Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Optimal Junior feed

I can't absolutely prove it either, but I'm nearly certain redear would get pellets that have settled to the bottom.

I feed in about 3-4’ of water in a small feeding ring. I have observed the BG and HSB have no issue removing pellets off the bottom of a pond and will even pick them out of FA. The BG generally spit pellets until they hydrate unless they are very large fish who seem to have no issue crushing and consuming a dry pellet. I personally like a sinking feed as it allows the fish to self feed for several hours. Once they are full they will repeatedly return to the feeding area and top themselves off until all the feed is consumed off the bottom. Floating feed and wind creates more waste but sometimes helps since it ends up in the shallows where smaller fish tend to have a chance at it.

With a sinking feed I would think feeding at shallower depths will help prevent any waste by giving the fish more opportunities to graze off the bottom if they missed any pellets the first round. My pond has good visibility and these observations were made with me in the water. I feed Aquamax 500

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Great pic, Guy!

Has there been a discussion about the best substrate to facilitate the fish plucking up the pellets that have settled to the bottom of the pond?

I was thinking of an old tractor tire placed horizontally and filled with packed sand. That would get the food landing zone a little off the bottom of the pond, and hopefully reduce the amount of silt mixed in with the pellets.

The fish would get a little sand in their mouths, but they should be able to spit that out?

Surely there are better options than a soft, silty bottom where the pellets sink in and decompose. Or a gravel bottom where the pellets can get into the interstitial spaces where the fish cannot pick them out.

Catfish if you have them shouldn't have any issues clearing the bottom if they are hungry at least. Young channels seems really adept at feeding on the bottom.

ThatOneGuy - Thanks for adding those good informative pictures. Educational input!