Live Zooplankton vs Cyclop-Eeze (for Corals)

[frankdontsurf]

I do weekly water changes, 10-20%.

I use SeaChem 'Balance' once in a while. I'll throw a cap in my top-off jug, takes about 5 days to use.. For some reason I'm at 7.8-7.9 never 8.1 not that important but I wanted to mention what I'm throwing in my tank.

I add Calcion to my water, ~2-3mL every other day keeps me in the mid 400's otherwise I drop to the mid-high 300's (ever since I added coral).

I'm add ~2-3ml SeaChem 'Fuel' to my tank every 3rd day.

For nutrition I alternate between Dr G's Mysis & Brine (both say gut loaded), I plan to add a different frozen food (Krill?) soon just because I think variety is important. All these little love brine though - I know I know. I don't have a need for pods, so no intentions of live food farming.

So for my question...Corals and small inverts I hear need Zooplankton, I can obtain this live and locally for about $5 per 500mL, or I can just buy Cyclop-Eeze (frozen or dried) which seems to be popular. Should I add this to my regimen?? Everything seems happy thus far.

 

[frankdontsurf]

Hmm.. Nobody?

 

[metrokat]

Where do you get live zooplankton?

 

[Eienna]

Pods are a type of zooplankton.

It really depends on the animals you're feeding. Some will not accept dead food items.

 

[nicewrasse]

What type of coral are you feeding? What kind of lights do you have? What are you looking for? (Growth, health, colors?)

For example:
I've got several LPS (Acans, Hammers, Torches, Blastos and a few others)under LEDS (Maxspect Mazarra P's) that I feed the snot out of (Pellets, dry powder, 1/2" tablets, and homemade coral food) three to four times a week. On things with individual mouths, if they are big enough I feed each head. By doing this, on average I get 1-2 new blasto heads every three weeks, I get 3-4 new acan heads a month, and a new hammer/torch head about every six weeks.
I also do 10% water change (40G) a week (400G system). My skimmer is rated for 300G, which is under sized. LPS/zoa/palys grow like mad because of the nutrients in the water. SPS on the other hand will die in 7-10 days because the water is so "dirty".

So for a better answer, what are you feeding, what size tank, what type of corals, and what are your goals?

That might get you an answer.

 

[frankdontsurf]

What type of coral are you feeding? What kind of lights do you have? What are you looking for? (Growth, health, colors?)

For example:
I've got several LPS (Acans, Hammers, Torches, Blastos and a few others)under LEDS (Maxspect Mazarra P's) that I feed the snot out of (Pellets, dry powder, 1/2" tablets, and homemade coral food) three to four times a week. On things with individual mouths, if they are big enough I feed each head. By doing this, on average I get 1-2 new blasto heads every three weeks, I get 3-4 new acan heads a month, and a new hammer/torch head about every six weeks.
I also do 10% water change (40G) a week (400G system). My skimmer is rated for 300G, which is under sized. LPS/zoa/palys grow like mad because of the nutrients in the water. SPS on the other hand will die in 7-10 days because the water is so "dirty".

So for a better answer, what are you feeding, what size tank, what type of corals, and what are your goals?

That might get you an answer.

Awesome response! Thanks.

10 gallon tank (13lbs LR, 15lbs LS), 45-50w of LED (white, cool white, violet, .blue, royal), 350gph Marineland + 425gph Nano Koralia.. Goals are size then color. 1x Frogspawn (thin branch), 1x Favia (unknown), 1x Acan (unknown), 1x Zoa (dragon eye). I feed Dr. G's Gut Loaded Mysis & Brine, I supplement with Calcion & Fuel (SeaChem) every 3rd day (not the same day).

From your post I would gather I need to spot-feed them and also would benefit from using Cyclop-eeze since I don't have anything that would really flip out on 'dirty' water.

Side note: My Zoa has looked like that the past two days, I was going to add a small Monti frag today but I'll wait till I get the Zoa sorted even though everyone else looks fine.

 

[frankdontsurf]

Where do you get live zooplankton?

My local Craigslist killer, lol.

 

[metrokat]

My local Craigslist killer, lol.

lol

 

[metrokat]

What type of coral are you feeding? What kind of lights do you have? What are you looking for? (Growth, health, colors?)

For example:
I've got several LPS (Acans, Hammers, Torches, Blastos and a few others)under LEDS (Maxspect Mazarra P's) that I feed the snot out of (Pellets, dry powder, 1/2" tablets, and homemade coral food) three to four times a week. On things with individual mouths, if they are big enough I feed each head. By doing this, on average I get 1-2 new blasto heads every three weeks, I get 3-4 new acan heads a month, and a new hammer/torch head about every six weeks.
I also do 10% water change (40G) a week (400G system). My skimmer is rated for 300G, which is under sized. LPS/zoa/palys grow like mad because of the nutrients in the water. SPS on the other hand will die in 7-10 days because the water is so "dirty".

So for a better answer, what are you feeding, what size tank, what type of corals, and what are your goals?

That might get you an answer.

^^this. I feed 0.5 micron golden pears, oysterfeast, marine snow, reef bugs, phyto, rotifers, BBS.

 

[YVR]

I am a big believer in keeping my corals well fed. I feed 2 times per week in the evenings when the feeding tentacles are out. I have tried feeding live pods etc but have had good success using frozen oyster eggs, Tropic Marin Pro-Coral Phyton and TM Pro-Coral Zooton for my SPS corals I alternate wit. For my LPS I use thawed and rinsed PE Mysis Shrimp and New Era marine pellets.