Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding How much feed

I feed once in the morning and again in the evening, this morning we accendently feed them twice and they acted like they were never feed the first time. Does that mean they are still hungry or just eating to be eating? By this time last year the cats had doubled in size, this year they seem to have slowed down in growth.

Haus, the experts say to feed all they can eat in 15 minutes.

Our fish will clean up Aquamax 500/600 in a five minutes plus feeding frenzy, as if they've never had a bite of food in their life!

I couldn't afford 15 minutes a feeding......

George,

I've also seen that "feed all they can eat in 15 minutes". No way. With my BG, Tilapia, hybrid stripers, and a few LMB that eat pellets, it isn't practical to do that. Nor, in my opinion is it desirable. Putting that much "un-natural" food in the food chain is not conducive to a healthy pond system, in my un-scientific opinion. Five minutes max of feeding frenzy is my limit. The Strens are set on a 10 second blast that results in clean up always in less than 5 minutes.

If on a budget I understand. However the "15 min rule" is a good one basically you are feeding to satitation (until full). WHat you might see is that catfish if fed max amount will not eat agin later. However bluegill if fed 4 times per day will eat 4 times/day. THye have small stomachs and can onkly eat so much per feeding. It depends on temp but if feeding bluegill to max bass growth it should go off 4 times/day and set so food is gone in 15 mins. However I understand about budgets, but your not using the Stren to its capability if only set for once per day.

Greg,

I'm curious. In 10 seconds of the Stren feeding, I'm putting out about 3.3 lbs. In my 3 acre pond, that lasts for up to 5 minutes twice a day. If I were to put enough feed out for 15 minutes of feeding 4 times a day, by my calculation that would mean 40 lbs of feed per day (3.3 lbs x 3 x 4). Is that really what you recommend for a 3 acre pond? Apart from the cost, I respectfully question the wisdom of dumping that much feed in that size pond. I also use two "native" feeders in addition to the Stren in order to disperse the food to three locations in the pond. With 3 feeders going 4 times a day for 15 minutes of feeding...well, respectfully again, something doesn't sound right about that, cost or otherwise.
Where am I going wrong?

Good question. If you fed 4 times/day for 10 seconds the fish would not be able to eat the food in 15 mins. I would put alot of money on that bet. So yes you are correct that would be way too much food. That is why the 15 min rule is not a bad way to go. However sounds like you got it going pretty well. Good luck

Feeding is also a way to kill two birds with one stone if you want an algae bloom. My pond fish are fed and the pond recieves water from another pond that is fed. The second pond has an algae bloom at the optimum level with out adding any fertilizer.

I'm not against feeding by any means, I intend to have a feeder once my pond is "mature" (1 acre 9 months old, will grow to 7 acres or so) But isn't everyone missing the point ? Shouldn't nature be be providing the bulk of the food supply ? Just about all fish eat small fry, why don't people focus on the forage base ? It seems the ideal pond would would provide ample forage, and feed would be a suppliment. More like general guidelines. If your fish are < 75 RW, cull, add forage fish, and feed. If fish are >90 RW feed, feed again, and harvest depending on your goals.

I think pond owners feed for different reasons. Some enjoy watching the fish come to dinner! But mostly feeding is a necessity if max carring cap. of a pond is desired.

Good point Ric...I wasn't thinking about the thrill of seeing the "big ones" eating ! It's easy to get sidetracked with the fundamentals in the beginning stages. Seems like it takes FOREVER to bet past the babies !

Is this correct? The Stren feeder puts out about 0.3 lbs of pellets per second? I'm using Aquamax 600.

Eastland good topic for discussion but what is "natural". We use inorganic fertilizer to increase production. We buy fish we do not just let nature bring in whatever fish it wishes. I understand your point, but I promise if you let the pond go in a natural state most pond owners will not be happy. I agree with your statement when I write a report I say "supplemental feeding" will increase the pond's produciton and add more pounds for the bass to eat by increasing weights and health of bluegill.

Norm I have said this b/f but you can not take someone elses rate on the feeder and apply it. First there are several models. The ADF-75D has two motors and feeds in both pre and post spin mode plus the set time. 200D only has one motor so it will fed less than 75d set for same time. 25D basically drops the fed on traditional spin plate and throws less. If the feeder vibrates this will also change. Also as you mentioned you use aqumax 600 that will throw diff than smaller or larger pellet size. I suggest testing yourself to see how much food it throws.