How much should I feed ??

My tanks been running for about 5 months and my nitrates are kinda high and I trying to bring them down to control my algae problem and I think I migt be overfeeing. I have a 90 gallon tank with a
5" clarki clown, 3 " clarki clown, 4" yellow tang, 4" blue hippo tang, and 5" lopezi tang. I currently feed them two cubes of fronzen brine shrimp every day. Also I do see the fish eat each others poop when they go to the bathroom is this a sign I am underfeeding.

 

I feed 2 small stripes of seaweed and 2 cubes(mix and match) every day. What do you consider high NO3? I hope that your not JUST feeding them only brine shrimps. BS are considered as a "treat" and not a real source of food. I feed mine Blood worms, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, squid and seaweed. You have 3 tangs that need seaweed.

 

I usually feed them 2 cubes of brine that has vitamin c in it. And about every other day I feed them a strip of algae and there is the algae on the rock to feed on. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt overfeeding or underfeeding.
thanks

 

Iv'e added your "total" fish by estimated inches you've provided here
5+3+4+4+5= 21 ok "follow me" on this>

many "fresh water tanks/keepers say you can hold up to 1 inch per gallon .
Ok .

In my eperiance and from other "reef" tanks and "fish only" only tanks suggest that you allow 1 inch per five gallons of tank water ( especialy reefs cause the live coral also has "bio-load on it)


Now if you calculate total inches of fish (yours ) > 21 inches , now take your 90 gallon > 90 divided by 21 = comes to almost 4 and 1/4 inches "per 5 gallons of water , Now you have to take all that bio load into account along with that.

I'm supprised you dont have a seveer nitrate/amionia issues .
but it can be controlled thrue more often water changes and of course
and/or more a sizable refugium or more filtration , ie, a larger more efficent skimmer .
But skimmers tend to strip other needed chemicals out' along with to many water changes .
( you need somthing cost effective and less physicaly demanding to maintain such a heavy bio load )

i would suggest a refugium in the end if you are dead set on keeping so many fish .

Keep in mind your surpassing the 1 inch per 5 gallon rule ( thats a general )
for the fish in a reef tank set up .

Most forget what those "fish do after they eat".. they produce "waste"
where does that waste go ? into the sand generaly and settles in there'
and rotts and causes nitrate problems there by causing your other inhabitents /corals to have problems.

 

How high is your No3?

 

My nitrates are about 20 to 30.

wildreef: I have a 8 gallon fuge and and about 110 lbs of live rock to help with the bioload. I also have about 5 gallons of bioballs in my sump along with a hang on filter and skimmer. And have not had any ammonia or nitrite readings since it cycled.

 

You'll probably wont ever see a Nh3/4 or No2 after you have cycled. The only problem is No3. My No3 are usually at 20ppm and my livestock looks great. Remember that its not a good idea to have zero No3 b/c some corals feed on no3's.

 

You may want to take out the bio wheel from the Marineland filter. They have known to produce No3. I was able to lower my No3 to 5-10ppm by cleaning out all sponges and filtering pads twice a week.

 

Never thought about the bio wheel causing No3. Thanks or the advice will give it a try.

 

there's your sign........