New frozen food

[chasesng]

In the past, I've included frozen shrimp in my reef tanks diet. For a change I bought a different frozen food at the LFS last week.

1) Prime Reef and 2) Formula One....both made by Ocean Nutition. Comes in little cubes in a tray just like the old frozen shrimp. They're supposed to be a mixture of raw fish and algae.

But when this new stuff thaws, it doesnt really break apart, like shrimp would. It stays in the shape of the little cube. I've tried breaking it up with my fingers but it stays pretty lumpy. Seems like a good portion of it sinks to the bottom pretty quickly, which is okay for the crabs but doesnt do much for the fish.

Anybody have any experience with this or similar frozen food?

 

[Dmitry]

Neither food is new. And if you look at the package is says: "with gel binder." I hate gel binder! It does exactly what you describe and is a real pain when you're trying to feed. I know they make Prime Reef without this gel binder (it says so on the package) because I bought one at New World a couple of weeks ago. But I don't know if they make all the others without it. I don't think I've seen it without gel binders. The only way to really break this stuff up is to grind it down, with a spoon or a fork or something.

 

[tripstank]

Yeah, that is the ONLY reason why I do not buy that food.. Damn Gel Binder!!

 

[BlueSi4]

i bought a clip that has a little piece of plastic mesh attached to it, so you put the food in between the mesh and the fish can just eat from it. I put formula two this morning, and tonight it was gone, not sure who ate it but it's not laying around the bottom of my tank like it used to...

 

[OctaviousMonk]

I feed with a 60mL syringe with a nozzle tip. I defrost the cube in tank water and then suck up and force it back into the defrost cup a few times to help break it up some. If you do it too much it just becomes powder like and fish can't eat it, though the corals/ filter feaders are happy. I leave chunks for the fish to catch and everyone gets fed.
You can also use a turkey baster to get similar results, though not as good.

 

[noodleman]

i just hold the cube underwater and let teh fish eat out of my hand as i break it up

 

[crox99]

I also use the syringe method. Let it pass thru a few times and it breaks nicely.