Problems With Food Sinking

[JustKia]

Whenever I feed my danios the food is sinking faster than they can eat it - within seconds.
This is happening with flake and with micro wafers, which state on the packet "slow sinking".
I think it's from the flow of the filter, as if I turn the filter off for a couple of minutes the food floats longer - still not more than a couple of minutes though. Obviously turning the filter off to feed the fish doesn't seem like a great idea. I'm sure I read about a ring that will float on the surface of the aquarium and you pop the food inside that and it protects it from the filter flow and such and helps stop the food from sinking - only now I can't remember where I read that.

Does anyone know of such a thing or does anyone have suggestions to help stop the food from sinking before the fish get chance to eat it?

 

[england]

turn of the filter if its flows strong, and feed only a small <small> pinch enough that you would feel guilty to give,, serious,,let them eat it all maybe one flake crush it and let them eat that first if its gobbled up do same again and again,,what evers not eaten in a few minutes will probally end up as waste on the floor

 

[minxfishy]

You could turn the filter outlet so its facing the side of the tank to stop the flow so much, but frankly danios are fast swimmers and they can easily find food as its sinking. They are just being complacent and expecting it to drop into their mouths, make them work for it.

 

[doresy]

Hi, I'd be very suprised if Danios would not get to food before it sinks! Remember fish actually NEED very little food to survive so believe me they will get some and will not starve. It'll just make them a bit quicker next time.

 

[JustKia]

I'm feeding small amounts - I think...
7 danios and they're getting about 20-30 micro wafers (don't know if you've seen/used them, about 0.5mm dia) or the equivalent of flake. They do swim about and eat it up from where it falls - they don't have much choice - it's find it or go hungry... Yep, that feels mean, but I'm trying to be good and not overfeed =)

I guess just let them carry on as is then =)
Will try facing the filter flow in the opposite direction to see if it makes a difference as well.

 

[OldMan47]

Turning the filter off long enough to feed the fish is a common strategy. A few minutes of a filter not running is no big deal really. If you actually want a floating ring, cut a piece of air tubing maybe 20 cm long and make a circle of it using one of the air line connectors. It will float and corral the flake in one area. I don't know that it helps in your situation but can be helpful if you have something like duckweed covering the water surface and you want a small clear area to put the food.

 

[Straydum]

i didn't think flakes would sink though maybe it is the water flow. there's always the virtually unsinkable goldfish pellets that is worth trying