What to feed my SPS?

[BIG FISH]

I am starting my SPS dominated 210 and I got a ten pack to start things out. I was wondering what all the big hitters are feeding their SPS. I got a Oregon tort, Joe the coral, Blue selago, chips mille, blue table stag, superman monti, purple bonsia, pink mille toxic green tort, and a red planet.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

You are going to hear a lot of my answer,fish poop and oyster feast

 

[Troylee]

Fish poo!!! And amino acids lol...

 

[TopNotchCorals]

Oh yeah I do the AA thing too,lol

 

[BIG FISH]

Sweet I happen to already have some fish poo that I haven't even been using. I have thought about trying oyster feast and already dose amino acids. If anyone else has something different that they are doing please post. I am just wanting the best color and growth possible. I am running MH three 250's and 2 150's I am going to order the radium bulbs. What are anyones thoughts on supplementing with T5's for better color?

 

[TopNotchCorals]

Sweet I happen to already have some fish poo that I haven't even been using. I have thought about trying oyster feast and already dose amino acids. If anyone else has something different that they are doing please post. I am just wanting the best color and growth possible. I am running MH three 250's and 2 150's I am going to order the radium bulbs. What are anyones thoughts on supplementing with T5's for better color?

I know a lot of folks that supplement MH's with T5's its actually becoming more common to do so,In my opinion I would go with some LED strips like reef brites.I heard they put out a better par then a ATI blue+ bulb.

 

[Redstag]

I feed twice a week with Coral Frenzy.

 

[caudill187]

Enriched rotifers.

 

[drainbamage]

what form or source of AA's are being used?

 

[TopNotchCorals]

what form or source of AA's are being used?

I use the Warner Marine's Ultimate Aminos,I use 3/4 of the recommended dose.When I first got it I was using the full dosage and maybe a little more and it creeps up on your tank,its a very good product when used correctly.

 

[kungfujoe]

bright wellls amino acids.. coral frenzy mixed with cyclopeze, and oyster feast

 

[johnanddawn]

in general you don't need to feed SPS directly - there is a lot of debate about particle size for SPS coral consumption so feeding a specific foodstuff may or may not target SPS anyway
- if your system becomes a bit low in nutrients (dosing alcohol or some other ULN systems) your corals will tell you by becoming pale in color. if that happens you may need to dose some aminoes or just feed your fish (and in my case LPS also) more.
in most cases a more natural ecosystem approach creates foostuff in the aquarium for them.
i believe:
- dosing alcohol and bacteria creates bacterial based food chains
- refugiums create algae based food chains
- cryptic fuges create other planktonic based food chains
- fish poo supplies the raw materials for all of them
together this creates a supply of live foodstuff in a multitude of sizes so everyone can find something they like to eat - much simpler them trying to target feed

 

[tate1]

I feed the same as kungfujoe above. Love the results.

 

[wish]

reef chili half dose twice a week...corals go crazy

 

[Speg]

I've been dosing Synder's buffalo wing pretzels and the corals have been going nuts.

 

[caudill187]

I have done much research on the subject (extensive readings, amateur pseudoscientific experimentation). As mentioned earlier, most SPS will take only the smallest particulate food. Many people dump lots of food into their tanks that while feeding the local pods and bacteria, are not consumed by corals. I have seen my SPS take food with a particle size of less than 200 microns being ideal. Just because a coral retracts its polyps when you feed it doesn't mean it is eating. It seems that in the wild, most acropora species will consume only the smallest of zooplankton, perhaps also able to utilize tiny particles of fish waste for nutrition as well. Of course, the vast majority of nutrition is gained via photosynthesis (zooxanthellae), and do fine in captive systems without supplemental feedings, supporting the idea that over time, a captive reef will supply enough supplemental nutrition on its own.

 

[soccerbag]

I use DT's Phytoplankton 3 times per week, plenty of fish poo, and some Oyster Feast from time to time (although the oyster feast is more for my scolys and acans). I have used Zeo Aminos in the past with good success as well. As others have stated, just take it slow with AA's at first. I just prefer DT's Phytoplankton since it is a bit more natural and doesn't raise nutrients. JMO.

 

[GreshamH]

I only know of one "SPS" known to capture and utilize phytoplankton (birds nest).

 

[soccerbag]

As I said, JMO. Works well for me.:bigsmile:

 

[NeosNano]

Sometimes I dose Brightwell's AA and oysterfeast. But they love beef jerky and pabst blue ribbon.