Feeding

[Carl C]

Hi friends, I’ve got a 150g , and have algae growing on the sandbed it’s been there a long time , many months, anyway I’ve got a few things going to try and help the situation, 1) I recently changed my carbon (way over due) ; I’m going to up my alc. (assuming it’s low, which historically its been, I’ll test first)
I’ve got auto water changes , skimmer etc. big question is feeding, I’ve been feeding a 3 finger pinch for a while twice a day I’ve got a 4” tang and a 2” trigger, a purple fish probably close to 5” sand sifter goby and a bunch of crabs and corals ;
Can I get away with feeding once a day ?

 

[Idoc]

It looks like your parameters may be way out of control. What are your chemistry test results?

Those are pretty active fish that typically like to eat a couple of times per day, but you don't have a large population. As long as you don't see their bellies starting to pinch inward, you may be fine with once per day. If the tang is actively eating algae all day, then Nori may not be required...but it is nice to give to them regularly for nutrition.

Do you have access to a microscope to get some pics of that stuff on the sand bed? It has hair algae througout it, but it may also be other stuff mixed in...ie: dinos.

 

[Reef.]

Doesn’t sound as if you are feeding a lot, but hard to know what a “pinch” is to you.

you could limit feeding until you are on top of the situation but as said you don’t seem to be feeding a lot and you don’t want to under feed a tang.

Imthink your issue is not over feeding but nutrient export.

 

[DinoMagnet]

Not sure on what’s the main cause, but for the feeding what I do for pellets and flakes to avoid over spreading is use a coral feeder/turkey baster. I remove the bulb and just put a pinch at a time. They come out uniformed and won’t fly all around in rocks and sand bed.

 

[Carl C]

It looks like your parameters may be way out of control. What are your chemistry test results?

Those are pretty active fish that typically like to eat a couple of times per day, but you don't have a large population. As long as you don't see their bellies starting to pinch inward, you may be fine with once per day. If the tang is actively eating algae all day, then Nori may not be required...but it is nice to give to them regularly for nutrition.

Do you have access to a microscope to get some pics of that stuff on the sand bed? It has hair algae througout it, but it may also be other stuff mixed in...ie: dinos.

Yes, I’m overdue for chemistry test
I’ll post this weekend... the yellow tang is always picking
.... the sand sifter is always picking at the sand algae he makes it fluffy
... I’m hoping the alc increase I plan to make and the carbon change help
Plus my refuge has Chaeto and it it grows like crazy

 

[Carl C]

Doesn’t sound as if you are feeding a lot, but hard to know what a “pinch” is to you.

you could limit feeding until you are on top of the situation but as said you don’t seem to be feeding a lot and you don’t want to under feed a tang.

Imthink your issue is not over feeding but nutrient export.

Thank you, the pinch is 3 fingers and I use a feeding ring and they get most of it ...

 

[Reef.]

Thank you, the pinch is 3 fingers and I use a feeding ring and they get most of it ...

To a large extent even if all the food is eaten, the nutrients will still need removing, PO4 and nitrates will still be there in the form of poo etc

As said those I would concentrate on removing nutrients rather than reducing feeding long term.