You most likely blended it too long. I have followed this basic recipe though I change it up depending on what's available at the fish store and what I have on hand at home. I use garlic Xtreme in place of fresh garlic. Also, for dry ingredients I only use zooplankton, phytoplanton and freeze-dried cyclops-eze. I do add some dulce and nori.
I put the mixture into silicone baker's moulds and freeze. I couldn't find the smal square size one so I cut each rectangle in half to make a cube. I put them in a freezer bag and add some baking soda to coat the cubes and keep them from sticking together. I then thaw a cube in tank water for 10-15 minutes before feeding. I shut down the main pump prior to feeding and leave it off for at least a half hour. I leave the power heads running to distribute the food through out the tank. Read the lower part for some more veggie ideas. I'll be adding some broccoli florets to my next batch.
----------------------------------
Reef Lady Blender Mush
Ingredients:
Several different kinds of raw fish and shellfish. Some examples that I commonly use are: fresh shrimp, scallops, clams, oysters, smelt, squid, and cod or other white fish. (Note: I don't use canned seafood, as this can be quite high in phosphates). I try to use the most oysters, clams, mussels, etc., and the least of the fish.
Note - you can "mix and match" these ingredients as you wish - or depending on what is fresh at the store.
2 or 3 raw garlic cloves.
Liquid - you can use water, or clam juice (if you buy bottled, make sure there aren't any additives).
Vitamins - I use "Zoe" Marine by Kent. I find Selcon (and Zoecon) to contain too many fatty acids - it clouds and pollutes the water too much for my liking.
3-4 sheets of raw Nori, and a few pieces of rehydrated (with tank water) Dulse. Nori alone, or a few small pieces of organic Romaine or baby Spinach leaves can be substituted.
Dry ingredients ~ depends highly on what I have on hand, but usually includes some of the following:
Golden Pearls, several different sizes - 3-4Tablespoons
Sweetwater Zooplankton (daphnia) - 3-4 Tablespoons
OSI Spirulina Flake Food 3-4 Tablespoons
VibraGro Saltwater Staple food - 3-4 Tablespoons
Kent - Platinum Reef Herbivore pellets (small)
Azoo Artifical Rotifera
Azoo Artifical Artemia
Make sure all your ingredients are as fresh as possible. Rinse your raw seafood well.
Basically, everything goes in the food processor. I usually add a little bit of the raw seafoods first, and blend to a fine consistency, add a little more, blend again, etc. I do this three of four times so there are several different particle sizes. I then break up the Nori and add that last with dry ingredients, and the the vitamins and liquid (if needed). You should get the consistency of wet mud.
Yes, it smells *bad*.
After you have everything mixed, and at the right consistency, you'll need to freeze it - however you want. I use the large plastic zipper lock bags. Put a few spoonfuls in, and spread it out so you have a thin (1/4" layer). Then, seal the bag and put it on a cookie sheet, or some other flat surface to freeze. After it is frozen, you can cut or break it up into the size chunks you want to use, and keep those frozen in the ziploc bag.
Note: A lot of homemade fish food recipes call for adding gelatin for consistency. I don't like it, and find that the food doesn't break up as well when thawed. If you want to add gelatin, Email me , and I can forward you a recipe that contains it.
Another note - I make this food with the intention that it will feed the entire "tank" - fish, corals, and all other invertebrates. However, given that we have three Tangs, I also insure that they always have a clip with Nori, Dulse, and organic baby spinach leaves to graze on.
You can make as much as you want at a time - I suggest making small batches, that way you know the food is always fresh.
------------------------------------------
I just use frozen broccoli fluorets from the grocers. Believe it or not all my fish eat the stuff including the trigger, although the clowns don't seem interested.
You can also alter the balance of a blender mush to weigh more on the side of herbavor items as apposed to meat. The scent can often be enticing to even the pickest eaters. Peas, carrots, spinach and such will easily blend with the meat and adhere to the mixture. Kinda like hiding meds in something sweet for kids. Steve-s
----------------------------------------------------
There is also a great article on how to make home made fish food with photos
This document is in HTML or in PDF format.
BTW, freezing will kill any parasites that may be found in the fresh seafood. Never feed the mixture before freezing.
Hope that helps
. I put it in the freezer and i'm going to try it tonight when i feed the tank.
