Feeding corals: When, what and how much

[SALTYDAWGY]

Well, I am all in on my first reef after 15 years of messing with fish only. My leather has really started to extend its polyps after 4 days and it is exciting. My only question is now what??? I know I have to feed him but I am not sure what and how often. I was thinking DT's phytoplankton every other day while shutting off my filter for an hour and letting the powerhead circulate the grub. Here is my setup and here is what I am planning on adding.

10 Gallon seaclear acrylic tank trapezoid
65 watt 12K power compact on for 12.5 hours daily
Turbo calcium added and monitored at 425 ppm
DSB of 4-5 inches
10lbs fiji Live Rock
Carbon run HOB overflow filter
small 400 Rio Powerhead

Stock
Added
5 astrea snails
5 Blue leg Hermits
1 Sepeant star
1 growth of Halimeda
1 Leather coral frag

Going to get
1 Bub Tip Anemone
1 Feather Duster
1 Small marroon clown
1 small 6 line wrasse
Zoos
Richordea
Xenia (My favorite)
Star Polyps
Sun coral (I know I know Target feeding and shaded)

What do you all think? Any suggestions and can you tell me about feeding the corals????

 

[mojoreef]

The best food you can give your corals is in your tank already. Virtually all corals eat detritus, which is composed of fish waste, left over food products, bacterial biproducts and so on. The corals will eat these directly as particles and they will also absorb nutrients through thier tissue. So you should be fine. Corals do NOT eat phytoplankton, their are very few things that do, some feather dusters, gorgonians, baby clams, scallops bit thats about it. So save your money thier.


Mike

 

[NaH2O]

Here is a thread with some more information. I hope you find it helpful! Let's Talk About ~Coral Feeding~

 

[Steven Pro]

There is a lot of great information in these articles:

Borneman, Eric. 2003. "The Food of Reefs, Part 7: Dissolved Nutrients" Reefkeeping Online Magazine, April 2003.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/eb/index.htm

Borneman, Eric. 2003. "The Food of Reefs, Part 6: Particulate Organic Matter" ReefKeeping Online Magazine, March 2003.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/eb/index.htm

Borneman, Eric. 2003. "The Food of Reefs, Part 5: Bacteria" Reefkeeping Online Magazine, January 2003.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/eb/index.htm

Borneman, Eric. 2002. "The Food of Reefs, Part 4: Zooplankton" Reefkeeping Online Magazine, December, 2002.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/eb/index.htm

Borneman, Eric. 2002. "The Food of Reefs, Part 3: Phytoplankton" Reefkeeping Online Magazine, October 2002.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-10/eb/index.htm

Borneman, Eric. 2002. "From the Food of Reefs to the Food of Corals." Reefkeeping Online Magazine, August 2002.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/eb/index.htm

Borneman, Eric. 2002. "Reef Food." Reefkeeping Online Magazine, July 2002.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/eb/index.htm

 

[SALTYDAWGY]

Awsome, thanks. That answers my question and puts things into better perspective for me. I guess they are a lot like plants in a sense needing very basic things to grow (Good light, water and oxygen ie water movement.)

 

[mojoreef]

thats a great way to approach it salty


Mike