Who Gives A Fish Forums

Got a new Plate Coral last week and it's not taking food like my others. Tried mysis shrimp and reef roids, but it just sits there. Anyone got tricks to get them to eat? Tank's a 40 breeder, params are solid, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate, 8.2 pH, 78°F.

Plate Corals can be picky. Try turning off the flow for a bit when feeding. They need stillness to grab food. Also, target feed with a pipette right on their tentacles. What's your lighting schedule? Too much light might make them lazy.

Yep, flow's a big deal. I had the same issue till I cut the pumps for 10 mins. Now mine chows down on brine shrimp. How often are you feeding? Maybe cut back to twice a week.

Mine only responds to smaller foods like cyclops or finely chopped krill. Bigger chunks just sit there. Also, check your magnesium levels. Low mag can mess with their appetite.

flame wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 10:23 pm Plate Corals can be picky. Try turning off the flow for a bit when feeding. They need stillness to grab food. Also, target feed with a pipette right on their tentacles. What's your lighting schedule? Too much light might make them lazy.

Totally agree on the flow. I've had success with amino acids too. They seem to perk up after a dose. What salt mix are you using?

Mine took a month to start eating. Patience is key. Try soaking the food in garlic extract. Some swear by it, though it's kinda sketchy if you ask me.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna try the pipette method and cut the flow tonight. Lighting's on a 10-hour cycle with Radion XR15s. Salt's Red Sea Blue Bucket.

Red Sea's solid. Just make sure your alk is stable. Swings can stress them out. Also, how's your calcium? Plate Corals like it around 420-450.

Mine digs pellet food, weirdly enough. Tried it on a whim and now it's the only thing it'll touch. Maybe worth a shot if nothing else works.

I don't feed mine directly. It catches stuff from the water column. Maybe yours just needs time to adjust.