Target Feeding Vs Broadcast Feeding - Which Is Better For Coral Tanks?
You're not the only one who has held a turkey baster in one hand and a pot of coral food in the other while hovering over your reef tank, wondering if you're doing it right. One topic that really gets people talking in the reef hobby is feeding corals, and for good reason. If you do it right, your corals will reward you with bright colors and fast growth. If you don't do it right, you might end up with too many nutrients, angry corals, or a tank full of algae.
So, let's answer the big question: Which is better, target feeding or broadcast feeding? The truth? It all depends. But knowing why will make you a much more sure reef keeper.
What Do Corals Eat?
Before we get into the details, let's take a moment to appreciate how amazing coral feeding is. Corals are animals, not plants, and they eat in two main ways:
Photosynthesis through zooxanthellae: Most reef corals have algae in their tissues that turn light into energy. This is why lighting is so important
Heterotrophic feeding: Corals also actively catch food from the water column by using stinging cells called nematocysts to grab particles that pass by.
When we talk about feeding strategies, we're talking about that second method. And the kind of coral you have will have a big effect on which method works best.
Broadcast Feeding Corals
When you broadcast feed, you put food directly into the water column and let it spread out in the tank. It's like throwing fish food into a pond so that everyone can get some.
Common broadcast foods include:
Phytoplankton: Tiny plant cells that are great for filter feeders, soft corals, and clams. Adding a good liquid phytoplankton supplement to your tank a few times a week can help Sinularia (Leather Corals) and Sarcophyton (Toadstool Corals) a lot.
Coral snow and amino acids: Ultra-fine particle supplements that cover surfaces and are absorbed directly by coral tissue. These are great for broadcasting because they cover every inch of the tank.
Zooplankton mixes: Rotifers, copepods, and other small animals like them are great for feeding and help the whole ecosystem, not just the corals. At Reefco Aquariums, we offer mixes like Tetraselmis chui as a functional food for corals.
The pros of broadcast feeding:
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Easy, just dose and leave
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Corals, feather dusters, sponges, and even fish all benefit from it
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Good for soft corals and LPS corals that aren't aggressive and don't have obvious feeding tentacles
The cons:
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If done too much, it can cause spikes in nutrients like nitrate and phosphate
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Not as effective. Food that isn't eaten hits the sandbed and breaks down
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Not good for corals with big, meaty polyps that need a more direct touch
Target Feeding Corals
Target feeding is just what it sounds like: you use a pipette, turkey baster, or target feeding syringe to give food directly to a certain coral. You wait for the coral to stretch out its feeding tentacles, which usually happens in the evening or after the lights go out. Then you gently squirt food right above the polyp.
The best foods for Target feeding:
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Mysis shrimp: Good for LPS (large polyp stony corals). Euphyllia (Hammer, Torch, and Frogspawn Corals) and Trachyphyllia (Open Brain Corals), for example, absolutely thrive when target-fed mysis a couple of times a week.
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Copepods: These are great for more delicate feeders, either live or frozen.
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Coral pellets: Small pellets especially formulated to be directly placed onto a polyp. Great for Acanthastrea (Acan Lords) and Lobophyllia corals.
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Reef roids / coral-specific powders: Mix a small amount with tank water to create a paste-like slurry, then directly target feed to individual polyps or colonies.
The pros of target feeding:
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Super efficient. Food goes to where it is needed
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Limits nutrient spikes and waste
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Creates a visually rewarding feeding response that is a joy to watch
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Important for aggressive feeders and corals that depend on heterotrophic nutrition
The cons:
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Time-consuming, especially if it is a big tank with a lot of corals
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Needs some patience and technique
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Can stress shy corals if the flow from the baster is too strong
The Best Feeding Strategy For Corals
The best results among the reef keepers combine both methods. A good routine might be like this:
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2-3x/week: After lights are dimmed, broadcast a quality phytoplankton or amino acid supplement
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1-2 times a week: Target feed your LPS corals with mysis or a coral food paste
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Monthly: Dose a coral snow or marine snow product to feed the entire water column
This multi-layer approach is designed to mimic a natural reef, where currents constantly deliver a mix of microscopic particles and larger predators roam to hunt.
Overfeeding Corals
More food doesn't always mean better coral growth. One of the most common mistakes in the hobby is overfeeding, which can send your nitrates and phosphates through the roof, fueling algae outbreaks and stressing your corals in the process.
Begin with a couple of corals, observe their response, and test your water regularly. Your corals will let you know if something isn’t working. Pale color, retracted polyps, or slow growth are all signs to take a step back and reassess.
Summary
Both target feeding and broadcast feeding have a place in a healthy reef tank. The secret is to be consistent, not to overdo it, and to match your method of feeding to the corals you are keeping. If you are keeping your first Frogspawn coral or have a full SPS setup, learning how your corals eat will change the way you care for them.
Check out our wide range of coral food supplements at the Reefco Aquariums store and read our informative blogs on phytoplankton dosing, best foods for LPS corals, and how to control nutrients in a reef tank to enhance your reef-keeping skills. If you need advice on feeding corals, contact the team at Reefco Aquariums today.
Happy reefing!
