How much and how often should I be feeding?

[Dani305]

75 gal

1 blue tang
1 Midas blenny
1 yellow tail damsel
1 cleaner shrimp
20 or so hermits
10 snails

Then I have some corals.

I know I’m currently under feeding as I’m throwing in some pellets and about .5 block of shrimp.

Im also currently feeding one time a day.

I am going to start feeding in the morning as well. Should I just do the same amounts as mentioned above, twice a day?

Or should it be more?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I feed twice a day, small afternoon snack (usually algae flakes, live brine, or roe), and a big meaty dinner.

I think whatever makes you and your fish happy is the best way

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

I have an @AVAST Marine plank autofeeder and I feed 8 times a day. Some fish are fine being fed once a day whereas more active fish need to be fed more often. As long as your input / output mechanism to control nitrates and phosphates are tuned up and can handle it...feed more!!

 

[X-37B]

I only feed the fish and let them feed the corals. I only feed frozen, various cubes, Larrys reef frenzy, and a small amount of pellets once a week to feed shrimp and some fish.

I feed twice a day at 4 cube amounts each time for 15 fish in my 120.

A good rule is feed as much as the fish will consume in 2 minutes.

So for your current fish load I would try one cube twice a day and see how much they consume in 2 minutes.

 

[shakacuz]

the snails will consume the algae that grows from feeding, so don't worry about those unless no algae is growing. the general rule of thumb is to feed as much as the fish can consume within 2 minutes. every tank is different, so you have to play around with your amounts. judging by your stock list i would say 1/2 cube a day should be fine, alongside the fish pellets.

 

[Dani305]

I have an @AVAST Marine plank autofeeder and I feed 8 times a day. Some fish are fine being fed once a day whereas more active fish need to be fed more often. As long as your input / output mechanism to control nitrates and phosphates are tuned up and can handle it...feed more!!

I have my skimmer coming next week so I think we’ll be safe!

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

I have my skimmer coming next week so I think we’ll be safe!

Skimmer helps but it is only part of the equation. Skimmer's remove the organic matter prior to break down..but once it is broken down, the nitrates are in the water and you are stuck with either chemical filtration, natural filtration (Algae) or water changes.

 

[Dani305]

I only feed the fish and let them feed the corals. I only feed frozen, various cubes, Larrys reef frenzy, and a small amount of pellets once a week to feed shrimp and some fish.

I feed twice a day at 4 cube amounts each time for 15 fish in my 120.

A good rule is feed as much as the fish will consume in 2 minutes.

So for your current fish load I would try one cube twice a day and see how much they consume in 2 minutes.

I fed them a bit less than half a cube of shrimps and there was a good amount left. So I will see how they eat tonight.

 

[Dani305]

Skimmer helps but it is only part of the equation. Skimmer's remove the organic matter prior to break down..but once it is broken down, the nitrates are in the water and you are stuck with either chemical filtration, natural filtration (Algae) or water changes.

Ah sorry, I’m new to the terminology! Currently now doing water changes as fuge system will be next week.

I’m going to test my water today at LFS and see what they recommend.

 

[3429810]

Ah sorry, I’m new to the terminology! Currently now doing water changes as fuge system will be next week.

I’m going to test my water today at LFS and see what they recommend.

I would recommend buying your own test kits if you don’t have them already. Alkalinity, calcium, nitrate and phosphate for sure and magnesium would be good to. Good brands are Hanna, Red Sea and salifert.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Ah sorry, I’m new to the terminology! Currently now doing water changes as fuge system will be next week.

I’m going to test my water today at LFS and see what they recommend.

Outstanding. Fuge and macro algae (or a algae reactor) are outstanding and awesome things for people to get good at. The one caution i will give you is that sometimes they are TOO efficient and will strip out all of your nutrients. I had this and my nitrates and phosphates plummeted to zero. In freshwater systems..that is a GREAT thing. In Saltwater, it is BAD as the Dinos take over. The scourge of salt water aquariums!!

 

[Dani305]

the snails will consume the algae that grows from feeding, so don't worry about those unless no algae is growing. the general rule of thumb is to feed as much as the fish can consume within 2 minutes. every tank is different, so you have to play around with your amounts. judging by your stock list i would say 1/2 cube a day should be fine, alongside the fish pellets.

No algae yet!

I would recommend buying your own test kits if you don’t have them already. Alkalinity, calcium, nitrate and phosphate for sure and magnesium would be good to. Good brands are Hanna, Red Sea and salifert.

I have an API kit, two actually.
One saltwater master test kit.


Last night I tested water and was :

ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite .25 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm

I also have a reef master kit.

I’m going to test now.

 

[Dani305]

Outstanding. Fuge and macro algae (or a algae reactor) are outstanding and awesome things for people to get good at. The one caution i will give you is that sometimes they are TOO efficient and will strip out all of your nutrients. I had this and my nitrates and phosphates plummeted to zero. In freshwater systems..that is a GREAT thing. In Saltwater, it is BAD as the Dinos take over. The scourge of salt water aquariums!!

Will that mean I have to dose? Or maybe just keep the algae in the fuge small so it works hard?

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Will that mean I have to dose? Or maybe just keep the algae in the fuge small so it works hard?

It could..or feed more. I personally dose a Nitrate / Phosphate solution throughout the day because my system has a VERY efficient nutrient export system. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. I like the control that I have with stripping clean and dosing back. I have my Nitrate and Phosphate pegged better than my Ca and Alk because of this method.

 

[vetteguy53081]

twice - 3 times a day is usually more than sufficient and they should be fed what can be consumed within 5 min s without evidence of food particle floating aaround tank or making it to the overflow

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

No algae yet!



I have an API kit, two actually.
One saltwater master test kit.


Last night I tested water and was :

ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite .25 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm

I also have a reef master kit.

I’m going to test now.

Just be prepared for some public shaming and tsk tsk'ing on this. Bunch of reefer snobs here that scoff at API test kits!! I personally think they are fine for nitrate and phosphate (And even the other parameters for that matter if you are not a number's chaser) but some people here get REALLY fanatical about precision number testing. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

 

[Dani305]

It could..or feed more. I personally dose a Nitrate / Phosphate solution throughout the day because my system has a VERY efficient nutrient export system. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. I like the control that I have with stripping clean and dosing back. I have my Nitrate and Phosphate pegged better than my Ca and Alk because of this method.

cool! I prefer a type of tank that becomes its own eco system without ( hopefully ) too much of my help. Of course now since I am just beginning we are doing everything. That’s my tank goal!

Guess I’ll be feeding more! LOL

Just be prepared for some public shaming and tsk tsk'ing on this. Bunch of reefer snobs here that scoff at API test kits!! I personally think they are fine for nitrate and phosphate (And even the other parameters for that matter if you are not a number's chaser) but some people here get REALLY fanatical about precision number testing. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

lol. Funny how the API is good for freshwater. I have these two kits now so I will use them up then purchase better as I continue in the hobby.

 

[Dani305]

Going to update my build thread but today’s test results from API reef master kit:

Kh - 7 drops- 7 dkh/ 125.3 ppm
Phosphate- 0 ppm
Calcium- 20 drops- 400 ppm

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Going to update my build thread but today’s test results from API reef master kit:

Kh - 7 drops- 7 dkh/ 125.3 ppm
Phosphate- 0 ppm
Calcium- 20 drops- 400 ppm

Calcium looks fine. Alk a little low. Phosphate in the danger zone.

 

[Dani305]

Calcium looks fine. Alk a little low. Phosphate in the danger zone.

Cool ( not really on the phosphate )

… but I will be going to LFS in a bit with a sample.

Just finished the rest:


ammonia- .50 ppm
Nitrite- .25 ppm
Nitrate- looks to be between 5. Ppm - 10 ppm