How do you make sure all food gets eaten?

[Reef_at_Sea]

As the title says i would like to know how different reefers make sure that all the food they offer gets eaten.
We all know that uneaten food turns into (probably) unwanted pollutants.
Do you have any special trick or maybe a specific tool?

Thanks!

 

[Dan_P]

As the title says i would like to know how different reefers make sure that all the food they offer gets eaten.
We all know that uneaten food turns into (probably) unwanted pollutants.
Do you have any special trick or maybe a specific tool?

Thanks!

What are you feeding?

There might be a solution for different types of animals.

 

[fishywishy]

Just watch the fish eat and make sure they eat it all.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

What are you feeding?

There might be a solution for different types of animals.

Pellets & flakes, frozen cubes & sometimes a sheet of nori in a special nori feeder.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Lots of watching and dialing in my feeding habits, it takes a bit of time and patience to get it right. If food is still flying around after 30 seconds, I will feed less next time, I like all food gone in less than 30 seconds. I feed 3-4 times a day.

 

[Waters]

That is what your CUC is for

 

[vlangel]

My tank is high nutrient by design so although I do not feed wrecklessly, I do feed liberally. I have nassarius snails, shrimp and a cucumber to scavenge leftovers but should those break down into DOCs then I have ornamental macroalgae to take a lot of that up. If my macros are growing and I am not getting too much nuisance algae then I have reached a good balance.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

My tank is high nutrient by design so although I do not feed wrecklessly, I do feed liberally. I have nassarius snails, shrimp and a cucumber to scavenge leftovers but should those break down into DOCs then I have ornamental macroalgae to take a lot of that up. If my macros are growing and I am not getting too much nuisance algae then I have reached a good balance.

I like it, wich shrimp do you have?

 

[vlangel]

I like it, wich shrimp do you have?

Right now I have a Coral Banded shrimp but as far as a good scavenger Peppermint shrimp are one of the best. The one bad thing about them is that they can be known to eat zoa's on occasion. I have never experienced that but I have read accounts of other folks experiencing that.

 

[vlangel]

I like it, wich shrimp do you have?

I used Peppermint shrimp in my seahorse tank. Seahorses are very vulnerable to bacterial infections which can be fueled by excessive mysis in the tank. The peppermints kept the tank very clean.

 

[I never finish anythi]

Zombie snails and hermit crabs finish off what don't get eaten in my tank . Which ain't a lot tbh.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

I used Peppermint shrimp in my seahorse tank. Seahorses are very vulnerable to bacterial infections which can be fueled by excessive mysis in the tank. The peppermints kept the tank very clean.

I have read that they can eat LPS? or are those blood shrimps (Lysmata debelius)?

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Zombie snails and hermit crabs finish off what don't get eaten in my tank . Which ain't a lot tbh.

I got like 3 hermits & about 7 nassarius in my 50g.

 

[Miami Reef]

Fish excrete nearly all the nitrogen and phosphorus they consumed, so it really doesn’t matter if the food ended up in their mouths vs sitting on the bottom of the tank.

 

[I never finish anythi]

I got like 3 hermits & about 7 nassarius in my 50g.

They should tank care of uneaten food that gets left at the bottom . My cleaner shrimp used to be another, but sadly it's passed now

 

[exnisstech]

I'm more concerned with making sure all the fish get food and don't really worry about over feeding.

 

[X-37B]

I practice heavy in/out.
I feed heavy but do not feed the acros. Any left over food is consumed by my cleanup crew and the 150lbs of live rock that has quite a bit of life.
No3 is controlled by a sulfer reactor and po4 is controlled by small amouns of phosgaurd when needed.
Quality oversized skimmer helps.

 

[Dan_P]

Lots of watching and dialing in my feeding habits, it takes a bit of time and patience to get it right. If food is still flying around after 30 seconds, I will feed less next time, I like all food gone in less than 30 seconds. I feed 3-4 times a day.

This ^^^ is the special feeding tool…the aquarist.

 

[Dan_P]

Fish excrete nearly all the nitrogen and phosphorus they consumed, so it really doesn’t matter if the food ended up in their mouths vs sitting on the bottom of the tank.

Good thought! Gold star