How Much Should I Feed My Aquarium Fish?

Feed only what fish eat in about two minutes, once or twice daily. Flakes that sink untouched, bloated bellies, and nitrate that jumps after meals are signs you are offering too much.

Skip a day each week if your species allow it — many keepers do and see clearer water. Soaking dry food briefly can reduce air gulping in some species; check species-specific guides for herbivores that need frequent grazing.

If food hits the substrate and sits, you are overstocking the meal, not the tank. Log feeding notes in ReefDiary when troubleshooting ammonia or algae; “extra pinch every night” shows up in the data faster than in memory.