Coral Feeding Woes

[Sweetpea]

I am having a bit of trouble feeding the corals in my tank. The brain, candy, and sun corals all seem to produce a jelly-like substance at feeding time, as do the orange rics in a smaller amount (the green ones haven't shown a feeding response that I have seen). The "jelly" seems to act as a collection place to hold the food while it is consumed, and the shrimp, hermits, and even the nassarius snails have been feasting most happily upon it. I have been trying to "stand guard" and shoo away the theives, but they are surprisingly quick and efficient and are making off with most of the corals' dinner. I have been feeding the shrimp something meaty just before the corals to keep him busy, but there are more crabs and snails than I can satisfy in that manner. I have heard of using an inverted plastic bottle or strawberry basket to protect the corals while they eat, but the multiple locations of the corals and the small tank size prevents me from using this method.

I think the corals are able to consume a very tiny amount of food. Let's say that it's a cyclopeeze night... The corals might be able to eat 2 or 3 pieces before they are robbed. I know I'm very new to this, but it doesn't seem like nearly enough when their little "jelly sacks" are holding 10-15 pieces (or more for the brain). I plan to move the corals to the new tank as soon as it has finished cycling, and I will leave out the aggressive members of my clean-up crew.

All comments and suggestions are very much appreciated!

[graphixx]

just as long as they are getting something that is a good sign. in a bigger tank it will be easier. I think your on the right track. if you were able to offer some sort of "barrier" for them to eat undisturbed wether it be a bottle or strawberry basket would be ideal. but like you said it makes it hard. But your on the right track.
what I would try is "chumming" I usually squirt a tiny bit straight into the water columm. what this does is stimulate the corals so the feeders extend. I then wait a few minutes for the corals to get into "feeding mode" when the feeders are extended. this makes it easier for them to grab the food and they pull it in quicker. that seems to work well for me.
keep us posted on how it goes!!!1

Greg

[dsfdbutterfly]

Since you can't block them have you though of putting in some liquid forms of food also until moved to the bigger tanks? I've been target feeding all my stuff with liquid zooplex, phyotplex and chromaplex (on a rotating basis) every couple of days. I know this can't be the main diet for your corals but it might keep them healthy until you can move them and the thiefs can't still this stuff away.

When I feed my clowns I also give them some food from that but my peppermint shrimp is quick like you said. I think he gets most of it so I depend on the other stuff so they don't starve. Everything is growing (almost too quickly).

People may have bad things to say about this stuff though. I also don't know if you would have to increase your water changes because you don't have a skimmer right now. I like Greg's advice this was just in addition.

Angie

[Sweetpea]

what I would try is "chumming" I usually squirt a tiny bit straight into the water columm. what this does is stimulate the corals so the feeders extend. I then wait a few minutes for the corals to get into "feeding mode" when the feeders are extended. this makes it easier for them to grab the food and they pull it in quicker.

Thanks Greg! I turn off the filter and pour a smidge of Marine Snow into the flow of the powerhead after the lights go out... I see tentacles evrywhere! They have a great response but just not enough time to eat before their food is stolen away... kind of like that annoying friend at dinner who grabs food off your plate and then says "you're not gonna eat that, are you?"

I can't wait for the new tank to be ready! It's going well so far; ammonia is down to 1.5, nitrites at 2, and nitrates at 5... I'm testing every other day, eager to see lots of 0's!

[graphixx]

Awesome!!!! I checked out your update, that xenia is growing like CRAAZZYY!!! that is soooo great.
yeah when you see the feeders out they are ready to go and they will take that good in pretty quick once they get it.
Let me know how it works out!!!!

[Sweetpea]

Since you can't block them have you though of putting in some liquid forms of food also until moved to the bigger tanks?

Hi Angie! I got your response in while I was responding to Greg! (I'm a slow typist, lol!)

I have target fed Marine Snow and oyster eggs... they all show a great response.

That d*** shrimp tramps all over everything in his excitement to get a quick meal! At feeding time, everything in the tank ends up shriveled from his assaults. My poor sun coral had just come out tonight and ended up fully retracted in under 3 minutes! Tonight I saw a crab run - yes, RUN - after a cyclopeeze "jelly sack" on the brain. I tried to get him off, and he clamped down tight on the fleshy part near the brain's mouth, robbing him completely!

I think you are right about the liquid feedings... Hopefully they get enough nutrition from these feedings until moving day!

[davejnz]

Jelly like,that is very unususal.LPS corals feed by tentacle capture.I have never seen a jelly like substance from them other than the dreaded brown-jelly disease.
Marine-snow,never used it.What are the ingedients on the label?For my stoney corals,I take a cupfull of tank water and thaw a half-cube of frozen mysis in it.I then add an 1/8tspn of golden pearls(50 micron)and mix thouroughly.I then pour a little in the tank and wait for tentacle response from my LPS.I use a syringe or turkey baster to target feed some corals then pour the rest of the cup in the tank to broadcast feed everything else.I leave the pumps running too.
EDIT-some LPS will reject Cyclop-eeze,not sure why.They expel the food in a mucuus web which might be the jelly like substance you describe.

[davejnz]

BTW,what type of shrimp.Peppermint shrimp nearly destroyed a $200 Acanthastrea lord colony i had.They will stop at nothing to steal food out of corals mouths.Hermits are just as oportunistic too when it comes to stealing food.They are slow though and can be kept at bay much easier than shrimp.I would never add a peppermint(or any shrimp)to a reef tank with LPS corals that are fed often.They have an insatiable appetite.Even when fed prior to feeding your corals,they still go after the corals to steal food IME.

[Sweetpea]

Marine-snow,never used it.What are the ingedients on the label?

Marine Snow - Planktonic Food for Filter Feeding Marine Invertebrates
"This first of its kind product reproduces the specialty biogenic suspended matter found in natural seawater. These aggregates, collectively called "marine snow" by ocean researchers, are known to be an important element in the food chain of marine ecosystems."

Ingredients: deionized water, phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis or Thalassiosira, Isochrysis, Spirulina, Schyzochitrium), seaweed meal, zooplankton, citric acid

Here is a link for more info: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=TL3111

some LPS will reject Cyclop-eeze,not sure why.They expel the food in a mucuus web which might be the jelly like substance you describe.

That sounds like a better description - mucus web ... kind of like thick spit. :p They don't appear to be rejecting the food, but I will watch extra, extra close next time I feed. Cyclopeeze is what my LFS feeds all their LPS, so that is where I started at home, adding Marine Snow and oyster eggs on a rotating basis. I do use a few drops of Marine Snow in a high flow area to stimulate a feeding response before I target feed. I have been feeding every other day...

BTW,what type of shrimp.Peppermint shrimp nearly destroyed a $200 Acanthastrea lord colony i had.They will stop at nothing to steal food out of corals mouths.Hermits are just as oportunistic too when it comes to stealing food.They are slow though and can be kept at bay much easier than shrimp.

It's a cleaner shrimp. He is relentless... worse than the peppermint I had. My hermits are pretty doggone quick, and with two or three trying to climb all over each coral, it's been difficult for me to keep them and the shrimp at bay. The snails are slower and much more easily controlled, but added to the shrimp and crabs I just want to scream!

I would never add a peppermint(or any shrimp)to a reef tank with LPS corals that are fed often.They have an insatiable appetite.Even when fed prior to feeding your corals,they still go after the corals to steal food IME.

I most certainly will not be moving these guys over to the new tank! I am looking forward to being able to feed the tank and then sit back and watch instead of playing bodyguard! :-)

[dsfdbutterfly]

I've obviously made the mistake of buying a peppermint shrimp. He however doesn't seem to be giving me the headaches that Tracy's is. I love watching him. Is there any way to safely have these guys in your tank and corals? The reason I ask is because the day I plan on upgrading I would like to move him over. If I have to deal with this though I don't want to worry about it. Thankfully I never went with the crabs, seen what they do in the fish only tank. I target feed him with my clowns once a day and the clowns seem to keep him in his place. Maybe I should start my own thread but knew you two were monitoring this one. Thanks for your info.

Tracy, I've heard of the marine snow before. Even thought of trying it. Dave may know this but they may be putting out a bigger mucus or capture technique due to the fact that the shrimp and crabs are stealing the food. Trying to get more in ya know. What ever you decide to do keep us all posted. I for one have loved watching your tank and love your xenia. Maybe the lfs would take the shrimp back if it is really bothering you. It may be the only way.