What is considered a balanced diet?

[Palmbeachdude32]

Don't want to make this a "what do you feed your fish" thread but I am curious as to what others consider to be a balanced diet for a diverse/semi-diverse reef tank.

Currently I have the 4 pack of saltwater frozen food with emerald entree, mysid, omega brine, and plankton (my fish dont like the plankton), occassional seaweed and some flake food but would like to increase the quality and diversity of food I make available.

 

[laga77]

Very simple, feed your fish what they would eat on the reef. Fish, shrimp, mollusks, squid, and algae. The fresher the better. Marine worms are not available, at least none that I know of, so the next best thing is live black worms or white worms. Throw in some live BBS, even big fish will eat them, and you are good to go.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Most reef fishes eat a variety of food. So providing a variety is the best way to replicate that. All that is mentioned above is good. Also, fish eggs and calanoid copepods are a big part of planktivores diet.

 

[laga77]

Actually if you want a perfect example go here.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/daily-menu.285017/

 

[Palmbeachdude32]

Thank you! Great reference for replicating a natural diet.

 

[mcarroll]

Live food!!!

Click @Paul B and read through some of his threads! Here's one R2R search to start you off: live

More generally...

As usual, IFAS has some good docs:

• FS14/FS077: Basic Elements of Equipment Cleaning and Sanitizing in Food Processing...
• FA159/FA159: Interpreting a Fish Food Package Label
• Cir 97/FA097: Preparing Your Own Fish Feeds
• CIR1054/FA024: Culture Techniques of Moina : The Ideal Daphnia ...

The SRAC has some as well:

• SRAC 5003: Principles of Fish Nutrition
• SRAC 5004: Phytoplankton Culture for Aquaculture Feed