Kessil

Oyster Feast

A_Lee

A_Lee

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Looks like I will begin feeding my corals Oyster Feast -I figure I would give it a try, and see if I observe any significant increase in growth rates, or color :). I plan on somewhat target feeding my SPS frags, and my zoanthids. I don't have any LPS right now, but when I do get my hands on some I plan to feed it to them as well.
I have a couple questions about Oyster Feast though.

1. Being that this is my first time target feedings my corals, I am going to use a Kent Sea Squirt and just "baste" a small cloud of Oyster Feast over my corals. Is this good enough? I was thinking that if I just pour the oyster feast into my tank, chances are very likely that most of it will go down my overflow. I was thinking of leaving my return pump and power heads on. Is this a good method of going about things?

2. How often would you recommend feeding? Should I baste my mushrooms with some? I was thinking of feeding 1-2x a week.

3. Does Oyster Feast expire? If so, when, or after how long? I am imagining something "live" like RN's Phyto-Feast, or Roti-feast, et cetera expiring sooner than Oyster Feast (which I assume is "dead"). Or am I making false assumptions?

Any tips, recommendations, thoughts, and/or feedback is appreciated.
Thanks.
 
[quote author=A_Lee link=topic=6664.msg85901#msg85901 date=1236054418]
Looks like I will begin feeding my corals Oyster Feast -I figure I would give it a try, and see if I observe any significant increase in growth rates, or color :). I plan on somewhat target feeding my SPS frags, and my zoanthids. I don't have any LPS right now, but when I do get my hands on some I plan to feed it to them as well.
I have a couple questions about Oyster Feast though.

1. Being that this is my first time target feedings my corals, I am going to use a Kent Sea Squirt and just "baste" a small cloud of Oyster Feast over my corals.[/quote]

That will work fine. Make sure to mix the OF with some tank water first.

Is this good enough? I was thinking that if I just pour the oyster feast into my tank, chances are very likely that most of it will go down my overflow. I was thinking of leaving my return pump and power heads on. Is this a good method of going about things?
Click to expand...

Its a fine method. Not doing that is fine to. :D

2. How often would you recommend feeding? Should I baste my mushrooms with some? I was thinking of feeding 1-2x a week.
Click to expand...

Sounds good.

3. Does Oyster Feast expire? If so, when, or after how long? I am imagining something "live" like RN's Phyto-Feast, or Roti-feast, et cetera expiring sooner than Oyster Feast (which I assume is "dead"). Or am I making false assumptions?
Click to expand...

All the RN products have a 'best if used by' date on the bottle.

Any tips, recommendations, thoughts, and/or feedback is appreciated.
Thanks.
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Don't use OF as eye drops.
 
[quote author=Thales link=topic=6664.msg85904#msg85904 date=1236054822]
Don't use OF as eye drops.
[/quote]
Or as a starter base for Clam Chowder!

I personally wouldn't spot feed corals with Oyster feast, simply dump it in the tank, turn your skimmer off for an hour, and let it go through the system as needed. If your circulation patterns are good most of your corals should get a tasty snack :D
 
Oyster Feast is a solid product. I've been using it for the last couple weeks without turning off the skimmer and the SPS seems to be taking to it quite well. I am even starting to see polyp extension on frags that I've never seen before. Even the LPS went crazy for it.
 
I hear this stuff is pretty concentrated, and my tank is not stocked too heavily (compared to some of the tanks I've seen on this forum!). I am thinking of using a small pipette and taking a couple drops of Oyster Feast, and placing it into a small plastic cup; then I will use the time pipette and take some of my tank water and diluting the drops of Oyster Feast in the cup, and then stir. And then I'll just use the pipette and put the Oyster Feast in front of my return line nozzle. I will leave everything running -power heads, and skimmers.
How do I know if my corals are getting enough OF?
 
1. Being that this is my first time target feedings my corals, I am going to use a Kent Sea Squirt and just "baste" a small cloud of Oyster Feast over my corals. Is this good enough? I was thinking that if I just pour the oyster feast into my tank, chances are very likely that most of it will go down my overflow. I was thinking of leaving my return pump and power heads on. Is this a good method of going about things?
Click to expand...

I would not recommend spot feeding it, or any feeds for that matter. Broadcast is the safest manor and the best IME/IMO. If you shoot too many particles at any coral they will stop feeding and close up, broadcast feeding mimics how the typically receive food. If you do spot feed follow the directions on the bottle (4:1 mix with tank water). It's remains in suspension, skimmers are shut down by the lipids so it won't be removed from the skimmer for at least a half hour in most cases and again, broadcast feeding is the best method for delivering any feed to a filter feeder. I would simply dose it in front of your PH and leave skimmer and return pump on.

2. How often would you recommend feeding? Should I baste my mushrooms with some? I was thinking of feeding 1-2x a week.
Click to expand...
We recommend every day but starting out every few days and building up both frequency and amount over a month or two period. Corals eat everyday just like most things. Feeding sporadically or once a week won't really help the corals in any real capacity and can result in tank waste. Like all (most?) living things corals have a metabolism (and a dynamic energy budget). Properly applied one can increase a tanks over all DEB by building up the feed amount over time.

Mushrooms don't really eat stuff like OF, they pretty much live on DOM's and light and don't need much more.

3. Does Oyster Feast expire? If so, when, or after how long? I am imagining something "live" like RN's Phyto-Feast, or Roti-feast, et cetera expiring sooner than Oyster Feast (which I assume is "dead"). Or am I making false assumptions?
Click to expand...

Most of RN product have a "Best Before" (both Phyto-Feasts, Arcti-Pods, Roti-Feast and Oyster-Feast) with a few having a "bottled on" (Fuzzy-Phytes and Tigger-Pods). Roti-Feast is not a "live" product. The only live things we offer is Tigger-Pods, Phyto-Feast LIVE, Fuzzy-Phytes and Macro-Feast. The rest are dead concentrates.

[quote author=robert4025 link=topic=6664.msg86014#msg86014 date=1236102353]
Even the LPS went crazy for it.
[/quote]

Well yah, it's made for nearly every coral in your tank Robert :) It's a great LPS feed.
 
[quote author=bluetang_2000 link=topic=6664.msg86023#msg86023 date=1236104915]
A_Lee, where did you buy the oyster feast?
[/quote]

From reading his posts it surely sounds like he hasn't bought it yet. Many of his questions would not have been made if he had the bottle in hand (Best Before, Feedign instructions, etc)

You can go to http://reefnutrition.com/shopfinderusa/rnsearch.php to find a store nearest you. I'd call first and see if they have it in stock though as it sells pretty fast.
 
A_Lee, I bought a big bottle of Oyster Feast from Atlantis last week. They had the big and small bottles. It's not in San Francisco but if you would be in the area... Call them first because they might be gone by now.
 
We have several stores in SF of which are sponsors of BAR as well :)
 
Hiya Greshem, can you please expound for me on sporadic feeding or on feeding only once or twice a week and how its a waste. ~Amy

edit waste meaning tank waste so im assuming that means corals dont take it in
 
Actually not really (at this time). Its part of an article I've been trying to get written (half way done) and I don't want to get into all the details here and now. I may not be able to get it published if I release the text prior to submitting it.

I will say it directly relates to DEB and metabolism. Think of corals as humans needing food every day and having giant meals twice a week with small ones most of the other time (from light). IN cases like that weight gain is expected of which is not healthy. Corals are the same accept they won't gain weight, your tank will with extra nutrients from under utilized food. They won't be able to fully utilize the feed if their metabolism isn't built up, same with tanks over all. Arg, see, I'm delving to deep into it and even using examples (in far less detail) that are used in the article :(
 
Moved.

I too got the big bottle at Atlantis last weekend. I was in the neighborhood so I stopped by and had to snag some.
 
We just received our first shipment from RN on the OF, if anyone is looking for it in the Milpitas area.

Yeah I know Gresh, but I like to feed the LPS less expensive stuff since they're typically bigger pigs than SPS. IMO, feeding LPS OF is like feeding myself caviar every day...lol.
 
I only feed what I know is good and for the most part I don't think about the money since $20 is trivial compared to what I have spent setting up/stocking my tanks. I use good oil in my car as I paid a ton more for the car then oil costs ;)
 
[quote author=robert4025 link=topic=6664.msg86086#msg86086 date=1236121051]
That's a lot of money. For $20, I can feed my whole family for a week on soy and fish sauce!
[/quote]

Skimp on the family Robert not the animals :D
 
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