Why do we feed non-photosynthetic corals?

[theplatypus]

To be a little more specific. Why do we target feed non-photosynthetic corals? It doesn't really make any sense to me. It seems to me that if you're feeding the tank(blender mush) these corals will feed themselves.

[110galreef]

What corals are you talking about??

Sun corals like meaty foods, coco worms, feather dusters and gorgonias will like filter foods like micro vert......

[reefermike1]

Originally Posted by theplatypus

To be a little more specific. Why do we target feed non-photosynthetic corals? It doesn't really make any sense to me. It seems to me that if you're feeding the tank(blender mush) these corals will feed themselves.

ive wondered that myself mainly because its a pain to have my suncoral in the shade, and manage to get a turkey baster in there for each individual head. only shade i have is a cave, so i can only succesfully feed half of it

[110galreef]

Sun coral can be in the light!, Just doesn't really need it.

Taget feeding really makes sure the corals and things get food, just cause we feed the fishes doesn't mean the filter feeders are getting enough floating debris....especially if you don't have really good flow!

Thus adding some extra filter foods or spot feeding ensures this!

[Loverotties]

I agree with 110galreef.My sun is out and also comes out during the day(trained)Adding other typesn of food to get a square meal that one kind mite be missing.

[Geoff]

if the coral is in the path of the flow and is getting food during the blender much releasings than it should not be necessary to target feed them.

i have a special nook in my LR that i may try and slap a sun coral in to see if it does ok.

i have seen sun corals doing just fine inside an overflow without actual target feeding. i am sure it was getting left overs as they made their way down to the sump.

G~

[theplatypus]

THe way I see it these corals only catch what ever food particles that are floating through their tentacles. Our tendency to target feed them is probably equivalent to an all you can eat buffet. Meaning that they get much more food than they need and more food than what is available to them throughout the night.

[110galreef]

Not necassarily as I've had sun corals in decent flow areas and still needed target feed to keep them alive.

Now some corals like xenia and gorgonias may be able to get enough food from being in a constant supply of high flow ........

just have to see if they do OK, if so then fine...if not then target feed!

[wharyat]

They need a lot more than what they get by just picking up a portion of what we feed whole tank.

[Geoff]

some of them may also have a specific size requirement for the food. target feeding tends to pummel the coral with all the sizes. it could be that the normal currents in the area are filtering out food of a certain size.

G~

[skeety]

Originally Posted by theplatypus

THe way I see it these corals only catch what ever food particles that are floating through their tentacles. Our tendency to target feed them is probably equivalent to an all you can eat buffet. Meaning that they get much more food than they need and more food than what is available to them throughout the night.

I think you kind of hit on the answer to your own question.

I think it has to do with quantity.

See...with a photosynthetic coral, whatever nutritional value that coral doesn't get from food, it can suppliment with light.

When a coral's non-photosynthetic, ALL of it's "dietary" needs come strictly from captured food. So it then becomes a matter of quantity. To keep up with the corals needs (to compensate for the other half of it's diet other corals normally get from light), you either spot feed (guaranteeing a greater amount of food reaches that specific coral), or you'd have to feed the tank so much food that you might risk considerable algae/phosphate/nitrate problems.

That's purely speculation on my part...but in my head, it makes sense! hahaha

[wharyat]

I'm dumping in close to a cup a day of cultured phyto in my lightless tank (10g tank, 40g refuge), and it's still not enough to keep up with carnation corals, as they are slowly fading away. It is enough to be right on the edge of overloading biological filtration and the refugium tho. Everything else is doing awesome tho.

Carnations are impossible in captivity.

[Sara7814]

do you have a link or pic of the carnations

[wharyat]

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84825 Last pic on the first post.

[Sara7814]

thank you