Darkartist
Active Member
So I've heard mixed reviews and I want to have your guy's opinion about how often you should feed your fish. I have a BioCube 32 and currently only have 3 fish. My clean up crew is 20 strong.
Feeding fish.
- Thread starter Darkartist
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I've never found anything definitive, but the rule that I like best says that you feed what your fish/inverts will eat in a few minutes, once a day (or more if you have fish that need a lot of food, like anthias).
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Darkartist
Active Member
I have green faced clown goby and 2 damsels. Plus my clean up crew. My current feed schedule is morning and night and I give them 10 mins. They eat everything. Anyone think that to much?
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
Most reef dwelling fish eat frequent, small meals throughout the day. In most cases their stomachs are approximately the size of their eyes, so feeding for more than 15-30 seconds is really giving them more than their digestive tracts can handle at one time. The excess, even if they are eating most of it, will contribute to higher nitrates and phosphates.
I used to feed once in the afternoon before leaving for work on my lunch break. And then once at around 7-8 at night. I had a pretty heavy load in my 135. I am setting up a RSR 170 and plan on sticking to 1 a day, in the evening.
Bouncingsoul39
Valuable Member
Gotta be a little more careful in a Nano tank like yours without a good protein skimmer. Normally, I'd recommend a small amount twice a day, but in your case I'd go a small amount once a day. A small amount for the fish you have would be less than half a frozen cube of mysis or brine, like a 1/4 cube which comes out to a couple pieces of shrimp per fish. Good practice is to turn off the circulation pumps so food doesn't get blown under or behind rocks.
You can boost the food by soaking it in Selcon and Vita-Chem for 10 mins before feeding.
You can boost the food by soaking it in Selcon and Vita-Chem for 10 mins before feeding.
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
I feed 2-3 x a day. I do have a green mandarin which needs the 2-3 x a day. Also Carberryi Anthias that requires it as well. I have a flame angel that is a pig. A blue spotted Jawfish that is awake 24/7. So I throw him a bone every once in awhile in early AM. 4 spotted wrasse & Grammica Lined Dartfish that is a hardy eater.
It really depends on how well your tank can process. A plate of Marine Pure and 68lbs of live rock in a 65g tank w/ a protein skimmer leaves me at 1ppm nitrates after 4 weeks.
It really comes down to setting yourself up for failure. There is a balancing act on the in between. Then there is what I call success with having a tank that can handle anything you throw at it. So don't overstock if you are going to overfeed. Get a small clean up crew to start and work that up if needed. You could have a ton of crabs, but they end up not being a clean up crew and rely on feeding times. I have one hermit and like 8 snails. That's my tank balance.
It really depends on how well your tank can process. A plate of Marine Pure and 68lbs of live rock in a 65g tank w/ a protein skimmer leaves me at 1ppm nitrates after 4 weeks.
It really comes down to setting yourself up for failure. There is a balancing act on the in between. Then there is what I call success with having a tank that can handle anything you throw at it. So don't overstock if you are going to overfeed. Get a small clean up crew to start and work that up if needed. You could have a ton of crabs, but they end up not being a clean up crew and rely on feeding times. I have one hermit and like 8 snails. That's my tank balance.
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Darkartist
Active Member
Ok thanks. My cleanup crew is 20 strong. They do an amazing job except for the glass. They need to step that up, lol. Amazing your getting away with 9 unless you have a small tank.
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
I could get away with even less. It's all about setting yourself up for success. 2 trochus snails and a fighting conch is all I need. Filtration does the rest.
I have a 65g
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Darkartist
Active Member
I have heard the conches do very well. I'm actually thinking about adding one.
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
If you have room for them on your sand bed. I have a tall center island. So he just cruises around in circles. They are good for a little turn over on the sand bed as well. They will sometimes bury themselves in it or just from them dragging their lunky shell. Also good for diatoms.
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