From my experience with fresh water, feeding the fish twice a day (some times 3 times a day) a small amount of varieties of food, helps the overall health, behavior and color (I guess the same applies to marine). Well, my schedule has change since those days, and now I leave early in the morning and I come back at home around 8 or 9 PM.
Right now I only have 2 Fire Goby (new tank) and I’m getting more fish this week (before I start adding corals), those guys are sleeping by the time I leave (lucky them!), and at full action when I come back (lights on).
So my question is, should I wake them up at morning turning on a couple of lights so I can feed them correctly (twice a day)?, or just have them used to once a day?….including the future additions. I don’t know if turning light on and off fir short time of period will stress them up.
Also I’m shutting down the power heads at feeding time, everybody does the same?
Twice a day is really too much for a reef tank. You're prolly gonna run into problems down the road. Your system most likely can't export everything that you import when you feed that often which leaves to nutrient build ups and them the problems- hair algae, cyano.
I feed every 2 days, and when I see cyano *every now and then* I skip the meal and let my system catch up with the exporting.
When you have a reef tank, there is plenty of food hiding in and around the rocks to feed them- they won't starve- sure they always look hungry, but its not best for the whole system.
If your system can handle the feeding, then go for it, but I have my doubts.... exporting everything you import is the key.
The book that I have depending on the specie will say feed once a day, twice a day or several times a day.
I know its not common to starve a fish, and its probably easier to overfeed, but ideally if you do just the right amount wouldn’t it be better (health)?
If your system can keep up with it, then go for it, but I know I couldn't do that on my tank even with a EuroReef running 24/7. I can't even grow xenia, my skimmer cleans so well, but sometimes I see cyano, not often, but it happens.
I'm not really sure if your fish would be that much healthier- had most my fish for a few years and they are healthy and look good. To me it's not worth the risk to feed more. You are really askin for trouble
yes, feeding once a day, or every other day, is not that uncommon.
of course certain fish may have special needs, but overall. regular once every day or two is fine. to keep them healthy.
as Gwen stated, in a mature tank, there is food all over to feed on. depending on the fish, they could probably go 3-5 days just feeding on whats in the.
i would go with once a day as a general rule, and adjust as needed.
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I think gwen is on the ball. I totally agree. I have a smaller tank and with that, nutrient production is a major concern. A case in point. I am building a new house and have my parents watching the tank in my absence. All I can say is that, I have my work cut out for me when I move this bad boy! My mother states that "the fish beg her to feed them"... i.e. twice to sometimes 3 times a day. Ive got bryopsis growing like a chia pet on my rocks. Totally sucks trying to fight! Good luck.
I fed my reef only every other day. I feed my pony tank (adults) just once a day, fasting them one day a week. The fry eat 2 times a day.
I have actually taken 4 and 5 day vacations and never fed the fish that entire time. They were not 'skinny' upon my return. A healthy and mature tank can go for a few days here and there without introduction of prepared foods.
aren't there certain species though that do better with regular feedings - such as chromis and anthias? I don't have either of these yet (hope to soon), but had read something like that....???
I have 2 clowns, neon dottyback, gold head sand sifter and a yellow tang in my 45g. I Agree that in smaller tanks (nanos) you have to be very careful how much you feed or you'll crash your tank. I usually feed 2 or 3 times a day, but only as much as they will eat. I turn off all the power heads and have a turky baster with some airline tubing running down for spot feeding. Every few days I put in some dried seedweed for my tang to feed on for a few hours and then remove it unless the snails make a B-line for it .
Rob: Tang is roughly 2 inches and has been in for a few weeks. He will eventually be housed into a 75 gal this summer. My wife rescued him from petco.
filatelico: 45g tank, have a colt coral at the moment, picking up some frogspawn, zoos and mushrooms tomorrow night. I spot feed only the fish right now and dose a very small amount of dt's for the colt. Depending on the coral and it's needs I will spot feed them as wel.
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