FEEDING PROBLEM!! PLEASE HELP!

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bermudezaa

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 3, 2010
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Hello all.

I just got my first wet/dry tank and am having a terrible time feeding my loaches! I'm going crazy! :screwy:

It is going to be an african cichlid tank with some loaches but my filtration is too powerful and it does not let my sinking pellets drop all the way down. They get sucked up right away. I don't know what to do!! :confused:

I have small sized pellets, as they are small sized specimens.

They have been in there 3 nights but have barely been able to eat because of this. I plan on buying some of those "weekend feeder" tablets tomorrow to prevent starvation, but I don't want that to be a long term solution.

PLEASE PLEASE HELP! What should I do!? :nilly:
 
Can you slow down your filter? Or...you could place a big rock at the bottom of your tank, and put their food on the proper side of the rock...might work.
 
Hey Golem. Thanks for the suggestions.

I cannot slow down the pump as it is already running at a very slow rate.

That would require me putting my arm in the tank every feeding session, which sounds unhealthy for the tank. Am I wrong?
 
is it possible to change the direction of the current in the tank ? or if not put ur jet pack high and have it blow at the front of the glass that should help. at least a little do your loaches have skinny disease ?
 
It's not exactly healthy from what I read, but my arms are in the tank a few times a week for various reasons and have not had a problem in six months, they also sell sholder length gloves....how about one of those turkey baster like targeted feeders?
 
yea that would work, could also get a new jet pack or set it on a timer aswell. then mabye have your feed times set to when jet pack is off. Then your could feed your fish yourself or let an automatic fish feeder do it for you.
 
Thank you both for your suggestions.

My loaches are very healthy, as they were in a different tank before. I dropped in the tablets and saw them picking at it several times (mostly at night).

I tried putting both of the nozzles against the front glass but the current starts picking up the sand and even ripped out a plant!

The shoulder length gloves sound like a good idea to have, especially when it comes time to re-organizing the tank. Are those commonly found or do I have to go to a specialty store?

And as for the turkey baster, wouldn't that only work with liquids?

And what exactly is a jet pack? I was actually thinking in investing on an automatic feeder, but wouldn't the problem persist?

I haven't done my research, but do they have sinking pellets that are heavier? That might help to prevent with this kind of situation.
 
Here is a picture of my tank. Please let me know if the nozzles are pointing in the right direction.

Thanks!

photo 2-1.JPG
 
A jet pack is a just a motor that mover water it can do more if you use them that way but thats its main purpose. Think of it like not putting any media in your filter its only gona move water. As far as your nosels go they look to be ok to me but if your still haveing trouble with food flowing into the filter, try angling them more towards the suface so that water get propelled more up instead of more down to the bottom of the tank.
 
Sry also try and point them more forward as it looks like u have a bow front tank. That should help, also try to remember that its ok if some food gets sucked up but u want most to head down. Any pics of your clowns in there ?
 
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