Hikari Algae Wafers Review
The original sinking algae wafer — a vegetable-and-spirulina disc that drops straight to the bottom for plecos, otos, corydoras, loaches and shrimp.
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👍 Pros
- Sinks fast and holds together, so it reaches the substrate before mid-water fish steal it
- Vegetable- and spirulina-based — the right diet for grazing algae eaters
- Stays firm long enough for slow, nocturnal feeders to work at it
- One tub lasts a long time; you only need a wafer or two at a time
👎 Cons
- Can foul the water if wafers are left uneaten overnight — remove leftovers
- A large tub is more than a small tank will use before it ages, so buy a size sensibly
Food that actually reaches the bottom
Bottom feeders are easy to starve by accident — floating flake never makes it down to them. Algae Wafers are dense discs that sink quickly and stay intact, so plecos, otocinclus, corydoras and loaches get a vegetable-rich meal without the mid-water fish hoovering it up first. The spirulina-and-vegetable base matches what grazing herbivores are built to eat, rather than the high-protein diet aimed at community fish above.
Feed at night, clear leftovers
Many bottom dwellers are nocturnal, so the best time to drop a wafer is after lights-out. Use one or two for a small group, and check in the morning — anything uneaten should come out, because a softening wafer left overnight will foul the water. As with every food, uneaten leftovers are the main driver of ammonia and algae.
How it fits with our other picks
Keeping a shrimp colony as well? The Hikari Shrimp Cuisine is a purpose-made companion for caridina and neocaridina. For the full food range see our fish food hub, and since bottom feeders live in the leftovers, keep the substrate clean with the gear on our aquarium maintenance hub.
The default sinking food for algae eaters and bottom feeders: fast-sinking, vegetable-based and firm enough for slow nocturnal grazers. Feed one or two and remove leftovers.
Hikari Algae Wafers — frequently asked questions
How many wafers should I drop in?
Usually one or two for a small group of bottom feeders, every day or every other day. Drop them in after lights-out when nocturnal grazers are active, and remove anything not eaten by morning.
Do plecos need anything besides algae wafers?
Vary the diet — many bottom feeders also enjoy fresh vegetables like blanched courgette or cucumber, and plecos that eat wood need driftwood in the tank. Wafers are the convenient staple, not the whole picture.
Can other fish eat them?
Mid-water fish will nibble a wafer if they reach it first, which is why fast sinking matters. If your top feeders are intercepting them, feed the wafers at night so bottom dwellers get their share.
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