Floating "sinking" pellets

[NDsuperduty]

I typically use Omega One sinking pellets for my cichlids and have no complaints but was curious about something. I always put the food I'm about to feed in a cup of tank water before I drop it in, and the pellets usually sink right away. But when I use an automatic feeder the pellets float on top of the water. Both of my tanks have wet dry filters so the top of the water is skimmed, so there is no film. I'm just wondering if any one has a clue why it sinks right away in my cup but floats in the tank if not pre soaked?

[troy tucker]

I have no idea... I would like to ask? When you soak Do you put the pellets in the cup and water on top or water in the cup and pellets on top?

[NDsuperduty]

i have the water in cup first. Thats why i cant figure it out. There is probably more water motion in the tank than in the cup which I would think would help sink the pellets. Who knows.

[troy tucker]

Thats crazy. Do they sink after a few min.?

[NDsuperduty]

some do but some stay a float. Makes no sense to me.

[SunnyHouTX]

Re: Floating "sinking" pellets

If the voids insider a pellet don't get filled with water, they won't sink. When you're using a cup, I fear that the surface tension is altered, maybe due to soap residue, that allows water in the cup to seep into the voids in all the pellets fairly quickly.

[mistahoo]

It could be several things. When I feed sinking pellets, they usually float for a few seconds and then sink because it takes a while for the water to fill in the holes in the pellet, but if I throw the pellets in with some force behind it, they sink. While in the cup, the water fills the holes which allow the pellets to sink immediately when you pour it into the tank because it is heavier now. There might not be that force behind the pellets to allow it to sink when you use a feeder because it just falls out. But honestly, I don't know. I had used Tetra Carnivore Sticks for a short time and they are floating sticks, but if I broke one to allow the water to fill the holes, it would sink instantly.

I've only seen feeders used on troph/petro tanks (in person). They eat so vigorously that it doesn't matter if the pellets are floating or sinking. I would think the same usually applies to any other schooling/shoaling type fish as my lemon barbs do and my past silver dollars did.

[cu0ngsayz]

I find the best way for these to sink in your tank when using auto feeders is to have A bit of surface agitation. I have a koralia pointed where the food falls in the tank so it sink right away. Hope that helps you.

[fshfrk]

A floating feeding ring under the auto feeder will help too.

[New_Cichlid11]

A floating feeding ring under the auto feeder will help too.

+1 it works like a charm, i did this on my tank and never have any escaping pellets going to the overflow because the fish attack it as soon as it comes out..