DIY Smaller Portion Feeding Cubes

So, this has probably been done before and people probably know how to do this but I figured I would post it for the people that don’t know. This is how to make smaller feeding cubes DIY (do it yourself). Ever feed your fish and see all the extra food just fall to the bottom. Well that extra food can be bad some times. The following info will show you how to cut down on that extra. You have probably figured out how much your fish will eat of the cubes that you already put in there or anything else. Now you can make a smaller portion or a portion with all your food in one. First take a ice tray. Then the food you want to feed them. Right now I feed my fish Bloodworms and Mysis Shrimp. However, you can use what ever you want. Next, take what you want to put into one serving and put it on the counter or cutting board. Next cut them into pieces, which you think your fish, will consume all of. Next take them and put it into the ice cube tray. Repeat for any other stuff you want to put in there. Once done top the ice cube tray off with RO water or Bottled water, don't use tap water. Stick in freezer and once froze you got yourself a smaller more consumed portion of food for the fish. This works wonders when you need someone else to feed the fish also. Don’t have to worry about them overfeeding or underfeeding. Below are some pictures of my resent job. I used Bloodworms and Mysis Shrimp with RO water. Take a look, and Enjoy

Bloodworms already done and in tray

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Mysis Shrimp Ready to be Cut

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Mysis Shrimp Cut in Half

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Putting it into the tray

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Then top off with the Water

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Cool idea Philip. Karma to you. :thumb_up:

Even those small cubes are sometimes too large for a persons tank.

Here's a possible modification, put the food back into the plastic tray that the mysis came in so you use less ro/di water. I would think it would thaw quicker then.

 

not sure if good idea

I really don't want to piss on anyones parade cause' I don't know all of the answers myself. I was always told and I know I have read that one should not refreeze people food. I believe the main reason is the quality of the food diminishes exponentially each time it is frozen. In fact we have all heard of "flash frozen" for a reason. When something is frozen, the cells rupture because water expands when frozen and all cells are in large part water. "Flash freezing" reduces this cell rupture thru reasons too long to explain here. As the cells rupture they release many of the necessary amino acids and other food materials. Thus much of the food quality is simply deposited into the aquarium water and not the animals mouth where it is needed. The hobby is difficult enough to succeed at without shooting ourselves in the foot, eh? Comments are always welcome.

 

Nope....You're exactly correct. Cells do burst and that's why the seafood industry sprays shrimp, clams, fish, etc. with something called polyphosphates salt. It's a cryoprotectant that prevents this. Your ingredients listing will just say salt though.

Chemistry and the Aquarium

This is why when you that frozen foods like Mysis, etc. you should always do it in a separate bowl and pour off all liquid and only put the food in the tank. You are preventing a SUBSTANTIAL form of orthophosphates (which is what polyphosphates salts are made of) from ever entering the tank that way. Some day when you're bored, get some guaranteed phosphate free RO/DI water and thaw a cube of frozen food in it like Mysis, Brine, etc. As soon as the food thaws and breaks apart, run a phosphate test on the water it's in. YOU'LL BE SHOCKED!!!

Philips idea works because of those polyphosphates and because he's not allowing everything to thaw completely.....just enough to cut if I understand his idea correctly.

To give you an idea of how rampant this is, a Google of "polyphosphates seafood" that 9800 separate web pages.

 

Good news then! I might do more of this myself. I always just saw off a frozen portion. If too large I use leftovers the next day. I also vacuum pack the large stuff after I have taken off about a months worth.
Kudos.

 

Vacuum packing is an awesome idea!!!

Hey, you're in Pitt, PA. Ask Anthony Calfo about this at your next meeting. He's always harping about it.

 

No I make sure all the stuff is still frozen. I dont let them thaw out, The worms in the mix I used were live. Also the ice cube melts fast if you use RO or Bottled water. The salt water helps it dissolve alot faster then you would think.