Feeding Rites

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by Marine1, Jan 26, 2005.

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  1. Marine1

    Marine1 Plankton

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2005
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    I have 2 questions:

    1) When i feed my fishes i turn everything off except for the lights. Is this recommended? or should i just turn off the powerheads. If i can turn everthing off what is the max amount of time that i should keep it off before my bacteria in my canister filter start to die on me? I want to give my fishes time to eat their food before i turn everything on and it's all over the tank.

    2) I don't have LR just Base Rock i have some brown algae forming but i think that's part of my cycling which started on 1\1\05. My thing is can i go for long periods of not feeding my fishes and still be o.k.? I know if I had some LR that they would pick on this to sustain themselves until i fed them but since i don't is this ok to do?

    Thx.

    :)
     
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  3. dx7fd2

    dx7fd2 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    May 22, 2004
    Messages:
    544
    Location:
    San Diego, CA,California
    I usually turn off the pumps except the skimmer and only feed enough for about 5-10 minutes down time. Your tank has just cycled so you are, more than likely,  going to get a diatom bloom followed by some green hair and turf algae. Try not to over feed any thing as this will give the "bad" algae nutrients to grow on. I hesitate using the term bad algae because it all has its purpose in a saltwater environment. ;)

    Drew

    OOps, second question...fish can actually go quite a while without any food but putting them on a diet is not the answer to the algae problem. Make sure you "cure" any live rock you add to the tank or you'll start a whole new cycle which is not good for the fish.

    I actually did not add fish to the tank for 5 months after the cycle!! 8)
     
  4. Marine1

    Marine1 Plankton

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2005
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
  5. Bruce

    Bruce Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2004
    Messages:
    3,531
    Location:
    Los Angeles, California
    hmm ur supposed to turn the ph off? my fish usually just go for the food...prolly cuz my ph kinda r weak im gona get some rio hyperflows soon...:)
     
  6. Jay

    Jay Teardrop Maxima Clam

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2004
    Messages:
    826
    I never turn mine off either unless I am feeding corals.
    I dont mind a little food getting down on the rocks. That gives the crabs, Stars, and whatever beings that occupy the lower part of the food chain some scraps. I dont feed just the fish I feed the reef so to speak. But not overfeeding. ;)

    Jay
     
  7. acenia

    acenia Spaghetti Worm

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    190
    Location:
    montreal, QC,Quebec
    hi

    i'd like to know how often would be good to feed fishes. i heard too that if it takes the fishes more than 30 seconds to eat it would be overfeeding is that true?

    thanks in advance