Do you remove sinking food after 2 minutes?

[WinnipegDragon]

My new tank has FINALLY finished cycling after a 15 day NitrIte spike, and I've just stocked it this morning. First feeding rolled around this afternoon and I have a question.

I have a small squad of bottom feeders (2 pygmy cories, 5 cherry shrimp) so I don't need much food to reach the bottom. I've purchased Nutrafin Max Sinking Complete Tablets, but they are too large to feed individually. They are a little smaller diameter than a pencil eraser and about 1cm thick. I was planning on breaking these into quarters (any smaller and they turn to dust) and feeding 2 quarters every two days. Having dropped this in the tank today, it seems like way too much, so I'll cut it back to one quarter every two days.

I've always followed the general rule of removing floating flake/pellet after 2 minutes if it's not eaten, but I've never removed sinking pellet before. I assumed that bottom feeders would have to find the food, and then they would eat it over time. It occurs to me that this might be a mistake. Should sinking food be removed or do you leave it until it's eaten and then feed again?

Thanks!

 

[Weezer]

:hi: If mine makes it to the bottom and sit's there with no apparent intrest. it's gone by morning..

 

[Pallen81]

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same here...

with that being said... there shouldn't be a pile up of food down there. but a few pieces here and there shouldn't be too big of a problem.

 

[nickmcmechan]

I use algae wafers for amano shrimp, corys and otos...one lasts a few hours

 

[ct-death]

If there after 2 hrs, a quick 1-2G worth of water Vac'ing is done.

 

[shaggbark]

Maybe start with half the amount and increase as necessary. Corys usually do a good job cleaning up! M

 

[soccerkidbs]

yea i dont worry about the food that hits the bottom... i have lots of shrimp and bottom feeders that will find every last bit...

 

[icecubez189]

i place an algae wafer every few days for the otos and amanos. usually the otos find it first and start chowing down as soon as it softens. whatever left is usually grabbed by the amanos and dragged under the driftwood. every month or so, i do cleaning under the decor and driftwood and i find some of the old algae wafers.