Lesser Feedings In Greenwater? Options

[Joseph**]

Hi people,

This is a great forum! I learned a lot from simply browsing through the topics here.

Anyway I would like to ask if I can reduce my feeds since I am keeping my fish in greenwater?

Since greenwater is a source of food, can it act as a main source of food (when water is at least sugarcane green)? or is it just a very good supplementary diet?

[bekko]

If you never added any feed to the tank/pond the water would not turn green.

The fish don't exactly eat the green water. But, when algae cells die they sink to the bottom and are attacked by bacteria. Bacteria are sticky and when enough bacteria, dead algae, and other stuff stick together to make a large particle it is eaten by the fish.

I would think of it as a healthy, low protein, low fat, supplement.

-steve

[Joseph**]

wow, i didn't know that the algae has to be lumped first before they are consumable.

I had the impression that the fishes were constantly taking in the algae all the time.

Thanks steve!

[clm2206]

Hello,

Although new to green water, I've noticed fish tend to eat less food when fed with floating pellets. They tend to eat the lots of mosquito larvae they find, especially on the pond sides. When feeding time comes, they are not as enthusiast as they are in CW with algae wall. Sometimes there's a floating pellet and the fishes wander around the pellets eating stuffs invisible to my eye. They are not sick, because they continue growing even at a higher rate with deeper colors.

And by the way, I've discovered at least 30-40 babies, which I have never fed, and as of today they are 1 cm. long and growing everyday. green water is a nature gift, lots of free food and nice environment. The only downside is I can only see my fishes when they swim to the surface.

Regards

[Joseph**]

Hi clm,

yes i agree that greenwater is really great. I had never imagine that we can do without any form of filtration in the tubs/tanks. simply hassle free, just need to change water weekly.

but my friends did comment on why I didn't bother to change my 'dirty' water when they came over my house. haha.

its great that you have a pond for your fishes. I only have a 2ft tank for my 1 ryukin and 1 ranchu. hopefully they will have a long and healthy life with this setup.

I suffered lots of losses when I did not know about overcrowding issues when I started keeping goldfishes.

[Kinder]

From my personal experience, i find less goldfish mortality when compared to goldfish kept in clear water.

One reason could be that i feed less to goldfish kept in green water than CW, this reduces the chance of deaths due to overfeeding...and we all know one of the main reasons for goldfish deaths are linked to overfeeding and bad water quality.

good luck with your fish keeping

Kinder

[Kinder]

If you never added any feed to the tank/pond the water would not turn green.

The fish don't exactly eat the green water. But, when algae cells die they sink to the bottom and are attacked by bacteria. Bacteria are sticky and when enough bacteria, dead algae, and other stuff stick together to make a large particle it is eaten by the fish.

I would think of it as a healthy, low protein, low fat, supplement.

-steve

Hi Steve,

You mentioned once large particles are formed, the fish can start consuming in a green water setup. Can you tell how long (days) does it take for these large particles to form in a green water setup? As a general rule of thump its said to do weekly waterchanges for a green water setup...it would be good know when this large particle formation is abandonment, so we can adjust the feeding regime accordingly.

Thanks
Kinder