Essential foods for softies

[Valleyman]

For a newby like me who just have the satisfaction of buying my first lot of corals just last Sat, I wish to learn from you guys on what food/nutrients you add to the water. Heard that stuff like strontium, iodine, etc are quite pricey and one can ends up with half a dozen different bottles and an empty wallet. Is there a 'essentials-only-all-in-one' ? If not, what are the die-die essentials ?

A friend mentioned that one can forgo such stuffs and instead do a bi-monthly 10-20% water change with sea water from LFS. The planktons or nutrients in the sea water will be able to substain the corals. Wonder if this will work ?

[pospeh]

Softies take in planktonic life from the water as well as being photosynetic.

Iodide is need for softies, but you can dose with pharmaceutical grade potassium iodide (onw or two drops a week), and it cost almost nothing.

i dont know anyting about natural seawater.

[Dinosaur]

For my corals (both nard and soft) I use this brand of corals food which according to patrick (Hong Leong) contains all essential chemical in order for the coral to survival and grow (Later reconfirmed by Henry, the current Hong Leong Owner). The only thing I have to buy seperately is calcium powder.

Any comment ?

[Valleyman]

Tks Dinosaur,

What is the $/bottle and the dosage/frequency ?

[Dinosaur]

Tks Dinosaur,

What is the $/bottle and the dosage/frequency ?

I brought it at Hong Leong for $45. As for feeding, I practice feeding them directly using the help of a ###### tube (blow directly on them), so I can't really tells you how much you need to put, have to depends on the number of corals you have in there.

But ......... I conclude that directly feeding of croals is a more effective way that just pouring it into the tank

[Limpc]

Hi,

I'm just dosing with Iodine and of course photosynthesis. So far so good. I have a Xenia and is branching very well. Yesterday, while cleaning my tank, I realise that there is now a branch growing on a nearby liverock.

Read more about the food requirement. Some softies totally do not take any food except from photosynthesis.

Limpc

[Valleyman]

Limpc,

Iodine - which brand are you using ?

[Valleyman]

Is it necessary to off the skimmer for a few hours after adding liquid coral food to the water ?

[Dinosaur]

Is it necessary to off the skimmer for a few hours after adding liquid coral food to the water ?

Thats what i was advise to do. Sounds logic that skimmer will skim away your liquid food.

Any comments?

[boxfish]

I think the skimmer should only skim away some but not all

[sduu]

Hi dinosaur, i thought thet Reef Solution is a trace elements additive and not coral food?? . I dosg that to my tank 1 capful every day. Did u read the label behind?

[Dinosaur]

Hi dinosaur, i thought thet Reef Solution is a trace elements additive and not coral food?? . I dosg that to my tank 1 capful every day. Did u read the label behind?

Huh? I believe its serve both purpose right?

[hongqixian]

Huh? I believe its serve both purpose right?

I believe it stimulates the coral to think that it's being fed but it is not actual food in itself. The dosage of a capful a day seems a lot. I think it is probably very diluted.

[Limpc]

Limpc,

Iodine - which brand are you using ?

Hi,

Sorry for late reply. I'm using one from WH.

Limpc

[Valleyman]

Thanks. Better late than never WH=??