The Food for Reef Aquariums

Feeding a thriving reef aquarium takes more than a few commercial fish pellets. The aquarist needs to consider the corals, anemones and bivalves that also require nutrition. There are many different foods that can and should be fed to reef tanks, but no single food will sustain all the life forms, so the conscientious reef keeper will want to research the inhabitants of his tank in order to decide upon the right variety.

  1. Pellets or Flakes

    • Feed a high-quality pellet or flake to the fish in the reef aquarium two to three times weekly. Most fish will eat pellets or flakes in plain sight of the reef keeper, which can be helpful in assessing the health of the tank's fish population.

    Mysids, Krill and Brine

    • Live or frozen mysids, krill and brine are palatable to a variety of fish and some corals and anemones. Hermit crabs, starfish, brittle stars and other scavengers will happily eat these foods. Live and frozen krill, brine and mysids should be offered two to three times per week.

    Chopped Bait

    • If you keep large-mouthed fish or eels in your reef tank, chopped clams, shrimp, squid, or baitfish should be added to the feed. With oily foods like chopped bait, it is especially important that you do not overfeed. Always feed only as much as your critters will consume in a few minutes.

    Seaweed

    • Some fish are largely herbivores, such as triggers and tangs. For these fish, you should add a seaweed supplement, even if they eat the algae in your tank. Seaweed is often sold in pet stores in sheet form, and you can simply clip a sheet to the side of the tank and let the fish pick it, or you can tear it into tiny pieces and feed it to your fish. Many aquarists use "nori," sold as sushi wrap in Asian specialty stores, which often costs less than seaweed marketed specifically for aquariums.

    Marine Snow

    • Many corals create their own food via photosynthesis, so be certain your lighting is designed to sustain a reef tank. However, corals should also be fed a "marine snow" formula for filter-feeding invertebrates. There are plenty of these on the market for the home aquarium, and they consist of a mixture of phytoplankton, zooplankton, trace elements and dissolved organic material. Corals, sponges, bivalves and sometimes anemone and echinoderms will feed on marine snow. Turn off your protein skimmers and filters for a half an hour after feeding marine snow or it will be removed from your system before your organisms have the chance to ingest it. Target-feed corals, sponges and bivalves with a syringe or pipette. Some corals feed only at night, so spot-feed them in the evening. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for best results from each product.

    Rotifers

    • Rotifers are tiny creatures that can be purchased from aquarium stores and online, frozen or live, and are ideal for feeding corals, anemones and tiny fish fry.

    How Much and How Often

    • Some reef-keepers feed their tanks once a week, while others opt for three times daily. In general, small amounts more frequently are better than large amounts less often. Choosing the right size food is equally important, as food that is too large or too much can cause corals to regurgitate. If you are unsure if you are overfeeding or feeding improperly sized foods, check for leftovers. Also test your water for nitrates and nitrites. If your nitrates and nitrites are consistently high despite your filtration and regular water changes, you are probably overfeeding.