Question on feeding in a NANO tank

[Scottrshoe]

I have recently set up a 20g nano tank in my office, and currently have only a single fish residing in it (Orchid Dottyback).

My question is more of a logistical nature. How do you guys manage fresh/frozen foods for a single fish?

I do not want to overfeed my tank, yet my lfs only sells frozen foods in blister-pack cubes. One cube is WAY more than I can use in a day, and it is too expensive to waste that much unused food.

I am currently feeding Hikari Marine -S- pellets, but want to add some variety in the form of fresh/frozen foods.

Suggestions or ideas on managing feeding with a single, or few, fish?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I use a knife and cut/shave bits off the cube, as much as I need, and save the rest for later.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I feed every other day or so but I think we are all guilty of over feeding sometimes especially in a nano it’s hard lol. You can also buy defroster cups and feeding rings.

 

[Chefwheredyougo]

Just shave a little off and refreeze the rest of the cube. One cube should be able to last a few weeks at least with such a small fish to feed.

 

[Chefwheredyougo]

Perspective, I feed once every other day, a dwarf lionfish juvenile, a clownfish, and a blue damsel about 1/8th of a cube, with the lionfish getting ghost shrimp or silversides twice a week.

 

[exnisstech]

Add some clean up crew if you haven't already. I've had good luck with shrimp in a small tank. I have a reefer 170 which is bout 40 gallon total with only two fish which I feed frozen twice a day. A blood red fire shrimp and a few hermits do a good job in there. I have had skunk cleaners, and coral banded also and they did well. Shrimp are cool in a nano too IMO. I buy flats of frozen then just cut it all up and freeze in a zipock bag.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Defrost a cube w
Tank water in a cup. Use lil. Refrigerate and repeat.

 

[Alex's Nano Reef]

I have recently set up a 20g nano tank in my office, and currently have only a single fish residing in it (Orchid Dottyback).

My question is more of a logistical nature. How do you guys manage fresh/frozen foods for a single fish?

I do not want to overfeed my tank, yet my lfs only sells frozen foods in blister-pack cubes. One cube is WAY more than I can use in a day, and it is too expensive to waste that much unused food.

I am currently feeding Hikari Marine -S- pellets, but want to add some variety in the form of fresh/frozen foods.

Suggestions or ideas on managing feeding with a single, or few, fish?

I have a few fish and I feed frozen once a week if not less. I try and feed pellets and baby brine to keep nutrients down? But I chop op my frozen into tiny cubes and keep it in a Tupperware in the fridge.

 

[ClownSchool]

I have recently set up a 20g nano tank in my office, and currently have only a single fish residing in it (Orchid Dottyback).

My question is more of a logistical nature. How do you guys manage fresh/frozen foods for a single fish?

I do not want to overfeed my tank, yet my lfs only sells frozen foods in blister-pack cubes. One cube is WAY more than I can use in a day, and it is too expensive to waste that much unused food.

I am currently feeding Hikari Marine -S- pellets, but want to add some variety in the form of fresh/frozen foods.

Suggestions or ideas on managing feeding with a single, or few, fish?

I put a splash of r/o water in a cup and chip 4 to 5 days worth of food off of a cube into it. Then, I keep the container in the fridge. I use an 1/8 tsp measuring spoon and add one scoop per fish to the tank, daily. 1/8 tsp = 1 ml

 

[Scottrshoe]

I feed every other day or so but I think we are all guilty of over feeding sometimes especially in a nano it’s hard lol. You can also buy defroster cups and feeding rings.

I do have this frozen food feeder from Innovative Marine. Its a little large for my tank, but hopefully it will work well.

 

[Scottrshoe]

Perspective, I feed once every other day, a dwarf lionfish juvenile, a clownfish, and a blue damsel about 1/8th of a cube, with the lionfish getting ghost shrimp or silversides twice a week.

Do you supplement that with any other foods?

 

[Scottrshoe]

Add some clean up crew if you haven't already. I've had good luck with shrimp in a small tank. I have a reefer 170 which is bout 40 gallon total with only two fish which I feed frozen twice a day. A blood red fire shrimp and a few hermits do a good job in there. I have had skunk cleaners, and coral banded also and they did well. Shrimp are cool in a nano too IMO. I buy flats of frozen then just cut it all up and freeze in a zipock bag.

Awesome! I am headed to the LFS today, so I will see what they have. I was told not to add CUC too soon, or they could starve...

 

[Scottrshoe]

Defrost a cube w
Tank water in a cup. Use lil. Refrigerate and repeat.

My wife will love that...lol. how long will it keep thawed in the refrigerator

 

[MoshJosh]

I mix the 3 frozen foods I use together, store in the fridge (a week max), and feed a pinch at a time.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

My wife will love that...lol. how long will it keep thawed in the refrigerator

Keep it towards the back to keep it cold and atleast 3-5 days. Enough to use it all

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

What I do and no issues.

 

[Scottrshoe]

I have a few fish and I feed frozen once a week if not less. I try and feed pellets and baby brine to keep nutrients down? But I chop op my frozen into tiny cubes and keep it in a Tupperware in the fridge.

I've read that it is easy to overfeed pellets, since they are so nutrient dense...but they are also SOO convenient!

 

[PR_nano]

I cut a frozen cube in a few pieces and feed twice a day but I have 3 fish. Also supplement with dry pellets and or flakes.

 

[Chefwheredyougo]

Do you supplement that with any other foods?

I do. I feed pellets as well. Lionfish will pick at the pellets occasionally but loves the frozen.

 

[exnisstech]

Awesome! I am headed to the LFS today, so I will see what they have. I was told not to add CUC too soon, or they could starve...

This is true for critters that eat mostly algae like hermits, bad suggestion I guess. I think shrimp would be fine as they will eat pretty much any meaty food like mysis etc. Mine eat everything, even pellets and flake.