Step 5 Spotlight: Coral Cane®

Introduction

Many reef keepers hold back on coral food because they worry it will feed algae instead of corals.

The manufacturer's Reef Essential® Aqua Care Guide™ takes a different view. Corals can eat solid food straight from the water column, and the Guide says high-quality foods help feed them without polluting the water with unwanted nutrients such as excess phosphate.

That's the job Coral Cane® was made for.

It's the refined coral food the Guide recommends in Step 5 – Bioavailable Nourishment™, and the Guide says it suits all types of coral.

In this article, we cover what Coral Cane is, how it works, where it fits in your routine, how much to dose, and what the manufacturer says it can do.

What Is Coral Cane®?

Coral Cane is what the manufacturer calls a complete coral food.

The Guide lists what's in it:

• Phytoplankton
• Zooplankton
• Other natural food sources
• All of the ingredients in Bio-Enhance™, which the food is adsorbed with

Those Bio-Enhance ingredients are amino acids, vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, fatty acids, energy and what the manufacturer calls cellular bound nourishment enhancers.

The manufacturer's typical analysis for Coral Cane also lists crude protein.

Just as telling is what it leaves out. The Guide says Coral Cane has no added binders, no fillers and no excess unwanted nutrients.

The manufacturer lists it as suitable for LPS (large polyp stony), SPS (small polyp stony), mixed reef and NPS (non-photosynthetic) coral tanks.

How Coral Cane® Works

The Guide's reasoning starts with the coral. Corals can consume solid food directly from the water column, so a refined coral food gives them something to capture.

Size matters here. The Guide says Coral Cane comes in a range of particle sizes, catering to both large and small polyps. The manufacturer puts it this way: large enough for mouths, fine enough for polyps.

That range is why one food can cover a mixed reef.

Coral Cane also comes with two tools. The scoop measures each dose. The activator gently crushes the particles when you want them finer.

The manufacturer says using the scoop and activator helps increase bioavailability, meaning more of the food is in a form your corals can use.

The goal isn't less food.

The goal is food your corals can actually take in.

When to Use Coral Cane®

Coral Cane is for reef tanks with corals of any type. The Guide calls it suitable for all types of coral.

It comes once you've settled how you dose your tank. After you've chosen the dosing method that suits you, the Guide says it's time to provide the nutrients in Step 5. All five steps then carry on for the life of your tank, so coral feeding is a standing part of the routine, not a one-off.

The Guide also pairs it with the other Step 5 products. It recommends combining Pure Phyto™ with Bio-Enhance and Coral Cane for target or broadcast feeding, to give your corals all the beneficial nutrients that help stimulate growth and well-being.

You'll find all three in the Step 5 – Bioavailable Nourishment collection.

How to Dose Coral Cane®

The Guide's dose is ½–1 scoop twice a week per 100 L (26 gal), set by how heavily your tank is stocked:

• Lightly stocked: ½ scoop twice a week per 100 L (26 gal)
• Moderately stocked: ¾ scoop twice a week per 100 L (26 gal)
• Heavily stocked: 1 scoop twice a week per 100 L (26 gal)

There are two ways to feed it.

Broadcast Feeding

The Guide gives the twice-weekly dose for broadcast feeding. The manufacturer says to broadcast feed evenly into the aquarium.

Target Feeding

For target feeding, the Guide gives a Step 5 mix:

• 1 scoop of Coral Cane
• 1 mL of Bio-Enhance
• 3 mL of Pure Phyto
• 4 mL of aquarium water

Crush the mixture with the activator if you want finer particles. Turn off all circulating and return pumps, then gently spot feed your corals.

Turn your pumps back on when you've finished.

The Guide says this method lets you make a custom mix tailored to your aquarium. For when to choose each method, read The Art of Coral Feeding: Broadcast vs. Target Feeding Explained.

What Results to Expect From Coral Cane®

The Guide describes what a refined coral food is for.

It says high-quality foods help corals reach their maximum potential by improving health and boosting vitality without promoting nuisance algae. It also says extra food sources help give corals the full-spectrum nourishment they need for vibrant coloration and vigorous growth.

For target feeding, the Guide says the Step 5 mix can help increase bioavailability by enhancing polyp extension and giving your corals more time to eat. That may help improve absorption.

Those are the manufacturer's stated aims, not a guarantee for every tank. It's still worth watching your nutrient levels as you feed. Our guide to reef tank nitrate and phosphate levels covers the targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Tools Come With Coral Cane®?

Coral Cane comes with a scoop and an activator. For target feeding Coral Cane on its own, the manufacturer's directions are to add about 3 mL of aquarium water per scoop in a clean container, then use the activator to gently crush the particles. The Guide suggests the same tool for its Step 5 target-feeding mix when you want even finer particles.

Can I Feed Coral Cane® in an NPS Coral Tank?

Yes. The manufacturer lists NPS (non-photosynthetic) coral tanks among the tanks Coral Cane suits, along with LPS, SPS and mixed reef tanks.

How Do I Work Out the Coral Cane® Dose for My Tank Size?

The Guide's doses are per 100 L (26 gal), so scale the scoop amount for your stocking level to your tank's volume. The manufacturer also points to its free Quantum Aqua app for easier dosing.

What Is the Difference Between Coral Cane® and Bio-Enhance™?

Bio-Enhance is dosed daily at 0.5–1.0 mL/day per 100 L (26 gal), and the Guide says it suits dosing pumps. Coral Cane is a food you dose by the scoop twice a week, with plankton and natural food sources adsorbed with all of Bio-Enhance's ingredients.