How to make homemade MUSH!

[urville]

yeah i wonder if i shouldnt try feeding some things before. I have fish with specialized diets as all of us do but nearly every one of them eats mysis. But i know a varied diet is good too.

I think I'm trying to get robust in health and essentials.

[sambrinar]

Ok I am making my own mush tonight, kelp, squid, some algae cubes, Myasis, all frozen, FD cyclopeeze, and prime reef flake food for my two fish, yeah I know it is a lot, but I already had it.

I tested the squid today to make sure they would eat it (O clown and wheeer watchman gobie) and I broke off what I thought was a small piece of it and the clown sucked it in, blew it out, sucked it in, blew it out, in out, in out in out, in out. I was chasing him around the tank trying to get the squid out, since it was too big and I didn't know fish heimlick maneuver, but he finally ate it. pretty funny.

Anyway's Question, how long can you keep it frozen?? I am putting it in a blender to chop it up.

[JWarren]

I keep mine froze for about 3 months in fully sealed zip's. Push all the air out, so it don't get freezer burned. I would'nt hold it for longer than though. Adjust your batch accordingly.

[sambrinar]

OK thanks, Jwarren for the reply

[lcstorc]

I keep mine untill I run out. Since I keep it frozen, I've not had a problem. I probably make enough for 6 months at a time. I use a lot of different ingredients so it is hard to make a small batch. The seafood store already laughs when I want 6 mussled and 1/4 lb of this or that. I end up telling them what I am doing it for and after the initial crazy look they help me with what is freshest etc.

[sambrinar]

that is even better, since I only have 2 small fish, mine will take longer to use, I made 3 quart bags full. I will probably have enough for a year I probably wont keep it that long. thanks for the input

[urville]

How fine is fine, lol?

Just trying to figure out the blending here.

I know my tang will enjoy some formula 2 and nori. I cant get anyone in my tank to eat any ocean nutrition product with gel binder in it. So if anyone wants some Formula 1 let me know.

I'm going to use my Prime reef flake. Everyone loves mysis but this PE stuff is pretty big and some fish have issues eating it so blending will help. My fish love brine but I think I should use the spirulina kind, but for now just regular.

I have bloodworms but some fish do not enjoy them. I have silversides, but I am skeptical on whether they would actually get eaten.

Either deli shrimp or clams or mussels. Not sure which. Is there nutrient implications here or just diet speciality at play?



Then some selcon C.Frenzy, and Garlic guard. Thats what i already have aorund for the most part.

[JWarren]

The whole idea behind making your own food is to get away from all of the processed junk that comes in a can that is either flaked or caked and get to a more natural diet for your livestock. Fresh fish, oysters, clams, squid, octopus, etc.........

If you look back through this thread you will find my recipe along with others and what is being used. Flake food and caked food that come in a can can contribute major nitrates to your tank depending on the product. By making your own you can better get a grip on what is being introduced into the tank by way of feeding.

Fresh, meaty seafoods will give your critters great nutrition but also has the capability to be a source of ammonia if over feeding is occurring. So you want to keep that in mind when feeding with fresh foods. Anything in the tank that is not being eaten will rot and develop ammonia. Some care most be employed when going this route, but the benefits do outweigh to negatives.

Take a look at the recipes that others here are using and don't over feed.

[urville]

Well I got you. They both add to some section of the nitrogen cycle. But honestly I cant maintain nitrates anyway. Prime would despite being flake provide more seafood than I can find anywhere here, and definitely some types I couldnt get if I were somewhere bigger or closer to an ocean.

I guess i was looking at the benefit of being more well rounded and variety than just level of food. of course, you have to realize, it will be more fresh but only to some degree as it takes fish forever to get here.

I can look in books and on the net all day but I've noticed alot of info just has no bearing. So how do I know what will eat mussels versus shrimp versus squid?

[Triggerjay]

Ha! I found your secret Doni! I have skipped over this thread a few times, and decided I would jump in and take a look. I would guess your recipe has something to do with your successful spawns!

Jason

[lcstorc]

Really any seafood would be good. The size seems to matter most with my fish. I have a variety of fish and the big fish eat the big pieced or the clowns feed them to the anemone. The small fish get the small pieces. Since there is more small than big in my mush it is very amusing to watch my tangs cruise through the water with an open mouth to catch the little pieces. Kind of reminds me of those whales.
The one thing I have noticed with my mush is that everybody even the tangs ignore the nori. If I put the nori on a clip they go nuts but in the mush they ignore it. The next batch will not have it.
Also it is my understanding that the PE Mysis is freshwater mysis. The Hikari and other smaller mysis are the saltwater variety. I certainly could be wrong and can't seem to find a local supply of Hikari so I have to order it.

[urville]

I see!

Yes, it is fresh and I didnt know that till I got it home. I didnt even know there were fresh mysis. In colorado, which is where I have to go for anything, they act like your obviously smoking turpentine if you dont use PE mysis, lol.

They love it as much as the saltwater but cant fit it, if I throw it in the chopper for more than a half spin it's too small. My only small fish is a black ray shrimp goby, one of thier 8000 names, and he looks small but has a dumptruck for a mouth so... I just feel like the other mysis was better over all.

Is there any benefit to having spirulina brine shrimp over any other kind?

Essentially though, I should think more varied seafood, than say adding coral frenzy or the flake. Honestly I just wanted to be rid of the flake, lol. I was under the impression the frenzy would add certain things regular seafood wouldnt...

My biggest issue is my complete ignorance on the use of blenders. anything i've ever needed from a blender had to be as finely chopped as possible. Tiny shards. So I am reluctant as to fear when it comes to trying to chop to obtain both mid size and small but not too fine. Any lessons for someone who just hasnt had enough logged blender hours?

[DAHansen]

Originally Posted by lcstorc

The seafood store already laughs when I want 6 mussled and 1/4 lb of this or that. I end up telling them what I am doing it for and after the initial crazy look they help me with what is freshest etc.

Lynn,

You think they look at you funny for that - I've ordered "1 scallop, 1 shrimp, etc..." in the shellfish section, and they were not at all amused - until I told them what it was for.

For Hikari products have you tried PetCo and/or Petsmart? I can't remember which one of those near me has them, but I know one of them do. May be different in your area, but it's worth a shot.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by Triggerjay

Ha! I found your secret Doni! I have skipped over this thread a few times, and decided I would jump in and take a look. I would guess your recipe has something to do with your successful spawns!

Jason

Healthy mommy = healthy babies

[lcstorc]

Never thought to try there. I can check tomorrow. I have one of them nearby but never go there.
I thought the PE Mysis was wonderful until somebody (either Matt or Lee) explained the difference.
Two things though. My fish eat suprisingly large or small pieces of food. I have a yellow clown goby (very tiny fish) that will eat PE Mysis without a problem. It is very fun to watch. I also have tangs that swim through the water with their mouth open grabbing tiny tiny specs of food in the water.
When you put stuff in the blender generally you turn it on and off quickly or use the pulse mode if it has one. Put the tougher or bigger stuff in first and then add the smaller ingredients. I use everything from fish filets to frozen cyclopeze.