Soaking Flakes Yes Or No?

I keep little nano fish and I like to crunch up the flakes small and soak the food so that it drops to the bottom. The fish seem to get more of the food this way if it floats through the tank. This only works if I soak the flakes in some tank water for about 30seconds before feeding.

Then I read that should not be done because soaking flakes leeches the vitamins out of the flakes into the water and they end up not getting the vitamins then.

Is it ok to soak flakes or not?

Thanks

 

I never do.

 

I don't and wouldn't. Flakes turn to mush so fast. If your fish won't feed at the surface, just release the pinch of flakes underwater.

 

I always feed flakes under the surface. My hand gets wet everyday anyway. I’ve noticed this gets more flakes to my bottom feeders (who get their own pellets) but it also creates more of a feeding frenzy allowing said bottom dweller more time to find said pellets. Also, this keeps my tetras from swallowing air when eating.

 

I always feed flakes under the surface. My hand gets wet everyday anyway. I’ve noticed this gets more flakes to my bottom feeders (who get their own pellets) but it also creates more of a feeding frenzy allowing said bottom dweller more time to find said pellets. Also, this keeps my tetras from swallowing air when eating.

Yep swallowing too much air is what I was trying to avoid.

I guess also that in the wild, fish wouldnt be eating something dry and hard like flakes, they would be eating squishy little insects.

 

Insects often have crunchy exoskeletons ;-)

 

Is there any harm in soaking first though? If I want to continue to soak?

 

I vary things each time I feed them. I do hold the pinch under water a bit if I want the food to spread and sink. I also find that if I take a pinch of food and hold it just under water the fish gather around my fingers and nibble them to get me to let go of the food. I sometimes stroke the fish a bit at this time and we have a nice little bonding moment.

 

I find that my filter pushes the flakes under water soon enough. That's in the case that you leave the filter one during feeding. I know some people might turn it off. I use a pre-filter so all the food remains in the tank and doesn't get sucked up right away into the filter, never to be seen or eaten by any fish.

 

Water soluble vitamins may be very quickly lost to the water if you presoak flakes. According to this discussion, in as little as 60-90 seconds:
SimplyDiscus
Flakes are not designed to be soaked, and it's much messier, why put yourself through it?

 

What would be the benefit of pre-soaking versus just feeding under the water surface?

I also have tiny fish. I took the whole bottle of flake food, crushed it into the size needed, and release pinches just under the water surface during feedings. I found pre-crushing them worked better because trying to crumble the flakes in the water resulted in soggy clumps.

 

What would be the benefit of pre-soaking versus just feeding under the water surface?

I also have tiny fish. I took the whole bottle of flake food, crushed it into the size needed, and release pinches just under the water surface during feedings. I found pre-crushing them worked better because trying to crumble the flakes in the water resulted in soggy clumps.

This is what I do. Only I crush them on the palm of my other hand just before feeding a pinch just under the surface. It floats down nicely.

 

They are designed to float for a few seconds, then sink. And gulping air is harmless to fish. They can usually absorb a little oxygen via their intestines, and since most small predatory fish eat ants and mosquitoes, they strike the surface regularly.
I would never bother doing that. I put crushed flake into the filter outflow for midwater feeders.

 

Is there any harm in soaking first though? If I want to continue to soak?

To answer your question , there is no harm in letting your flakes soak.