Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers

R 64.50

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What Are They / What They Do

These are sinking wafer‑discs (wafers) formulated for algae‑eating tropical and marine fishes, especially bottom feeders such as plecostomus and other herbivorous/omnivorous algae eaters.
They include a high proportion of vegetable matter and multiple types of algae (notably spirulina and chlorella) which support healthy digestion, colour, and general health in herbivorous fish.
The wafer form is shaped to sink rapidly and to be more durable (i.e. retains its shape) so that less aggressive species can get to it without it dissolving too fast.

Guaranteed Analysis (approx.):

Ingredients (some of the main ones):

Fish meal – a source of animal protein
Wheat flour, wheat germ meal, other grain/plant‑based stuff (e.g. wheat, bakery products) – provide carbohydrates, structure.
Dried seaweed meal, spirulina, chlorella – the algae components.
Alfalfa (meal/concentrate), brewers’ yeast, soybean meal – further plant protein / vitamin / fibre contributions.
Added vitamins and trace minerals: vitamin A, D3, E, stabilized vitamin C, some carotenoids (for coloration) etc.

Feed only what your algae eaters will completely consume within about 2 hours. Remove any uneaten food after that time to avoid water quality issues.
Because many bottom feeders are nocturnal, feeding late in the day or at night can help ensure food is found and eaten
For smaller fish (juveniles, very small species) or crustaceans/inverts, the Mini Algae Wafers version is available. These are smaller sized wafers with the same nutritional profile.
Break wafers into smaller pieces if needed. Some fish may not be able to consume a whole wafer at once.

Good source of plant/algae matter which is essential for many herbivores that do not get sufficient grazing opportunities in aquariums.
Spirulina/chlorella help with skin colour, general vitality, and potentially with immune response.
Disc shape and sinking behaviour make feeding more natural for bottom dwellers; less aggressive species have more time to feed.
They’re widely available in various sizes (20 g up to 250 g or more) so you can pick depending on how many fish or how big your tank is.

Even though they have a lot of plant matter, there is a significant animal‑protein component (fish meal, krill etc.). For some species (or invertebrates) that are very strict herbivores, this could matter.
The ash content is fairly high (~17%) which means there are a lot of “inorganic” residues; that may not be an issue for many fish but can contribute to more waste/excretions.
Overfeeding can cause water pollution (uneaten food decaying, raising ammonia/nitrates). So removing leftover wafers is important.
Some users worry about certain trace elements (like copper) in the ingredient list, especially if you have sensitive invertebrates (shrimp, snails). The copper is usually in small amounts, but it’s worth being aware of