coral food/feeding

[jadakiss]

i was searching on our mh files to see what people use to feed corals and every one uses different items. people say ohh dont use this cuz ur nitrate is goin to go sky rocket and oh dont u this cuz ur phosphate is goin to go up. i have a 55g reef with alot of soft corals , zoos and some lps and a clam, rose bubble tip anenome. ive been using oyster eggs and cyclops . i dont target feed no body just the anenome i put brine shrimp in his mouth. but other than that i just throw cyclops or oyster eggs in the tank . i turn all my pumps off except my seio and let them absorb the food for like a hr. now my ? is what is the right food and for corals to eat period do u have to target feed or just dumpin the food in the tank and lettin them absorb the nutrients is a proper way to feed. ive read thousands of post and still this is like a on goin topic, i would love to know the real answer. in the ocean im thinkin to my self no one is target feeding anyone, they grab what is near them and all they have that is sun light, that is something that there goin to get , but food i dont know about that, any way sorry for writin so much i was just want to know the right answer.:givebeer:

 

[KathyC]

I feed my RBTA pieces of raw shrimp or scallops and he will also grab mysis when it lands on him. I know you have a bubble and it is suggested they get some meaty food a couple of times a week.
The rest of the corals usually can grab enough food from the water column, and light of course, to make them happy.
The other corals you mention and your clam( unless he is very small) shouldn't need to directly be fed anything.

Keep in mind Jada that in the ocean there is a constant & very large supply of plankton (especially so), eggs released by fish, and many varieties of pods and whatnot that is floating around and the corals grab what they need but many only require light.

 

[jadakiss]

so there no need to target feed

 

[KathyC]

I didn't say that..there are some corals that do need to be spot fed. It depends on the coral. You seem to have 2 that do need to be fed.
Best to research them before you buy them so that you'll know, or at least ask when you purchase them..and then double check the info!

 

[prattreef]

Jada, I would focus on learning how to maintain pristine water quality, feed your fish well, and not worry about feeding anything else. If your lighting is suffiecient, nothing you have listed NEEDS to be fed except perhaps the RBTA, sparingly. Once your system is rock solid stable then you can try to experiment with other feeds. FWIW, I have never gone out of my way to feed any of my SPS, LPS, Clams or anemones, but I do feed my fish heavily.