Feeding question.

Jonnybucko · 01/26/2010, 10:15 PM

I just started my first saltwater tank. It's a 55 gallon Live Rock and Fish Only tank. I bought my first 5 fish and they are doing well! I have 2 Parrotfish (male,female); 2 bangghi cardinals and a sailfish tang. I feed them twice a day. I know overfeeding can be the "kiss of death" so I am very conscious not to do so. Here's my problem..... They eat flake food just fine. I also bought a pack of Fish and Reef #2. I dropped in a frozen cube yesterday and its just sitting on the bottom, under a rock and I can't get it out without disturbing my tank. Will this uneaten food get eaten eventually or will this cause harm to my tank?

spleify · 01/26/2010, 10:24 PM

Do you have any crabs and snails in the tank? if so they will likely eat it. Try disolving it in some tank water first next time. And just FYI, feeding twice a day is to much IMO, unless you are feeding VERY small amouts. I will sometimes go two days without feeding at all.

To Reef Central

Sisterlimonpot · 01/26/2010, 10:27 PM

+1, What I do is devote a cup and syringe to feeding. I allow the frozen to defrost in the cup with tank water and once it breaks up I use a syringe and feed the guys slowly so that very little ends up uneaten.
oh and

To Reef Central

Jonnybucko · 01/26/2010, 10:30 PM

I am feeding very small amounts. I don't have any crabs or snails. I just hope the fish just figure out its food or it breaks up and they eat it up. Will it harm my tank to have it there just chillin?

Sisterlimonpot · 01/26/2010, 10:33 PM

It may increase your No3 and P04. You may want to look at getting a good cleanup crew (CUC) although you may also have pods and worms that will devoir it as well.

Jonnybucko · 01/26/2010, 10:35 PM

Is it anything that I need to worry about right now, screwing up my whole tank?

Sisterlimonpot · 01/26/2010, 10:37 PM

Being a fish only tank no. But unless you like the look of green algae everywhere I would get some snails and crabs to help out.

spleify · 01/26/2010, 10:38 PM

No, it is not going to screw up your tank.

Can you get in there with a turkey baster and blow it out?

I too agree that you should really have some king of clean up crew in there

Jonnybucko · 01/26/2010, 10:39 PM

Any particular snails or crabs?

spleify · 01/26/2010, 10:46 PM

Blue leg hermits, scarlet hermits, astrea snails, stomatella nials, nassarious snails.

Theres lots of different options

01/26/2010, 10:15 PM	#1
Jonnybucko Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Feeding question. I just started my first saltwater tank. It's a 55 gallon Live Rock and Fish Only tank. I bought my first 5 fish and they are doing well! I have 2 Parrotfish (male,female); 2 bangghi cardinals and a sailfish tang. I feed them twice a day. I know overfeeding can be the "kiss of death" so I am very conscious not to do so. Here's my problem..... They eat flake food just fine. I also bought a pack of Fish and Reef #2. I dropped in a frozen cube yesterday and its just sitting on the bottom, under a rock and I can't get it out without disturbing my tank. Will this uneaten food get eaten eventually or will this cause harm to my tank?

01/26/2010, 10:27 PM	#3
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	+1, What I do is devote a cup and syringe to feeding. I allow the frozen to defrost in the cup with tank water and once it breaks up I use a syringe and feed the guys slowly so that very little ends up uneaten. oh and *To Reef Central* __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/26/2010, 10:33 PM	#5
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	It may increase your No3 and P04. You may want to look at getting a good cleanup crew (CUC) although you may also have pods and worms that will devoir it as well. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/26/2010, 10:37 PM	#7
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Being a fish only tank no. But unless you like the look of green algae everywhere I would get some snails and crabs to help out. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/26/2010, 10:38 PM	#8
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	No, it is not going to screw up your tank. Can you get in there with a turkey baster and blow it out? I too agree that you should really have some king of clean up crew in there __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/26/2010, 10:24 PM	#2
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Do you have any crabs and snails in the tank? if so they will likely eat it. Try disolving it in some tank water first next time. And just FYI, feeding twice a day is to much IMO, unless you are feeding VERY small amouts. I will sometimes go two days without feeding at all. *To Reef Central* __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/26/2010, 10:30 PM	#4
Jonnybucko Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	I am feeding very small amounts. I don't have any crabs or snails. I just hope the fish just figure out its food or it breaks up and they eat it up. Will it harm my tank to have it there just chillin?

01/26/2010, 10:35 PM	#6
Jonnybucko Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Is it anything that I need to worry about right now, screwing up my whole tank?

01/26/2010, 10:39 PM	#9
Jonnybucko Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Any particular snails or crabs?

01/26/2010, 10:46 PM	#10
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Blue leg hermits, scarlet hermits, astrea snails, stomatella nials, nassarious snails. Theres lots of different options __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH