Feeding

[JonZeigler]

Ok, its me again. With another dump ?.
I came home and my wife decided to use the outlet that I normally use to service my 20 gal cichlid tank - I know, I need a bigger tank - .
Anyway, it was time for me to replace some evaporated water. I needed about five gallons (lazy me). I don't know if that is considered a replacement or a water change, but after replacing the water I noticed that I had that brown build-up in my filter that usually comes from food particles, I think. The filters didn't restart on their own due to the low water level when unplugged. I poured water into the filters and the filter back fired. I wasn't planing on changing filters at this time, but U know. So begins the routine. I rinsed out both filters and restart. I had to get rid of the trash that back-fired, so I began to vacuum. I noticed that their was a lot to the brown trash or uneaten stuff in the gravel on one side of the tank. I normally vacuum little when I do a water change, just to check. I noticed that to much food had built up in the bottom of tank. I ended up vacuuming another 5 gals out. Now I would consider this a water change.
My question is if I am feeding my fish flakes, how do I avoid allowing the little particles that are to small for my fish to chase another the tank. They don't even bother with the little stuff. I only feed them once in the morning. I try not to over feed, but I don't want them to starve. I know U are only suppose to feed them as much as they can eat in five minutes, but the little flakes fall to the bottom, and they have no intention on going through the extra changes. Is this just a maintence thing or should I try feed them something else?
Ok, back to the routine.
See U guys later-------------------------- 8)

[cichestlad]

Ok, its me again. With another dump ?.
I came home and my wife decided to use the outlet that I normally use to service my 20 gal cichlid tank - I know, I need a bigger tank - .
Anyway, it was time for me to replace some evaporated water. I needed about five gallons (lazy me). I don't know if that is considered a replacement or a water change, but after replacing the water I noticed that I had that brown build-up in my filter that usually comes from food particles, I think. The filters didn't restart on their own due to the low water level when unplugged. I poured water into the filters and the filter back fired. I wasn't planing on changing filters at this time, but U know. So begins the routine. I rinsed out both filters and restart. I had to get rid of the trash that back-fired, so I began to vacuum. I noticed that their was a lot to the brown trash or uneaten stuff in the gravel on one side of the tank. I normally vacuum little when I do a water change, just to check. I noticed that to much food had built up in the bottom of tank. I ended up vacuuming another 5 gals out. Now I would consider this a water change.
My question is if I am feeding my fish flakes, how do I avoid allowing the little particles that are to small for my fish to chase another the tank. They don't even bother with the little stuff. I only feed them once in the morning. I try not to over feed, but I don't want them to starve. I know U are only suppose to feed them as much as they can eat in five minutes, but the little flakes fall to the bottom, and they have no intention on going through the extra changes. Is this just a maintence thing or should I try feed them something else?
Ok, back to the routine.
See U guys later-------------------------- 8)


try feeding every 2nd day, you`ll find that they will pick off the bottom as they go that little bit longer without a feed. hope that helps...good luck :wink:

[MalawiMayhem]

An option may be to feed them pellets.

Pellets come in wide varieties and sizes so you can custom tailor their diet accordingly.

Also, you can feed them pellets a bit at a time and there won't be any small chunks as there is with flakes.

:)

[Boilermaker]

Hey John, I keep bottom feeders because I feed once aday for the most part and then I tend to overfeed. I have seven cats and a botia in the 125.

[JonZeigler]

I have "Red Zebra's" - Estherae - in my tank.
What kind of bottom feeding are compatible.

Thanks for the help.

Back to the routine!

[jonah]

Here's what I would do. Switch to pellets, vacuum once a week during water change, and skip the bottom feeders. When you get a bigger tank, get some Synodonitis for the bottom or a pleco.

Another option is feeding vegetables clipped to the side, at least it won't end up in the gravel. Just make sure you blanche them first.

[MalawiMayhem]

Or nori sheets (seaweed) clipped to the sides of the tank with those veggie clips, my guys love it!

[JonZeigler]

OK! I kind of like the idea of vaccuming during water change; force of habit I guess. I do feed pallets along with the flakes, its just that they attack the pallet so fast, I don't want them to choke :lol: .
Anyway, what are vegatables? U don't mean plants, do U?
"Or nori sheets (seaweed)" - Seaweed is for salt water, No? I guess I'll ask my Local Fish Supplier.

O, PS, vaccuming is a good way to check if I am over feeding.

Back to the routine.

[jonah]

I mean zuchinni, romaine lettuce and defrosted frozen peas. You slice the zuchinni up, put it in the freezer overnight, then clip a piece to your tank glass. With the romaine you just freeze the leafs overnight then clip them in the tank. The peas need to be defrosted and then squeezed out in the water. Don' feed the skins.

Freezing breaks down the cellulose in the vegetables. It's hard to digest in fish, so they need a little help. The same results can be obtained by pouring boiling water over them.

Don't worry if the fish don't seem interested at first. Just leave the zuchinni/lettuce in the tank for a couple of days without any extra feeding and they'll figure it out.

Nori is seaweed, but the mbuna will eat it anyway. They don't run into lettuce or zuchinni in the wild either and it doesn't seem to bother them.

[SGypsyMermaid]

that brown build-up in my filter that usually comes from food particles, I think. Is this just a maintence thing or should I try feed them something else?


you are gonna get that stuff in the tank even if you cut back--it's a combination of uneaten food and fish poop. you'll just have to make vacuuming part of your maintenance schedule. :)

[JonZeigler]

Hay, thanks for the comments.
---Mermaid, I am going to give that a try.
I'll keep you posted.