Health is defined as the condition of an organism with respect to the performance of its vital functions. Nutrition is the act or process of nourishing or being nourished; specifically, the sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances. So what is healthy nutrition in the reef aquarium? It is a question that evokes strong emotions and, frequently, heated debate. You, the hobbyist, are “Mother Nature” to your aquarium system. Your decisions directly affect its success or failure, and what successful aquarists have learned is that consistency of care is crucial. The goal of this article is to provide you with clear information so that you can make the best choices for maintaining a healthy and successful ecosystem. Nutrition is essential for all members of the animal kingdom survive, thrive, and reproduce. Our goal must be not only a healthy, but a vibrant, stable, and thriving ecosystem
Pictured above is a nutritional-centrist view of the pillars of reefkeeping success. Each factor has a “give and take” relationship with nutrition. Flow, for instance, is particularly critical for sessile organisms as it brings both nutrients to the organism and allows for the removal of waste and detritus. It also delivers scents that alert the animals to initiate hunting, which is often the first step in the process of acquiring nutrients. For lighting, the creation of both dawn and dusk is a trigger that supports healthy feeding cycles for many animals. Temperature and water quality can be stressors, and both greatly affect the animals’ ability to acquire nutrients and dispose of waste. Social stress is less understood, but we do know that both habitat and tank mates contribute to total overall stress. Finally, natural waste removal requires a healthy detritus pyramid to process and break down waste for safe natural removal. This article is based on the concept of biomimicry; Mother Nature has perfected her diet over thousands of years and it works. Following in her footsteps is the path to success. The science is becoming clearer, for both humans and for the systems we keep: food choices matter. One last comment about the use of the term “organic” in labeling. The word “organic” is now a legal term defined by agencies of the federal government. To date, there are no published regulations in the fish/fish food industry, and as such the use of the term guarantees no added value.… More:
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