vetteguy53081
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As we have acquired many new members the last few months, There has always been debate as to whether corals need to be fed or what those little things are on my coral (feeders). Many believe as to years ago that they require nothing but light. Its true they have inner algae known as zooxanthellae which require light for color and energy and feed off inorganics and other compounds in the water. Its also true that corals get energy from photosynthesis as lighting has effect on color but lighting does not solve all problems when it comes to coral especially SPS.
Corals require phosphorous, nitrogen and trace elements for their own health and production of zooxanthellae. They must have food.
While they must have food, it does not mean overfeeding them until they respond and in turn polluting your water in the process. Overfeeding as we know causes issues with high no3 and po4 and often leading to algae, cyano and other unwanted issues.
So who and what do we feed?
There are the persay- easy corals. Acan, dendro, brain, scoly, blastos, chalice and zoas as examples. Often the issue with feeding these corals are feeding the wrong/wrong type of foods. What triggered me to post this was seeing how many resort to planktonic foods such as reef roids, reef chili, and such when they benefit from mysis, brine, chopped krill (anemones, elegance as examples) fish eggs and frozen plankton.
There are also corals that are difficult to feed such as colt and carnation coral, NPS, and certain acro. They depend on obtaining their nutrition from whats within the tank water and phytoplankton, marine snow and often require a constant supply of food. Some other challenging corals are goniopora, some zoa, as they dont respond well to food targeted at them.
What are your most easy and most difficult coral to feed?
Do you see a feeding response from your corals and what type?
Do you feed your corals and how often?
I feed my corals which are many at least twice per week under low flow and a mixture of fish eggs, mysis shrimp, frozen baby brine and a little red Sea AB+
Corals require phosphorous, nitrogen and trace elements for their own health and production of zooxanthellae. They must have food.
While they must have food, it does not mean overfeeding them until they respond and in turn polluting your water in the process. Overfeeding as we know causes issues with high no3 and po4 and often leading to algae, cyano and other unwanted issues.
So who and what do we feed?
There are the persay- easy corals. Acan, dendro, brain, scoly, blastos, chalice and zoas as examples. Often the issue with feeding these corals are feeding the wrong/wrong type of foods. What triggered me to post this was seeing how many resort to planktonic foods such as reef roids, reef chili, and such when they benefit from mysis, brine, chopped krill (anemones, elegance as examples) fish eggs and frozen plankton.
There are also corals that are difficult to feed such as colt and carnation coral, NPS, and certain acro. They depend on obtaining their nutrition from whats within the tank water and phytoplankton, marine snow and often require a constant supply of food. Some other challenging corals are goniopora, some zoa, as they dont respond well to food targeted at them.
What are your most easy and most difficult coral to feed?
Do you see a feeding response from your corals and what type?
Do you feed your corals and how often?
I feed my corals which are many at least twice per week under low flow and a mixture of fish eggs, mysis shrimp, frozen baby brine and a little red Sea AB+
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