Thoughts on feeding

[Dewey115]

I think one part of feeding that is overlooked is also HOW you feed your tank. If you take two extremes in an example... both times you use the same amount of food, but in one instance that food is added all at one time every two days and the other that food is added slowly throughout the whole time. I feel if you add it all at once you will have alot of waste and a relatively low or unhealthy population of "background life" (bacteria, pods, worms, etc). If the food is available more often than it should support healthier larger populations. I noticed a big difference in the overall appearance and health of my fish when I went from feeding once a day to feeding 4-5 times a day. I dont expect everyone to want to feed their tanks that often, just think that the impact it could have on our tanks is worth more thought and discussion.

Rick

 

[NaH2O]

Good topic Rick. When it comes to bacteria, I don't think it will make a difference whether the food is added several times a day or just once. The bacteria have the same amount to process, whether it is in the form of uneaten food, or in the form of fish waste. Either way, bacteria will be present. Now take away the amount you have been feeding, or cut it back, and you will see some bacterial populations die off. This could lead to algae feeding on the dead bacteria? Which, to me says if cutting back from 5 times a day to once every other day...it should be done slowly, so there isn't a big die off in bacteria. I also think that the excess food will promote more pods and worms, as they will scavenge off the excess....possibly the same with fish waste. I'm going to think on this one a bit....I wonder if the improvement in fish health was due to their being able to capture more of the food, rather than trying to hurry up and get what they could. I imagine depending on the species, for instance a grazing fish, would prefer to be fed throughout the day. I believe in other species like Anthias, it is recommended to feed several times a day. We have many excess nutrient inputs in our systems, that I think care should be taken when going the more than once a day feeding routine. The tank will find a balance, whether that means to start growing nusiance algaes/pests, extra skimming, more pods, more worms, etc. to balance out these inputs. Hmmm....I'm going to think on this one a bit.

 

[mojoreef]

Good thread Rick!. yes making sure that all the food you put in the tank is eaten is a good stratagy for sure, personally I would not worry about backgraound critters as we all know 90% of what the fish eats comes out the other end, so enough food already thier. Most fish require feeding multiple times a day, sometimes however the food we feed can not always be done that way. For me I have to feed my tang seperately and shove the food into its mouth, right now it eats 12 2 inch krill a day, God knows how much I would have to put in the tank to make sure it got that much

Mike

 

[Maxx]

Due to my work schedule, my fish get fed once a day. I take a turkey baster and suck up a portion of the food and slowly let them chow down what gets released. This way they can all get some and they have a chance to eat 99% of what I put in the tank. Just another way of doing it I guess.

Nick