Can I Put My Pellets On Top Of My Light?

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 10:58 AM

Like the title says, I'd like to put my small jar of NLS pellets on top of my 4 bulb t5 with no active cooling. I would leave them on the front corner of the fixture, defiantly not the middle as that gets the hottest. I have left the jar there for a half hour or so under observation and temp gun'd the bottom at 95F.

Im guessing the answer is no.... but is it possibly ok to leave them there? Would you consider this a fire hazard to be avoided? Would the heat do anything undesirable to the pellets over time?

Vinny Kreyling · 03/22/2018, 11:04 AM

@ that temp. I would move them to a cooler place.

AlSimmons · 03/22/2018, 11:05 AM

I think you'll be ok, although I would look for a different spot to store the pellets. If your worried about heat though I guess you could get a piece of tin foil and place this on top of the light as a makeshift heat sink. Place the jar on top of that.

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 11:09 AM

I'm currently keeping them in a closet right next to the tank, so its really no biggie.... just would keep me from opening and closing the closet a few times a day. I've tried a glass coaster on top of the light.... but after a bit of time it heated up to the same temperature, and I was still getting the same 95 on the bottom of the jar.

Looks like I'll probably just keep doing what I'm doing.

Bent · 03/22/2018, 11:11 AM

Get an auto feeder.

Problem solved.

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

Get an auto feeder.

Problem solved.

hahaha yea yea yea lol.... I've got one that i use for vacation etc.... but i guess i just enjoy feeding them myself when I'm here.

Bent · 03/22/2018, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott07

hahaha yea yea yea lol.... I've got one that i use for vacation etc.... but i guess i just enjoy feeding them myself when I'm here.

Set your smart phone to alarm when the food is getting ready to drop.

Walk in front of tank.

Problem solved again

Hahahahhaha

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

Set your smart phone to alarm when the food is getting ready to drop.

Walk in front of tank.

Problem solved again

Hahahahhaha

hahahaha thats great!! Oh man that's an idea lol..... maybe tell apex to play an audible alarm when its feeding time somehow lol

RCS82 · 03/22/2018, 12:03 PM

The jaws theme

Bent · 03/22/2018, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott07

hahahaha thats great!! Oh man that's an idea lol..... maybe tell apex to play an audible alarm when its feeding time somehow lol

Better yet get the apex auto feeder and push the button to feed yourself.

AlSimmons · 03/22/2018, 02:35 PM

Unless your on vacation or something an automatic feeder kind of takes the fun out of a tank IMO. I don't want this robot to feed my tank, I want to make the decision on the spot whether I'll feed Spirulina flakes, NLS pellets, Prime Reef frozen etc. (different reaction) The whole routine is fun, especially after a hard days work.

ramseynb · 03/22/2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

Unless your on vacation or something an automatic feeder kind of takes the fun out of a tank IMO. I don't want this robot to feed my tank, I want to make the decision on the spot whether I'll feed Spirulina flakes, NLS pellets, Prime Reef frozen etc. (different reaction) The whole routine is fun, especially after a hard days work.

I agree. My last two tanks I controlled with an Apex and automated a ton of stuff. After everything was automated, I felt kinda bored to be honest. I like having things to do to my tank besides just look at it. I feel like it keeps me closer and more connected with how things are doing, more engaged.

mako61 · 03/22/2018, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

Unless your on vacation or something an automatic feeder kind of takes the fun out of a tank IMO. I don't want this robot to feed my tank, I want to make the decision on the spot whether I'll feed Spirulina flakes, NLS pellets, Prime Reef frozen etc. (different reaction) The whole routine is fun, especially after a hard days work.

+1 These days with ATO, Dosers about the only day to day I have is feed and maybe empty skimmer.

Bent · 03/22/2018, 02:55 PM

Idk I guess I’m different. After having to feed the cats, the dogs, the gecko and the kids, feeding the blasted fish is about the last thing I want to do.

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramseynb

I agree. My last two tanks I controlled with an Apex and automated a ton of stuff. After everything was automated, I felt kinda bored to be honest. I like having things to do to my tank besides just look at it. I feel like it keeps me closer and more connected with how things are doing, more engaged.

I agree with this notion. I automated dosing a few weeks ago and am still getting used to that. At least once or twice throughout the day I find myself feeling like I'm forgetting something. Ok I fed the fish anndddd........ lol.

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

Idk I guess I’m different. After having to feed the cats, the dogs, the gecko and the kids, feeding the blasted fish is about the last thing I want to do.

Hahaha I get that! At least the fish don't beg like the cats and dog do lol.

mako61 · 03/22/2018, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott07

Hahaha I get that! At least the fish don't beg like the cats and dog do lol.

my dog only begs when my wife is eating, he knows the weak link

Bent · 03/22/2018, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott07

Hahaha I get that! At least the fish don't beg like the cats and dog do lol.

The kids beg the worst.

AlSimmons · 03/22/2018, 03:29 PM

Define kids? lol

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

The kids beg the worst.

And apex can't feed them hahahaha

WVfishguy · 03/22/2018, 04:07 PM

If you are referring to pellet food, then you need to keep it away from heat. I used to fight with my freshwater customers who could not understand heat destroys vitamins - they wanted to keep their dry food on top of their lights. I explained their fish could be malnourished with a full stomach.

My salt water customers fed mainly frozen food, with a smidgen of dry food occasionally.

Bent · 03/22/2018, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott07

And apex can't feed them hahahaha

Hmmmmmm

Ooooooor can it?

Scott07 · 03/22/2018, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVfishguy

If you are referring to pellet food, then you need to keep it away from heat. I used to fight with my freshwater customers who could not understand heat destroys vitamins - they wanted to keep their dry food on top of their lights. I explained their fish could be malnourished with a full stomach.

My salt water customers fed mainly frozen food, with a smidgen of dry food occasionally.

Thank you very much! I can see how that could be a problem. I'll definitely not be keeping them on top of my light now, especially knowing this.

kmbyrnes · 03/23/2018, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott07

Hahaha I get that! At least the fish don't beg like the cats and dog do lol.

Wrong!!!
All the fish in my 350 used to beg any time a person walked by!
And also when the dogs get feed.

WVfishguy · 03/23/2018, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmbyrnes

Wrong!!!
All the fish in my 350 used to beg any time a person walked by!
And also when the dogs get feed.

This is why fish get overfed. They quickly learn where food comes from, and they have good eyesight.

I had a tough time keeping customers from overfeeding their fish because the little moochers would go nuts when they saw whoever fed them.

A large tank with African cichlids will just about take your hand off.

03/22/2018, 10:58 AM	#1
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	Can I Put My Pellets On Top Of My Light? Like the title says, I'd like to put my small jar of NLS pellets on top of my 4 bulb t5 with no active cooling. I would leave them on the front corner of the fixture, defiantly not the middle as that gets the hottest. I have left the jar there for a half hour or so under observation and temp gun'd the bottom at 95F. Im guessing the answer is no.... but is it possibly ok to leave them there? Would you consider this a fire hazard to be avoided? Would the heat do anything undesirable to the pellets over time? __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.

03/22/2018, 11:04 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	@ that temp. I would move them to a cooler place. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

03/22/2018, 11:05 AM	#3
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I think you'll be ok, although I would look for a different spot to store the pellets. If your worried about heat though I guess you could get a piece of tin foil and place this on top of the light as a makeshift heat sink. Place the jar on top of that. Last edited by AlSimmons; 03/22/2018 at 11:35 AM.

03/22/2018, 11:09 AM	#4
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	I'm currently keeping them in a closet right next to the tank, so its really no biggie.... just would keep me from opening and closing the closet a few times a day. I've tried a glass coaster on top of the light.... but after a bit of time it heated up to the same temperature, and I was still getting the same 95 on the bottom of the jar. Looks like I'll probably just keep doing what I'm doing. __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.

03/22/2018, 11:11 AM	#5
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Get an auto feeder. Problem solved. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

03/22/2018, 12:03 PM	#9
RCS82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Sherwood Park, AB, Canada Posts: 273	The jaws theme __________________ After about a 16 year break from fish keeping, Wow, how things have changed. Current Tank Info: 90g, mixed reef, I hope haha

03/22/2018, 02:35 PM	#11
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Unless your on vacation or something an automatic feeder kind of takes the fun out of a tank IMO. I don't want this robot to feed my tank, I want to make the decision on the spot whether I'll feed Spirulina flakes, NLS pellets, Prime Reef frozen etc. (different reaction) The whole routine is fun, especially after a hard days work.

03/22/2018, 02:55 PM	#14
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Idk I guess I’m different. After having to feed the cats, the dogs, the gecko and the kids, feeding the blasted fish is about the last thing I want to do. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

03/22/2018, 03:29 PM	#19
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Define kids? lol

03/22/2018, 04:07 PM	#21
WVfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 677	Heat kills nutrients If you are referring to pellet food, then you need to keep it away from heat. I used to fight with my freshwater customers who could not understand heat destroys vitamins - they wanted to keep their dry food on top of their lights. I explained their fish could be malnourished with a full stomach. My salt water customers fed mainly frozen food, with a smidgen of dry food occasionally.