when dousing corals with reef roids and aminos a couple times a week.

Algae scrubber has not really crossed my radar. Still just using chaeto in the center section of the sump with a 6500k bulb which works well.

 

[X-37B]

I feed 3-4 times a day at 2 frozen cube each time.
120 11 fish.
I do not turn off pumps 4 in tank, return, or skimmer.
I feed the cubes a little at a time and all is eaten.
Not a fan of anything but filter sock, efficient skimmer, and good flow in tank to keep detrius going into the sock.
I do have 3 liters of eheim sunstrate pro in a mesh bag in sump.
May help keep no3 at <2 with my heavy feeding.
P04 runs .02-.06 consistantly.
On another note I do not fees corals amd dont think its needed if you feed enough to your fish.
Couple times a week I feed hikari pellets and r.o.e too.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

I always feed my fish with the pumps on, small amounts, at least five times per day. They always look hungry and follow me around, so who could resist? But I don't use filter socks, so anything that gets to the sump is just eaten by the sump creatures, of which there are many.

Now when i specifically feed the coral, maybe twice a week. Then I turn the pumps off and do targeted feeding.

 

[ca1ore]

Turning pumps off to feed never made any sense to me. Reefs don’t turn off the surge so that fish can eat ..... they’re adapted to chase their prey. I’ve actually found you can enhance the feeding response in some species by getting the food moving. So not only do I not turn off pumps, I actually pour the frozen directly into one of my MP60. Distributes food so that the most aggressive eaters cannot consume all of it. If material amounts are getting into the overflow then try smaller quantities and increase frequency.

 

[sbdiver]

I feed fish with pumps on and socks in.
When I feed my corals every Sunday, I take the socks out so the sponges in the semi cryptic fuge can get some real food.
For an algae scrubber, i have a basket of macro alage in the overflow box and light over my overflow box. That light causes the overflow screen ( egg crate) to grow algae. I have 2 screens, I swap them out and pressure wash the dirty one.

thanks, helps a lot.