Coral Feeding Techniques + Best Practices
Most reef hobbyists underfeed their corals. While zooxanthellae provide ~70% of energy via photosynthesis, the remaining 30% from heterotrophic feeding drives growth + coloration.
Photosynthetic vs non-photosynthetic
Photosynthetic corals (most common - SPS, LPS, soft, anemones) get most energy from zooxanthellae. They benefit from food but don't require it. Non-photosynthetic (NPS) corals (sun coral, dendros, gorgonians, chili coral) MUST be fed - they have no algae and starve without target feeding.
Target feeding LPS
LPS (hammer, frogspawn, torch, Duncan, brain, candy cane, blasto, acan) extend feeder tentacles. Use a turkey baster to drop 1-2 mysis or pellet pieces directly on each polyp. Time: 30 sec/coral. Frequency: 2-3x weekly.
Foods: PE Mysis (best), Hikari Mysis, Reef Roids (powdered), Polyplab Reef Roids, oyster eggs.
Broadcast feeding SPS
SPS (Acropora, Montipora, Stylophora, Pocillopora, Birdsnest) have small polyps that catch fine particulates passively. Dose Reef Roids, oyster eggs, or amino acids to the water column with skimmer off for 30 minutes.
Schedule: 1-2x weekly. 1/4 tsp Reef Roids per 25g.
NPS coral target feeding (mandatory)
Sun coral, dendrophyllia, gorgonians: target feed mysis, brine, oyster eggs, or chopped silversides 2-4x weekly. Without feeding they slowly starve over 2-6 months.
Use a coral feeding cone (NYOS Coral Cup or DIY plastic cup) to concentrate food on the polyp.
Amino acid dosing
Brightwell Amino Omega, Red Sea AB+, Tropic Marin Amino Organic. Dose 1ml per 25g 2-3x weekly. Drives coral coloration + tissue growth even without solid food. NOT a replacement for actual food.
When NOT to feed
Skip feeding if: 1) tank is fish-heavy already (waste = food). 2) Nitrate >10 ppm or phosphate >0.15 ppm - feeding adds more nutrients you don't want. 3) Coral is brown + healthy - it's already getting enough energy from zooxanthellae. Underfed corals are pale + thin. Overfed corals brown out.
Feeding schedule by tank type
- SPS-dominant low-nutrient: amino acids 3x weekly, Reef Roids 1x weekly
- Mixed reef: target feed LPS 2x, broadcast feed 1x weekly
- Soft + LPS focus: target feed 2-3x weekly, occasional aminos
- NPS specialty: daily target feeding
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