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As “worlds of our creation” marine aquariums are
reliant on us for adequate inputs of food, in acceptable formats, that
provide sufficient nutrients for growth and maintenance of
all our livestock. Nourishing marines is a twin-edged sword
however; a balance between adding needed materials while trying to avoid
polluting the system. There are a few approaches to nourishing marine
livestock and more than a handful of caveats to consider in preventing
self-induced maintenance problems from over- and mis-feeding.
·
Goals: Are you feeding for growth or maintenance? This is an
important question on a few counts. Of a certainty, marine life that is
fed minimally is longer-lived and less trouble to maintain. There is
less waste and its effects, like increased algae growth, to contend
with, less aggression amongst tankmates of differential growth rates,
and it’s a proven fact that lean specimens have longer life spans. On the other hand, most aquarists want to see their
specimens grow larger, maybe even reproduce. This goal calls for more
and often different foodstuffs, offered more frequently, sometimes in
varying formats from simpler maintenance regimens.
·
Foods: Come in many shapes, sizes and make-ups, and these variations
are important to their intended consumers. Dried-prepared flakes,
pellets, crisps, freeze-dried, frozen, fresh and more formats are
available as store bought and some human-consumption rated foods. Which
are best? That depends on the species in question and your set-up.
·
Feeding: Simply plopping in a portion of nutritional value into the
water oh so often is not the end all to nourishing your marines. They,
your livestock, must take in the offered foods. Just as with ourselves,
fishes and invertebrates have preferences for what types, sizes and
formats of foods they’re presented, as well as how much, where, when and
how often. Generalizations are difficult here, but you should think
deeply about this. For each of the types of life in your system, when do
they feed? Where? On what? Will it be necessary to place some foods near
the surface, others at the bottom, as for moray eels? How often is often
enough? Fancy Basses, Mandarin Gobies, Tangs and many others prefer an
almost continual offering of food to stay happy. Live rock, a
food-growing refugium, formulated time-release foods may be necessary
for some of your captive marines. Larger, predatory fishes like
Lionfishes, Groupers and Sharks do better being fed only every few days.
·
Nutrition: Not surprisingly, most marines have similar nutritional
requirements as ourselves. The same mix of amino acids (the building
blocks of proteins), fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Additionally,
biomineralizing forms like clams and hermatypic corals require added
amounts of alkaline earth elements (calcium, strontium, magnesium),
especially in “boosted” environmental conditions. Much is known
regarding the nutritional requirements of captive marines, and many
commercial food lines are on the market that can provide complete
nutrition. Your task, as aquarist-creator is to investigate what’s
needed and available and apply these foods. As an example, bio-minerals
can be administered as additives, via a “calcium” reactor, the use of
live rock/live sand, and/or feeding.
Which is better/best? This depends on your individual livestock,
your set-up and goals.
·
Variety: Is indeed “the spice of life”. As with companion animals
and ourselves your marine livestock benefit from a mix of different
foods in two ways; enhanced interest and filling in needed nutrients.
Yes, even fishes get bored with the same old foods. They “brighten up”
color and behavior-wise with offerings of different formats (fresh let’s
say versus dried, and vice versa), even different brands. What’s more,
“something” missing in one prepared diet or foodstuff is often “made-up”
in another. Nutritional insufficiencies can be avoided by
supplementation as well, by treating foods with vitamin and appetite
stimulant preparations ahead of their offering.
·
Balance: Moderation in all things encompasses our roles as
aquarists. A balance will be struck between what you feed, how you feed
it, and how it is accepted and processed by your SYSTEM. Note that last
word. You’re “feeding” your entire tank when you place food and
supplements into it, not just the livestock. What’s the sense of going
to all the trouble and expense of proper set-up, careful water
preparation, filtration and other maintenance without understanding the
roles and ultimate disposition of the foods you pour in? Think about this. Just as certain as your filtration,
circulation and overall dilution can handle so much waste and uneaten
food, so certainly will noisome algae proliferate to help you take up
the excess. Therefore it is important to provide foods that are as
nutritious and palatable as possible and make sure they get into your
livestock. Nourishing your marine system presents challenges and
opportunities that can make or break the balance of
your goals as a marine keeper with that of your set-up and
livestocks capacity for growth, maintenance and stability. It is up to
you to know your specific livestocks nutritional requirements and meet
them with foods of acceptable formats, in desireable shapes and sizes,
at the right frequency. The “answer” to how much, how often of what is a
matter of study, your set-ups specifications, your goals, and above all,
your careful observation of your livestock. Feeding times offer the best
chance of telling whether all your marines are being nutrified. |
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