Cyclo-peeze - How do you feed it?

[tbone28]

I just bought some - didn't know it came in a powder form. How do you guys feed it? Do you just throw it into the water column? Do you dilute it in some water before throwing it into the tank?

Thanks

[AZDesertRat]

Soak just a little bit in a cup of tank water for several minutes before adding it. A little bit goes a long way.
I prefer the frozen "FreezerBar" version myself, its easier to use in my mind. It comes in a foil wrapper like a candy bar so I just push itout the end a bit and wave it in the water column a few times. Coral, inverts and fish go nuts for the stuff.

[PogoMonogo]

I think frozen cyclopese in the bar form is probably the best food available (in my opinion).

[kiknchikn]

I soak it in Selcon first then use a turkey baster to target feed.

[tbone28]

Cool. didn't know it came frozen. I'll order that the next time around.

[capn_hylinur]

I usually feed cyclopeeze at dusk---the point where just my attinics are on for an hour. I turn off the main pump and skimmer for about one hour. Then I feed the cyclopeeze--but keeping the korilias on for circulation within the tank.

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
Soak just a little bit in a cup of tank water for several minutes before adding it. A little bit goes a long way.
I prefer the frozen "FreezerBar" version myself, its easier to use in my mind. It comes in a foil wrapper like a candy bar so I just push itout the end a bit and wave it in the water column a few times. Coral, inverts and fish go nuts for the stuff.

thanks for the tips AZ--sometimes I just cut a piece off and send it through the return pump and lines but this sounds like a better idea

Is the granular cyclopeeze as good as the freezerbar?

[AZDesertRat]

I prefer the Freezerbar. I don't think the inhabitants care either way! Watching the polyp extension on SPS and LPS is amazing when there is some Cyclopeeze in the water!

[PogoMonogo]

yea, corals really do go absolutely nuts for cyclopese. I do find that the powdered stuff tends to float while the frozen does not.

[AZDesertRat]

Soaking it helps.

[tbone28]

Originally posted by PogoMonogo
yea, corals really do go absolutely nuts for cyclopese. I do find that the powdered stuff tends to float while the frozen does not.

Yes, I put a pinch in my tank last night, and most of it floated....but my fish went crazy for it and picked it off the top. I'll try soaking it first from now on.

[PogoMonogo]

Like i said in your other post, go to CVS or something and ask if they have a dosing syringe you can have. Its like a 10ml plastic syringe (no needle). Use that and actually target feed. The floating won't be as much of an issue then, and its a lot more efficient.

[tbone28]

No worries about the syringe. I work in a pharmacy!

[steve1963]

I let mine melt in my fingers in the water.

I shut off the return pump so the corals get all of it.

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
Soaking it helps.

I've always shut the return pump off, protein skimmer and micron sock---do you do this also?

also if I introduce the granular stuff through my sulmp pump it travels up 7 feet of head and then is forced to the bottom of the tank through the loc lines--this helps to see it doesn't float.

[AZDesertRat]

I just let it circulate. I won't use a filter sock on any of my systems, I think they are detrimental since they trap good as well as bad stuff. I have no sponges, socks or srceens other than what normally comes on a powerhead or pump. No maintenance that way and no nitrates because I forgot to clean something.

[steve1963]

My SPS really love it.

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
I just let it circulate. I won't use a filter sock on any of my systems, I think they are detrimental since they trap good as well as bad stuff. I have no sponges, socks or srceens other than what normally comes on a powerhead or pump. No maintenance that way and no nitrates because I forgot to clean something.

I hear you--I've tried to experiment with leaving the sock off--can go about two weeks then I start to get cyano back in the fuge and on the substrate in the main tank. What kind of skimmer are you running. I'm am thinking the flow through the sump can't be handled effectively by the Berlin and am considering running another mangrove refugium instead of the sock to help that weak Berlin.

[AZDesertRat]

I use a Turboflotor 1000 in sump model with an OR 2700 recirc pump and fed by a MJ900 powerhead. Nothing special. Lots of chaeto and a couple of mangroves in the refugium.

[capn_hylinur]

thanks--I'll try feeding with the filter sock off