Am I Starving My Tank

[seahawkone]

I have a 120gal tank set up on Jaubert system.I have 13 corals in my tank\6shrimp\30scallops,mussles,oysters,15fish\gobies,blennies\1regal tang\1bluereef lobster and assortment of starfish snails bluelegs fetherdusters cocoworms tubeworms and 1 8"maxama clam.I only feed 1/2tsb of fritz invt banquit mixed with 4scoops of spectra vital every other day.I do hand feed my lobster hammer coral and a coral sold to me as a beef coral. Most weeks I'll drop in one or two spirulina algae tabs.When the kids and grandkids come by I'll feed alittle nutrafin marine flake food so all the fish come out. My tank seems happy except two soft corals one finger and one chili coral. Increse food or swap soft for stones.If Iswap should I feed more.I think my my tank should be a little hungry.On the other hand I've read on other threads people feed once to over ten times a day.I'd hate to think I'm starving things I brought to my home for pets.

 

[DonW]

If you can keep scallops, mussles and oysters alive for any length of time your probably not starving anything.

Don

 

[Snowboarda42]

Those 3 things are definitely harder to keep than most. I'd also say that as long as your param's are in check (Nitrate, Phosphates, etc) then keep doing what you're doing. It sounds like you're giving your tank the good variety in the food it needs, and as long as your fish aren't skinny like nicole richie, then you're good.

 

[Reeferdude]

You'll need to find that balance between what is enough and over-feeding. Every system is different.

Watch for possible symptoms of overfeeding/excess food. Algae, excessive detritus build up, nitrate, reduction in basic water quality among others.

Watch for possible signs of starvation as well. Stress in fish & corals. Discoloring, erratic behavior, starting to pick at corals(feeding) among other symptoms. Corals loosing color, lacking polyp extension, ect among others.

Your tank and it's inhabitants will differ significantly from others so you'll need to find it's balance...It sound like a nice set up do you have any pictures?

 

[seahawkone]

I got pictures I'm just old and have ahard time learning new things.Soon as I can kids to come and show me how I'll post some.

 

[Damsel13]

Hi Welcome to Reef Frontiers! I second that, would love to see some pictures!
I am old too and have a hard time sometimes with this computer stuff! I mean after all a digital alarm clock was cool when I was in school. Oh and 8 track tapes were WAY cool.

I did learn how to post pictures here by following the excellent directions listed on this website...now if only I could figure out how to include links in my posts...then I could link you to it.

Maybe someone else can.

 

[james734]

Here's the link on how to post photos..

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8240

 

[Reeferdude]

Hi Welcome to Reef Frontiers! I second that, would love to see some pictures!
I am old too and have a hard time sometimes with this computer stuff! I mean after all a digital alarm clock was cool when I was in school. Oh and 8 track tapes were WAY cool.

I did learn how to post pictures here by following the excellent directions listed on this website...now if only I could figure out how to include links in my posts...then I could link you to it.

Maybe someone else can.

That's funny. Off subject but, remember FM converters? Before FM frequency was made for car radios...LOL

 

[seahawkone]

I'll give it a try

I'll try to post pics.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Nice shot, and welcome!

 

[Reeferdude]

Nice, looks like the sunken temple of Pallas Athena. I like it.

 

[james734]

Looks nice, are those column holding up the rocks? What are they made out of?

 

[seahawkone]

They are colums. It a molded plastic piece my wife found at pet smart. Helps hold rock off bottom so I can get to SB.

 

[james734]

Sounds like a good idea..

 

[porthios]

i really like the aquascaping in general. nice tank

 

[Reef Mystique]

Hello,

There are two products made by the fine folk at Reef Nutrition that we reccommend. One is Phyto Feast "live", and the other is Arcti Pods which is a great food for picky fish and all LPS corals eat it as well. We feed daily at dusk which is the noral feeding time for corals.

 

[Damsel13]

I really like it too for me it has that Agean Sea feel.

 

[seahawkone]

Reef Mistique
Thanks for the foods you recommend. I'll give them a try if I can find them here. I've tried feeding once a day,just doesn't work in my tank. To much alage! When I started this thread I left out some of the things I've done to provide food for my tank. I've provided a place for pods to live [they can get out fish can't get in].I also keep a five member school of mollies one boy four girls. They stay in a constant state of reproduction.
seahawkone

 

[freetareef]

hi and welcome!!!

how deep is the sand over your plenum? it looks like it is only 2 inches. i jus set up a plenum also (last night) in my 75 but i used 2 in of sand, a screen, and then 2 in of live sand from the tank. i had to move my tank and i jumped on the oppertunity to start with a plenum.
beauty of a tank by the way!!

 

[seahawkone]

The setup is plenum screen 3" chrushed coral 3"mixed sand,crushed coral.