Sera Spirulina Tabs Nature v.s. Hikari Algae Wafers

[TwoTankAmin]

For years I used the Hikari Algae Wafers until their ingredient changes made them no better than cheaper stuff. Here is the current ingredient list for them. I have added the green and bolding to highlight the actual algae in the list.

Fish meal, wheat flour, wheat germ meal, cassava starch, dried bakery product, dried seaweed meal, alfalfa nutrient concentrate dehydrated, dehydrated alfalfa meal, brewers dried yeast, soybean meal, fish oil, krill meal, spirulina, garlic, DL-methionine, chlorella, astaxanthin, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (stabilized vitamin C), inositol, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, niacin, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, disodium phosphate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate.* 05-49R
* Because of our commitment to providing the highest quality nutrition available, some differences in ingredients may occur due to regular formula updates.

https://www.hikariusa.com/tropical_folder/algae_wafers.html

Hikari also includes this information as well.

Phosphorus	Vitamin A	Vitamin D3	Vitamin E	Ascorbic Acid
max. 0.8%	min. 8,700 IU/kg	min. 1,300 IU/kg	min. 1,700 IU/kg	min. 190 mg/kg

And here is the ingredient list for the Sera Tabs. I have also added the green and bolding to highlight the actual algae in the list below.

spirulina, Algae Whole Meal, Fish Meal, Krill meal, Dried Milk, Wheat Flour, Yeast brewers dehydrated, stinging nettle, sugar, Calcium caseinate, Lecithin, sun-dried fresh water shrimp meal (Gammarus pulex), whole egg powder, Alfalfa herb, New Zealand Green Mussel, parsley, Vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, α-Tocopherol acetate, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Inositol, Vitamin A acetate, Thiamine hydrochloride, Calcium pantothenate, Cholecalciferol, Menadione sodium bisulfite complex, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Folic acid), Fish cod liver oil, paprika, spinach, carrots, Haematococcus Algae Meal, Fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, garlic, Anise seeds.

This is also included in the Sera list of information as to what is in the tabs.

Additives

Vitamins and provitamins: Vitamin A (Vitamin A Acetate) 16,800 IU/lb, Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) 820 IU/lb, Vitamin E (α-Tocopherol Acetate) 54 IU/lb, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride) 16 mg/lb, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 41 mg/lb, Vitamin C (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate) 250 mg/lb.

I am thinking despite their greater cost the Sera Tabs are the far better choice when it comes to feeding algae. I could not find identical sizes but here is what Kensfish shows for the smaller sizes:

Hikari Wafers 2.9 oz $6.99 v.s. Sera Tabs 2.1 oz. $14.69. The Sera is about 27% less weight but a bit over twice twice the price. However, based on the ingredients I think the Sera is the better option.
SwissTropicals offers th 2.1 oz Sera tabs for $14.00 – 100 ml/2.1 oz.

I already feed the Sera Vitachips Nature as one of the foods for my smaller clown and sidthimunki loaches plus my corys. I consider ingredients to be much more important than cost when it comes to fish foods.
I am curious how others feel about this?

 

[GaryE]

I don't keep Loracarids, so the choices discussed here are academic to me. But I find myself spending more on insect based foods (bug bites from fluval and insect pellets from Tropical) because the fish I keep need good nutrition. I always have a tendency to be frugal, but when I look at what quality dog food costs, we get off easy on fish food.

We aren't dealing in gimmick food. There was a time when all fish foods were similar, and brand loyalties were like sports team loyalties. Everything we could buy was a substitute for something better - most flake and pellets, beef heart instead of better fish/crustacean/insect based options, etc. But Fluval and Repashy really kicked a door open with higher quality foods based on what fish really eat, as opposed to what the industry cooks could mash up as substitutes. Whatever fish you keep, do as @TwoTankAmin is doing and match the quality of the food with the quality of your fish.

 

[Magnum Man]

I'm feeding out what I have right now, the fish seem to like them, but will probably replace those with human supplement spirulina, once what I have are gone...
this is what I'm currently using...

this is what I last looked at, to replace my current, shown above... 100% spirulina

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HLDRNVB/?coliid=IBOKQOQEEKQZD&colid=20NNVT3022FIM&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_gv_dp_it