Sph2sail June 17, 2003 Share June 17, 2003 Well, I need tank food. I would like to host a tank food party. The theory is to get lots of this nasty fish guts stuff and let everyone walk away with about 6 months worth of the stuff for their freezers. This way, only ONE blender gets stunk up... only ONE area is nasty, etc., but we ALL benefit. This needs some contributions: MichaelG, what is your recipe? WAMAS folks, where do we get all of the ingredients per Michael's recipe? Participants: sign up for ingredients and bring them for the party! I would like to do this within the next 3-4 weeks, as summer is coming and vacations will get in the way. What weekend date works for people? Any takers? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgasmd June 17, 2003 Share June 17, 2003 Not to answer for Michaelg, but here is my recipe: 1 fish fillet (preferably white fish) 10-14 large shrimp oysters clams 3 different types of flake foods (formula 1+2+3) spirulina flakes about 1/2 cup of specttrum pellet food 2-3 sheets of nori 3-4 squirts of nultivitamins for children 2-3 squirts of selcon 60-80 cc of garlic extract half teaspoon of shreded garlic one large krill frozen pack one large brine shrimp packet one large mysis shrimp packet one frozen pack of blood worms one frozen pack of octopus 3-4 tiny spoons of ESV freeze dryed plankton just about anything else I may find or have on hand The best thing to do is to go to the fish market and get all the fresh stuff at once and bring it home. The frozen foods can be obtained in the LFS. This stuff will make thick mud and will last well over 6 months when frozen. I suggest you freeze it in thin sheets rather than stuff the zip lock bags because it will take forever to thaw out if you don't. Good luck. Alberto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 18, 2003 Author Share June 18, 2003 What about Golden Pearls? How 'bout some Cyclopeze? add that in for fun? Any Websites to buy in bulk from for a larger order? Just use LFS? s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgasmd June 18, 2003 Share June 18, 2003 Most mail order places that you can buy the frozen foods cheaper would require such a large order to offset the overnight shipping that you are talking about massive poundage. Definately not worth it. Last spring, I drove to thatpetplace in PA for their annual show/sale. The manufacturer reps were there and I got some stuff discounted. Even then, to make a real difference I would ahd to ahve bought over $180-200 worth of frozen fish food. Not going to hapen, hence the reason I amke my own food. Not to mention it is actually much better I think. I've never used cyclopeeze or golden pearls. That is why I don't add it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 18, 2003 Author Share June 18, 2003 Found "the" source for golden pearls: Golden Pearls from BrineShrimpDirect Question is, what sizes to order? s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty June 18, 2003 Share June 18, 2003 3-4 squirts of nultivitamins for children I have a question about this ingredient. I know my kids vitamins contain aspartamine (nutrasweet) and many other colors and fillers. Is this a wise thing to be putting into a fishtank food mix? mc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReefMon June 18, 2003 Share June 18, 2003 I can bring some Golden Pearls and more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelg June 18, 2003 Share June 18, 2003 My recipe is pretty close to albertos. I don't add any flake food. Only sheets of nori. The flake I use for in between feedings. All the fresh and frozen ingredients I pick up at the oriental market which has a great fish department and is cheap. I use Vita-chem and selco for suppliments. Sprirulina powder as well. I usually use saltwater from tank and green water to thin it out enough to blend. Brine shrimp and mysis would be a waste to blend, but fine to hand mix into the final product. I keep it seperate though and brine shrimp I hatch so is live. See Eric's recipe which I finally got him to put up in his forum at reefcentral. I made quite a lot of comments in that thread. Glenn probably has enough golden pearls to 20 batches. I know I do. I use whole shrimp, 1-2 whole squid, oysters, mussels, clams, "sushi eggs" aka fish roe, and will be adding the cyclopeeze in the next batch. I will make it if I can and will bring my blender. Depending on the number of people, you may want more than one Y'up its going to stink. Maybe everyone can take a dip in your pool after so they smell like chlorine instead of dead fish )))) While alberto's recipe looks great as an overall food, seems like it would be a bit pricey when done. This weekend is definately out and next (meeting weekend) probably as well. Other than that I am pretty open for the rest of the summer. I do need food again so would be happy to join in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 19, 2003 Author Share June 19, 2003 Do you put any DT's phytoplankton in the food? I think I agree that flake is an "extra." My fish love the personal attention of flake food or sinking pellets. Makes them more attentive when I'm around looking in the tank! I guess through the glass I sorta look GOOD to them :p s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 19, 2003 Author Share June 19, 2003 I also recall some discussion of using WHOLE fish, not a fillet. The idea being that the fins/bones are good for the overall tank diet. ?? s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 19, 2003 Author Share June 19, 2003 Y'up its going to stink. Maybe everyone can take a dip in your pool after so they smell like chlorine instead of dead fish )))) While alberto's recipe looks great as an overall food, seems like it would be a bit pricey when done. This weekend is definately out and next (meeting weekend) probably as well. Other than that I am pretty open for the rest of the summer. I do need food again so would be happy to join in. Michael, I would really like to try to do it before the meeting. Then we could bring bags of stinky stuff to the meeting and raffle it? So far, good contributions to the recipe discussion. WHO's IN to participate? I think I hear: ReefMon Any others? s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelg June 20, 2003 Share June 20, 2003 I can do it one night next week I suppose but this really is a saturday project. It takes about an hour and another hour to clean, plus time spent shopping. I have some ingredients leftover in the freezer- I think a couple squid some oysters, and fish roe. Nori in the cupboard. I'd then need to make a dry ice pickup on saturday. One problem is the Mrs and me taking up a large chunk of the freezer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatortailale June 20, 2003 Share June 20, 2003 Just talked to Steve. Fish Food Part will be this Saturday 6/21/03 at 11:00 AM at Steve's house. PM Steve or email him for directions. - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 20, 2003 Author Share June 20, 2003 Confirming for all. Starting at my house at 11am. From there, we go to the fish market and we all buy stuff the fresh fish elements. From there, we go back and grind it up. I've listed what I have and what we need from the non-fish market stuff. I can supply freezer bags. Everyone goes home stinky. I must be done by 4pm, as I'm going to DC United game at RFK! 1 fish (preferably white fish), not boned/skinned 10-14 large shrimp whole, not skinned oysters clams Formula 1-2-3 flakes I have formula 2. anyone have the others? spirulina flakes I have some, but need more about 1/2 cup of specttrum pellet food ain't got. anyone? I have NutraMax sinking pellets which are pretty good 2-3 sheets of nori I have this 3-4 squirts of Vita-chem ain't got. anyone? 2-3 squirts of selcon I have this 60-80 cc of garlic extract ain't got. anyone? "sushi eggs" aka fish roe half teaspoon of shreded garlic Cyclop-eeze I have half a block frozen. need more. Golden Pearls need 'em. what sizes to folks have? one large krill frozen pack ain't got. anyone? one large brine shrimp packet ain't got. anyone? one large mysis shrimp packet I have a large block frozen one frozen pack of blood worms need some of this one frozen pack of octopus Tahitian Blend 3-4 tiny spoons of ESV freeze dryed plankton can we use DTs? just about anything else I may find or have on hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatortailale June 21, 2003 Share June 21, 2003 Steve, I'll call you when I get back from vareefman's tomorow to let you know what I can bring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReefMon June 21, 2003 Share June 21, 2003 Here's Erics recipe: As promised, here is my recipe for coral chow - with a bit of a preface. I rarely have or use all of the ingredients listed, and I don't think it will make a difference over the long term. I also use this, or a variation of it, for my homemade fish food (I leave the fish food chunker and add various algae). Basically, I either use what is left over from the last round of food-making, or I go to a few stores and get whatever they might have at the time. I feed this to the tank at night, generally, and would add that for some of the ingredients, I have no idea if they have any specific role. Its just what I have done before. I have also changed a bit with some other foods now available (since I have written this last time) I try to get a mix of particle sizes involved to accomodate not just all sizes of polyps, but also feed other inverts that filter feed. Fresh seafood: Some combination of the ingredients below and it makes up a relatively small percent of the total - maybe 10-20%? shrimp (I squeeze the heads and usually use the "meat" in the fish food) oysters - blend well and may have Vibriostatic properties various other shellfish (mussels, clams, periwinkles, etc. - the bloodier, the better...live is great (shucking sucks but gives a good final product) Fish roe (sometimes available at Asian markets) Frozen foods This makes up perhaps 20-30% of the mix - some are from an aquarium store, some from the grocer Artemia - adult Artemia nauplii (baby brine shrimp) (enriched, if possible) Mysid shrimp Sea urchin roe Flying fish roe Dried Aquarium Foods this makes up the majority of my mix - probably 40% Golden Pearls - all sizes available, but a majority of the smallest size Cyclop-Eze VibraGro Powdered marine flake Phytoplankton makes up maybe 2% of mix or less? Tahitian Blend (I use DT's seperately) Supplements makes up maybe 2-5% of mix? Super Selco ( a big squeeze) Sea Green Vitamin supplements - various brands, powdered, from Whole Foods market I have also been known to add Echinacea capsules, the skins of colorful vegetables and fruits, various pigment complexes of carotenoids, etc. and/or antioxidants from Whole Foods market. In terms of preparation, I puree the solid seaoods, mix in the frozen ingredients, soak the dry/powdered ingredients in the wet ingredients, combine them all together and let them sit for a few hours, and then freeze them into small flats in ziplocs in the freezer. I usually wind up with about 50.00 in foods per batch and make about a gallon or so of food that lasts a couple or more months. I'll bring some ESV freeze dryed plankton, Tahitian Blend and Golden Pearls and some other stuff! We should look to see if we can find any Echinacea capsules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 21, 2003 Author Share June 21, 2003 Oh boy was that stinky. Gatortailale and Reefmon joined me to grind up this stuff. Started actual work around 11:45 and we finished by 3pm. We have 8 baggies that will be for sale from the club at the summer meeting! Pictures coming... s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 22, 2003 Author Share June 22, 2003 Here's the sort-a kind-a recipe we ended up with: Forgot to add the Spirolina and Garlic, but gads, there's lots of good stuff in this mix. Can always add those two as needed mixed w/flake food. Sushi anyone? 1 whole mackeral 2 chunks of rockfish 1 octopus 10-14 large shrimp no heads/tails, partially skinned 12 oysters 12 oz mussels 8-10 scallops 2/3 bag chopped roasted seaweed 1/2 small bottle Selcon "sushi eggs" aka fish roe Quarter block Cyclop-eeze Golden Pearls Freeze dried krill 8 large cubes brine shrimp Quarter block large frozen mysis shrimp (also from brineshrimpdirect but it's not on their website) Tahitian Blend 3-4 tiny spoons of ESV freeze dryed plankton 1/8th bottle DTs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowrie June 24, 2003 Share June 24, 2003 So sorry to miss the "party" but we were out of town. We are very interested in getting some, though. Did you freeze it in sheets so that it is breakable to feed small tanks (75 and 35)? B&T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelg June 24, 2003 Share June 24, 2003 Steve- want me to bring a styrofoam cooler of dry ice with me on Friday? It will keep fine through saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 24, 2003 Author Share June 24, 2003 Yes please bring the dry ice. Tamie, I believe the plan is to sell it at the meeting for the club's benefit. We have eight baggies full for sale. They are frozen in reasonably flat sheets. Stuffing things in my freezer never allows for perfection... :p s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowrie June 24, 2003 Share June 24, 2003 That is great! I want to buy some. Happy to contribute for the "club's benefit." Just wanted to get dibs on a bag! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 25, 2003 Author Share June 25, 2003 check out This eye candy :D :p Raw materials... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 25, 2003 Author Share June 25, 2003 Glenn and Craig at work... Steve, Craig and Glenn... Emily investigates... Yes, it really IS stinky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sph2sail June 25, 2003 Author Share June 25, 2003 In the end, there was Mush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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