Reef aquarists often overlook the necessity of a well-fed reef aquarium, and instead worry that increased feedings will only result in undesirable nutrient levels. However, on a wild reef, corals are literally bathed in a soup of edible plankton. The more effort that the aquarist puts forth to mimicking these conditions, the more colorful, healthy, and faster-growing their corals will be! Although feeding a reef aquarium undeniably increases the dissolved nutrient level in the water column. However, this is most definitely not a reason to avoid feeding, or to feed sparingly, and in fact, can be a good thing.
Today's modern reef aquarium, possessing a healthy anoxic sand bend, a refugium, and an efficient protein skimmer is more than capable of preventing the accumulation of nutrients to harmful levels in between weekly water changes. I feed my reef aquariums heavily, every day, and from one who has fed both heavily and sparingly, I can tell you honestly that the growth and vigor of well-fed corals is astounding!
I am not alone in my feeding method: any coral propagation facility that is raising coral for commercial sales feeds their corals an incredible amount when compared to the average hobbyist, often enough to completely cloud the system two or three times a day! Low nutrient levels are maintained in these facilities via massive protein skimmers, ozonizers, and very large (often daily) water changes.
Although regular feeding has been commonplace commercially for many years, feeding has only recently begun to gain serious recognition in the hobby. Over the last two or so years, many excellent products have appeared on the market for reef aquarists who now understand the importance of daily feedings. Here are three great ways to ensure your corals get the nutrition they need:
1. Commercial Foods
Three excellent products that I've used for years and highly recommend are Cyclops-eeze (especially the frozen version), Coral Frenzy, and Formula One. The first two are designed to mimic zooplankton in the aquarium, and elicit an obvious feeding response in corals. Formula One is designed as a fish food, but after a bit of 'mashing', forms an excellent, easily dissolved food source for everything in your tank. Frozen mysids should also be a staple in virtually every marine aquarium, and a reef tank is no exception
2. Seafood
Although it may seem obvious, shredded/blended seafoods from your local grocery store are a great way tofeed LPS and SPS corals, as well as any predatory fish you may have. Virtually any raw seafood purchased from a grocery store and shredded (for LPS polyps) or blended and poured into the tank (for SPS and soft corals) will work.
3. Growing your own I list the commercial brands and frozen foods first because of their ease of use and convenience. However, more natural methods of feeding produce more natural, healthier, and more effective food sources if the aquarist has the time and inclination. Culturing of Artemia, Dapnia, and Gammarus is possible and fairly easy to do, if somewhat time consuming.
Another excellent natural method for producing plankton for the home aquarium would be a refugium, preferably a refugium with a deep sand or mud bed, and stocked with plenty of macroalgae. The biodiversity revealed in a refugium that is stock with live sand, macroalgae, and a small amount of quality live rock is astounding. Refugiums have the added advantage of reducing your tanks’ dissolved nutrient level: nutrients are both filtered and stored biologically by the diverse invertebrate fauna that can be found in a refugium, or are removed directly by pruning and removing excess macroalgae growth. Bigger is definitely better in the case of refugiums: build or buy the largest one you can fit and/or afford because they are well worth the investment.
Coming soon: Feeding the three main types of coral. Sign up for our RSS or Newsletter to receive updates!
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This is a very informative.
Any success at keeping a Reef Aquarium depends upon your success at establishing natural conditions. In an ocean environment there exists a ready source of vital minerals, nutrients, and vitamins. In an aquarium environment supplementation is sometime essential to ensure these are not depleted. Marine Biology has always fascinated me!
Posted by: Andreas Photiou | 07/04/2009 at 06:42 PM