As far as sinking vs. floating my feed trained fish (especially the large ones) prefer sinking if the have a choice. I hydrate all my feed and if I pinch it to sink I get an immediate taker in the pond with 1 to 3 feetof the surface.
I believe this is due to two things:
1. Easier to just inhale it below the surface (less effort).
2. The fish feel more secure inhaling a slow sinking pellet below the surface vs. exposing themselves on the surface.
So if you had a feed that sinks in the size you want, would you no longer hydrate any feed?
Probably not. As Tony says the hydration increases positive response which is one of the reasons I do it. I also believe the hydrated pellets are easier to digest -- especially in cold water.
The hydrated pinched pellets sink very slowly. I'd be afraid of waste with a normal sinking pellet.
To be clear my hydrated pellets still float for the most part, even though they have the consistency of clay. Every once in a while one will suddenly start sinking and when they do they are snapped up immediately. That's not to say the floating hydrated ones aren't also snapped up.
Every day I put 9 cups of pellets in a gallon zip lock bag and add 3 cups of water (3:1 ratio). I flip the bag several times and after that about every minute for 5 more minutes. Then put in the fridge and keep it there until use in the evening.Takes about 3 hours to hydrate Aquamax and a third of that time for Optima. I only feed my fish once a day.
