Feeding routine

[zbrusko]

I need to fix my feeding routine.

Before I leave in the morning, I feed some flakes in a feeding ring. It’s early, it takes a few minutes for the fish to see it, so the ring helps. I’m mostly ok with this step.

In the evening I thaw a cube of mysis & a cube of spirulina brine shrimp in a cup of tank water with some Selcon & phyto. Occasionally I will add some Red Sea AB+. I am pretty sure the Selcon doesn’t soak into anything in my scenario, and is therefore wasted. Is that accurate? I have no idea if the phyto or AB+ do anything. My N & P are very stable (9 N, 0.15 P). I could stop or increase the phyto and see if there is any impact on nutrients, I suppose, but I dose it for filter feeders, corals and pods & don’t know if it is doing anything for them.

I also have a vermatid snail problem, and want to reduce particulate foods, at least for a while to see if that helps. So if I were to rinse my frozen, will Selcon work as a soak, or does it need a pellet? Are flakes too delicate to soak? Might the phyto be feeding the vermatids? Is rinsing actually going to help my vermatid issue?

I clearly need a new routine. I don’t want waste. I don’t want to feed pests, but I do wants to feed healthy and appropriate foods & am fine mixing in supplements or even buying and chopping fresh food (on occasion). Any advice is welcome.

Soft corals & LPS. Some crabs, snails, hermits, etc. 9 fish at the moment (3 on the way from Dr. Reef). Tank is 10 months old. All fish have been healthy for months.

Happy to give detailed stocking if that helps. Tank is a little over 100 gallon display with probably 30 or so gallons in the sump.

 

[tbrown]

You can always consider an auto feeder for the flakes.

 

[zbrusko]

I’ve thought about it, but because of my tank placement I don’t think I can use one.

 

[tbrown]

You might be able to. Maybe need to make a little custom mount or a little shelf for it to sit on.

 

[zbrusko]

My tank is in the wall with < 1 inch behind it. Might be able to mount on the side. I can fit an mp10 dry side, barely.

 

[tbrown]

If you have a 3D printer, you can print a little shelf that hangs on the edge of the tank of there's at least a 1/4" gap I'd think. No printer you can attach a small shelf to the wall.

I've also seen people set theirs on top of their lights but that might not be best with flakes - you'd probably want it closer to the water to avoid a mess of fluttering flakes.

 

[JTP424]

Might be worth using a flocculant to assist with the vermatids, calcium carbonate and a TON of bumblebee snails helped with my vermatids.
Maybe an auto feeder more low tech?
Not sure what type of lid etc you have on the tank, I use one like this for one of my tanks due to the rim etc.

 

[zbrusko]

If you have a 3D printer, you can print a little shelf that hangs on the edge of the tank of there's at least a 1/4" gap I'd think. No printer you can attach a small shelf to the wall.

I've also seen people set theirs on top of their lights but that might not be best with flakes - you'd probably want it closer to the water to avoid a mess of fluttering flakes.

I don’t have a 3D printer, but I have access to one. That’s a good idea. I need to figure something out on that front.

 

[zbrusko]

Might be worth using a flocculant to assist with the vermatids, calcium carbonate and a TON of bumblebee snails helped with my vermatids.
Maybe an auto feeder more low tech?
Not sure what type of lid etc you have on the tank, I use one like this for one of my tanks due to the rim etc.

I’ve been trying the coral snow. Should I be doing it daily? Any particular time. I noticed lots of snail webs out yesterday right after the lights came on. I’m usually not home then, and never see their webs. Seems that is the time to do it.

I have some bumblebee snails. maybe a dozen. I may add another dozen. I worry they will eat my other snails. Did you have issues with that?

 

[JTP424]

You want to use the coral snow when you see their feeders... so unfortunately not being around then causes some issues :D
I didn't have any issues with them eating my normal snails! I didn't know that was a thing!

 

[exnisstech]

I thaw my food in a cup at room temp with no water. I do not rinse. I add some selcon to that along with some vitachem a few times a week. It seems to soak in. I started adding some flake and pellet a few months ago and now i mix the pellet and flakes in with the frozen and mix it all up with the liquid vitamins. I keep it refrigerated and feed through out the day. Often I'll keep it in the fridge overnight and feed the next day with no issues.
I'm not really sure the selcon or vitachem is necessary but I have some fat tangs coming up on 10 years in my care so I just keep doing what works.

 

[zbrusko]

I thaw my food in a cup at room temp with no water. I do not rinse. I add some selcon to that along with some vitachem a few times a week. It seems to soak in. I started adding some flake and pellet a few months ago and now i mix the pellet and flakes in with the frozen and mix it all up with the liquid vitamins. I keep it refrigerated and feed through out the day. Often I'll keep it in the fridge overnight and feed the next day with no issues.
I'm not really sure the selcon or vitachem is necessary but I have some fat tangs coming up on 10 years in my care so I just keep doing what works.

Great, thanks. This sounds like a good method. I’ll give it a try. How long does it take for your cubes to thaw?

 

[tbrown]

I’ve been trying the coral snow. Should I be doing it daily? Any particular time. I noticed lots of snail webs out yesterday right after the lights came on. I’m usually not home then, and never see their webs. Seems that is the time to do it.

I have some bumblebee snails. maybe a dozen. I may add another dozen. I worry they will eat my other snails. Did you have issues with that?

You can dose daily or weekly or however frequently you want.

I was dosing daily for a while. Keep an eye on your alkalinity if you start dosing more frequently just in case. Randy mentioned that it could cause alkalinity to precipitate out. I noticed a slight increase in my alkalinity consumption during dosing so I assume that's what I was seeing.

Bumblebee snails work great for them as well, as mentioned by @JTP424 and I have never heard of them eating other snails either. I've got Trochus that breed quite readily though so I've got a good supply of snails most of the time already.

 

[exnisstech]

Great, thanks. This sounds like a good method. I’ll give it a try. How long does it take for your cubes to thaw?

I've never really paid attention TBH. I buy flat packs and cut them up so the chunks vary in size. I'm also retired so time is pretty much meaningless because I have more than I know what to do with lol. If I happen to be in a hurry I'll just float the container in a cup of warm water. I use little Tupperware type containers.

 

[zbrusko]

My guess is a cube not in water will take quite a while. I’ll do some experiments. I’m a high school teacher, so I get a 3 month retirement every year. Inside of 8 weeks to go…then I’ll be in your shoes for a little while, anyway.