Dry Flake vs Home-Made Fish Goo

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Definitely agree. I had tried the wter changes for a long time. Then I read that water changes are BAD for dinos...so I stopped. Recently I started doing them regularly again since the dinos had subsided. But it seems that the dry food makes a big difference. Perhaps it is the increased water changes AND the Formula 1 Flake food together that is helping?

funny as it be, i had a hugh cyano and dino problem for months (i think 4-6 to be specific). I removed my refugium, sump and skimmer and switched to weekly water changes and that fixed everything. So i guess what i'm saying is theres multiple ways to resolve export nutrient problems. yours may be just what your tank needed!

 

[Liam]

What about if it says no binder gel?

they are still in nutient laden water

 

[Liam]

Can you go into a little more detail regarding "whole food items"? Specifically wnat are the ingredients and how are they prepared?

As a reference talking point, my homade food is raw chopped up clams, shrimp, scallops, squid, Reef Nutrition Frozen, Mysis. I chop the big stuff individually then add the mysis and frozen. I never use a blender.

But still, the flake food is really making a difference in my tank as far as staving off algae.

Pellets it seems would even be better, as long as they provide the correct nutrition. I would definitely consider this type of food.

I take frozen hikari mysis(not freshwater pe mysis),hikari spirulina enriched brine.I melt them in a large bowl of tank water,swish them around a little and then strain off all the liquid.I then add cylopeeze,baby brine,rotifers,oyster eggs and shredded nori.I then flat pack them in ziplocks,there is a enough moisture in the brine and mysis for freezing.

The key IMO is not to blend or in anyway cut whole food items.
If you cut up a clam all the bodily fluid leaks out regardless how you do it.
I select food items that are naturally suitable size wise for the organism i am trying to feed.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Food for Thought

Thanks Liam. Very informative - and less work too!
I like the "less work" part!

I take frozen hikari mysis(not freshwater pe mysis),hikari spirulina enriched brine.I melt them in a large bowl of tank water,swish them around a little and then strain off all the liquid.I then add cylopeeze,baby brine,rotifers,oyster eggs and shredded nori.I then flat pack them in ziplocks,there is a enough moisture in the brine and mysis for freezing.

The key IMO is not to blend or in anyway cut whole food items.
If you cut up a clam all the bodily fluid leaks out regardless how you do it.
I select food items that are naturally suitable size wise for the organism i am trying to feed.

 

[Denise Goodheart]

What about additives like Selco, HUFA supplements or amino acids etc?

When purchasing flake or pellet foods, I try to make sure the first few ingredients are not wheat germ etc. I am a believer in variety, use a high quality of flake or pellet and frozen foods.

Sounds like if there are not enough filter feeders, fish goo will not be totally consumed?

 

[JohnK]

I've heard of concerns about fish getting "sick" after being fed frozen food that has been thawed, and then re-frozen.

Any thoughts about this?

 

[lisa foster]

I live far from all the fish stores my food tends to thaw I have not had a problem yet. I try to bring a cooler but sometimes I forget.I am sure there could be problems with fish getting sick just like our food should not thaw then refreeze bacteria can form

 

[Alex]

Here's what I don't understand. Does it really matter if the food is consumed whole or if the juices get out? From a phosphate point of view? Does the fish use enough of the phosphate to make a difference or does it all just end up in the water column anyway once it comes out the other end?