Feeding corals

[Drfu]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

If you're polluting the water in the attempt to make them happy, it's not going to make them happy Especially if they don't actually eat any of what you dump in.

Sorry my post wasn't clear, I'm saying that there is nothing wrong in just letting them feed off whats in the tank from feeding fish & whats already in the tank from water changes. I am concerned as to what i put in the tank, as i see a lot of dosing around and I'm sure some of its necessary I'm sure much of it is not and i don't want to be one of those that doses with everything !

[MitchM]

Drfu,
Trace elements are not what feed corals. Trace elements provide the minerals necessary for the corals to carry out their life functions.
Simply put, to feed a coral, they require sugar and protein. The zooxanthellae through photosynthesis provide the sugar. For protein, corals need to capture prey and digest it.
SPS corals require much less protein than larger fleshy corals. SPS corals can get by with bacterioplankton which will occur naturally in your aquarium.
Photosynthetic corals with a larger fleshy mass require more protein than that and will benefit from extra feeding.
Non-photosynthetic corals require all their nutrients from capturing prey.
If you try to keep all those corals in the same aquarium, you will end up either underfeeding the larger fleshy corals or overfeeding the smaller SPS corals. Nutrient overload will give you algae problems and suffering corals.

I don't come across much in the way of debate anymore regarding coral feeding other than aquarists trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. They try to force corals to survive in environments that are unsuitable, trying to create a certain look but become discouraged when they run into inevitable excess nutrient problems.

In order to save you some grief down the road, I would suggest that you limit your coral selection to a certain type, learn about the proper care for them and keep those corals only.
There are quite a number of good studies out that will help you learn about coral feeding.

[windcoast reefs]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I feed my fish, that's it. Don't really see any point to adding extra stuff that won't directly get to corals. And my corals do pretty good without any feeding.

I have to agree with this. I never feed my corals, they seem happy.

[Drfu]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

It's what I do. I'm lucky that I can get my hands on all three and feed them slog with some powdered foods occasionally. I still dose some elements but not to the extent that some do.

And do you think its beneficial?