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  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
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    Sinking or Floating - Pros and Cons

    I have been looking at some old Adam Julyan video's on YouTube and he went into what he feeds his koi which got me thinking about sinking or floating food, currently I feed from 8:00 to 19:00 at 1 hour intervals, little and often, at the moment it is set to between 10 and 15 seconds on the auto feeder, the food is gone in around a minute

    But what are the advantages and disadvantages of the sinking and floating pellets, what do you guys use and why


    4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
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    Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
    2 x 18,000 lh pumps
    Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
    Idealseal MS290

    My Pond Build

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  3. #2
    I was mixing sinking and floating in the feeder to enable new and shyer fish to avoid the mass mayhem that occurs when the feeder goes off, and still get some food. I have some real bruisers in my pond, and they take no prisoners when it comes to food. Problem was, it worked too well. Some koi became so used to feeding on the bottom, that I never saw them. It took a long time before I got them confidently feeding on the surface again. Now I run an air stone under the feeder to distribute food over a wider area. I also feed QK jap mix which has a small amount of sinking in it, enough for some fish to go foraging, but only after the floating has been polished off.
    Mark
    19,000 litres
    Nexus 320 with Dracodrum and submersible UV
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    Eazy Pod on skimmer
    Dura+ 10kW Heat Pump
    15 koi

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  5. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
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    Thanks for you reply, I did look at some food earlier today and I think it said it had about 10% sinking mixed in, so I may just try and add a bit of sinking into the mix
    4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
    2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
    2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
    Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
    Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
    Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
    2 x 18,000 lh pumps
    Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
    Idealseal MS290

    My Pond Build

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  7. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion samp09's Avatar
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    I have been feeding sinking in the AM and before bed and floating after work. I have noticed that certain fish are not quick to feed on the top now, if at all, but over the weekend I only feed floating and they gradually come up more.

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  9. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    I only feed floating stuff. Selfish of me. But I like to see my fish on the surface.
    Even my tench comes up for it. So I know there well.
    Fred

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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  11. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by freddyboy View Post
    I only feed floating stuff. Selfish of me. But I like to see my fish on the surface.
    Even my tench comes up for it. So I know there well.
    Fred

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    I only feed floating, unless it's a treat ie mussel, or prawn, garden peas I think it encourages competition in the fish and stimulates feeding for new arrivals you carnt really monitor sinking food being eaten, in my opinion, I've watched the same video and I understand the reason he does this to ensure all the fish get some food, all I do is feed heavily in front of me to bring the pigs over then feed lightly far behind to allow the smaller or more timid fish to get some food too, works for me Sinking or Floating - Pros and Cons

    Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

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  13. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    Female tends to eat more confidently on the top opposed to males who snatch one and dive. Males are more confident eating on the bottom. If looking to achieve growth, feeding HG on the bottom will help achieve results.

    Main advantage to me, as already stated by others is it’s a great opportunity to see the koi and check them.

    Big disadvantage of feeding on the bottom can be the amount of food lost down the drain.

    Cheers

    Gaz
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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  15. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
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    Thanks guy's I'll speak with the boss as she is concerned about some fish getting more than others lol, survival of the fittest in my book
    4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
    2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
    2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
    Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
    Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
    Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
    2 x 18,000 lh pumps
    Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
    Idealseal MS290

    My Pond Build

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  17. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    Aquasource do a 50/50 HG sink/float mix which is quite popular. I think I have some in stock of you wanted to give it a try....

    Cheers

    Gaz
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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  19. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gazkoi View Post
    Aquasource do a 50/50 HG sink/float mix which is quite popular. I think I have some in stock of you wanted to give it a try....

    Cheers

    Gaz
    Thanks Gaz

    What size bags have you got?
    4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
    2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
    2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
    Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
    Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
    Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
    2 x 18,000 lh pumps
    Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
    Idealseal MS290

    My Pond Build

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  21. #11
    Hoping for some help here from more experienced keepers.

    I have a 4000 gallon pond with mainly koi, three small sterlets and one deformed gold-fish (don't ask!)

    Over the winter I have been auto feeding a little sinking sturgeon food. The Koi will no longer feed from the surface by hand or auto-feeder.
    I want to be able to hand feed as does "she who must be obeyed" who wants her grand-children to be able to hand-feed (and hence come and see her).

    Please help or I am dead meat!

    Thanks in advance.
    Andrew

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  23. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
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    I think its all about patients and association, feeding a little and often, you need the fish to associate you going to the pond to them getting fed, so every time you go to the pond give them a little feed, I think sinking will have a bad effect as will the auto feeder
    4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
    2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
    2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
    Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
    Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
    Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
    2 x 18,000 lh pumps
    Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
    Idealseal MS290

    My Pond Build

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  25. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    I agree with Roy - patience and presence during floating feedtime will initially get them used to you again.

    when that is done slowly feed closer and closer towards you.

    When that is done, put your hand in the water amongst the food and they will get used to you further - after that hand feeding is more likely.

    some koi are naturally more friendly than others so adding Chags is usually helpful is there are not any currently.

    Cheers

    Gaz

    Quote Originally Posted by 071307 View Post
    Hoping for some help here from more experienced keepers.

    I have a 4000 gallon pond with mainly koi, three small sterlets and one deformed gold-fish (don't ask!)

    Over the winter I have been auto feeding a little sinking sturgeon food. The Koi will no longer feed from the surface by hand or auto-feeder.
    I want to be able to hand feed as does "she who must be obeyed" who wants her grand-children to be able to hand-feed (and hence come and see her).

    Please help or I am dead meat!

    Thanks in advance.
    Andrew
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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  27. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gazkoi View Post
    I agree with Roy - patience and presence during floating feedtime will initially get them used to you again.

    when that is done slowly feed closer and closer towards you.

    When that is done, put your hand in the water amongst the food and they will get used to you further - after that hand feeding is more likely.

    some koi are naturally more friendly than others so adding Chags is usually helpful is there are not any currently.

    Cheers

    Gaz
    A pond isn't a pond without a Chag

    (Glad predictive text isn't working)
    4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
    2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
    2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
    Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
    Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
    Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
    2 x 18,000 lh pumps
    Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
    Idealseal MS290

    My Pond Build

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  29. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion samp09's Avatar
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    I have this same issue, I worry my smaller more timid koi that only have a little bit of the food occasionally wont grow well whilst they are in their growing prime. The main issue is my big boisterous mirror carp, he comes and chugs everything on the top and makes such a commotion he spooks the others half the time, but if I put sinking food in as well he just dives down to the bottom instantly and hoovers the lot up then comes back up and eats the floating food! I tried feeding him a whole crab stick the other day so the others could feed at the bottom a bit better but even so the bigger koi still get down there and the small Tosai just take too long to get amongst it. I would like to get an auto feeder but I also worry that all the food will just go down the skimmer if it floats, but if it sinks I will end up not seeing them feeding ever as they will not bother coming up.

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  31. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    I'm in the same boat too.

    I have 3 (was 4Sinking or Floating - Pros and Cons) big koi plus 5 small mirrors. They are all happy to feed off the surface, although the mirrors are so skittish they act more like a predatory fish stalking it's prey from the deep and come rushing up to hit the pellets coming half out the water - spooking everything in the process.

    But I also have 3 smaller koi (Nisai from cutlebrook) that point blank refuse to feed from the surface. To the extent that they only ever seem to stay in the lower 2/3rds of the water column.

    As I have sturgeon, I also have to feed high fishmeal sinking pellets, that all the other fish love to gorge themselves on.

    My current approach is to feed floating during the day and sinking at night/dark - when the sturgeon are more active anyway. I do this with the hope the smaller ones get conditioned to feed off the surface in day light. It's yet to happen though Sinking or Floating - Pros and Cons

    If your concern is the smaller fish aren't getting enough of the pellets, try tiny 3mm pellets alongside your bigger pellets. I find it takes the fish more time to find all of the smaller pellets, which in turn gives the more timid fish an opportunity to find them. I find spreading the pellets about (both sinking and floating) also has a similar effect.

    Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

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  33. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RoyLittle0 View Post
    A pond isn't a pond without a Chag

    (Glad predictive text isn't working)
    Haha Brill

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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