Problems with feeding

[Hazarrd]

I have a newly stocked tank with:

2 Male Dwarf Gourmis
3 Dalmation Mollies
8 Neon Tetras
4 RUmmy Nosed Tetras
4 Glow Light Tetras
6 Coryfish

I have a couple questions about feeding.

I feed flake food for all of the fish (except the corys). I'm new to this so I'm not sure how much to put in. I put just a pinch in and after about 30 seconds the filter caused all of the falkes to "snowfall" all around the aquarium. Is this normal or shouldthe flakes stay on the surface so the fish can "come up" and get them? The fish were eating some of it, but it seemed like most of it just ended up on the bottom. I plan on feeding every other day.

For the corys, I'm having a more serious problem with feeding. I bought algae wafers and broke up two pieces for the 6 to eat. They never seemed to find them. I waited about 20 minutes and then gravel vacced but the food wouldn't suck up into the vac so they are either still on the gravel or may have been eat (although I'm almost positive they were not eaten). Does it take time for the corys to figure out the algae wafers or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

[ch2linda]

might I suggest unplugging the filter a few minutes before feeding.
before long the fish will recognize this and frenzy in anticipation.
also try some fast sinking pellets for the corycats.

[locojay]

I wouldn't turn off the filter at all. It's ok for the food to fall after a few seconds. This is how the cories will get some food. In my 20g I feed a couple small pinches on the the top for the top swimmers and then I hold a small pinch under water for a few seconds before releasing it so it sinks directly to the bottom. Turning off the filters probably won't hurt anything, but I don't think it will do any good to be worth the effort.

Your cories will probably like the sinking pellets but be carefull if you decide to use them. IME, I've had trouble with sinking pellets. The flakes will be eaten quickly but the pellets take a little bit longer. In my tank once the other fish figured out this was the last of the food left in the tank there was some shoving matches over the pellets. One of my cories lost some finnage to my dwarf gourami and eventually the dwarf gourami had to be moved to my 10g. If you use them just keep an eye on the tank until they're gone.

In the past I've used a net to pick up wafers that sat in the tank for too long. The vac won't do it, and if it's not time for a water change it's even more of a pain.