Will be feeding 2000cnbg 1-3 inch...400 res 1-3 inch... 30pounds fhm. Brand new 2 acre pond. How long will 50lb. bag of food last if feeding every day. Supposed to get my fish February 18th.

If you come up with a total weight estimate of each fish X number you will be feeding anywhere from 3 to 8 percent of that total weight per day. (Obviously you already know what your fatheads weigh.) Lower water temps lower feeding percentage. Then obviously figure out how many days it will take to use up the bag from there. If you are using Aquamax there should be a guide on the bag.

I.e. Let's say hypotheticaly fish weight present is 50 lbs. 50 x .05 (5 percent) is 2.5 lbs. per day. You can take it from there.

Or you can feed at the same place everyday and once you get consistent feeding of all they will eat in about 10 or 15 minutes, figure out how much you will fed them per day until you run out.

All that said I think that bag will probably last you a good month or more.

Anybody else want to chime in?

I would ask the hatchery deliverying the fish how much to start feeding at the beginning as they know how much they were feeding them before.

Edit: Dangit! I just saw your post Cecil. Makes sense to me. You can always feed more once they start feeding good. Feed what they will take in 15 to 20 minutes.

Flame
I Feed twice a day in summer and cut down to once a day when it got cold. My CNBG grew from 2-3" to 6-7" in one growing season. And little footballs they have become. I would say feed them slowly,watching how quickly they eat it then adjust it from there



Pat

Flame,
Keep in mind that the fish may not take to the feed right away. My CNBG and FHM were input mid August and it took them til almost mid September before I noticed any action around the feeder. Not to say they didnt pick up feed off the bottom. They had to adjust to and "learn" how to feed in their new environment. I would ease into the feeding amount a little at a time at first. No use in dumping a bunch of feed in your pond just to decompose on the bottom.
Charlie

If you want numbers, I'd go with Cecil's numbers. Me? I make a determination if I want to supplementally feed the fish, or make the fish pellet the majority of their food. If the latter, I'd listen to the fish and feed what they will consume in 15 minutes of feeding. That amount will vary daily depending on weather, time of year, etc., etc.

Or you can say I have "X" fish food budget, and feed what's in the budget but at the same time keeping to the 15 minute rule - i.e. feed less if they don't eat it all in 15 minutes.

If this month the food budget isn't used up and you have left over food, bank it like a savings account. You probably will need it when you hit their peak feeding month(s).

If you have excess food floating around in the pond and not getting eaten, it will eventually contribute to either filamentous algae or underwater weed growth, and that growth could become excessive.....

Flame, who are you getting your fish from?

Highflier
He said Todd Overtons I think



Pat

Yes I am getting my fish from Overtons. They also are going to deliver my feed with my fish to get me going. Thanks everyone, I have a game plan now.