Cichlidrookie12 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 My first post. I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on NLS cichlid formulla and Thera. Which will be better? I have a tank with peacocks, mbuna, some Haps. And 4 Burundis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 I used to feed Thera A as it had garlic but the red residue that NLS food leaves behind has made me change as a food it is very good and the fish grew and coloured well plus found it palatable, just didn't like the residue clean up in the substrate and filters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidrookie12 Posted August 19, 2017 Author Share Posted August 19, 2017 So what are you using now? I was thinking of getting 2 kg tub of either cichlid formula or Thera now. And now I am leaning towards cichlid formula Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undercoverbrother Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Are you using this in a sump system or canister system ? - I find NLS does not sink all to well even when soaked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidrookie12 Posted August 19, 2017 Author Share Posted August 19, 2017 I am using sump but I turn the sump off when I feed them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 I feed Dainichi Cichlid Pro now tried New Era but the fish didn't seem to like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidrookie12 Posted August 20, 2017 Author Share Posted August 20, 2017 Thank you for the input. I ordered new life spectrum cichlid formula 2 kg buckets for $120. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ageofaquariums Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 NLS cichlid is an awesome all in one food. Thera might have elevated levels of some of more expensive suppliment ingredients, but the standard NLS range is already a 5 star food. My favorite concentrated food. The trick to reducing powder with quality finely ground pellets is to feed a smaller size pellet to reduce "chew and spew". The Ocean Nutrition range has a softer pellet which is preferred by some cichlid species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlecoSam Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 I will be the controversial one and say that I do not like NLS. NLS produces waste which is very hard to on the filtration system, the fish may love it and it may be good for them but the sticky filth it produces is not worth the hassle. Dainichi, Extreme, Sera and even Hikari are much better alternatives in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ageofaquariums Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 For the results it gives, healthy fish wise, I am happy to forgive it. All the good foods effect the water more than the el cheapo crap :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noxious_nasties Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I think there's a double etched sword with NLS. The breakdown is annoying, but you can do simple things to minimise the output by doing what AOA said and feeding a smaller pellet. You can also use a floating feeding station to ensure less pellets stay in the water column thereby reducing breakdown. On a good note, that fast breakdown is also a benefit to the fish as it can virtually guarantee the pellet won't be swallowed and then expand in the stomach causing bloat. This is likely one of the reasons why less fish like herbivores with longer intestines don't have digestion problems with the food. Dainichi appears to have overcome this issue to some extent whether intentionally or not and I'd put it to the use of clay they've incorporated into the recipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlecoSam Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I don't think pellet size is going to help, waste is waste and fish living in waste is counter intuitive, all for a supposed healthier food. I also will say in my opinion healthier fish on NLS is debatable, Dainichi and Extreme are not exactly cheap, give the same results colour wise but are much easier on your filter and maintenance. Each to their own but after 3 years of feeding NLS and some debate with Buccal, I bit the bullet and had to say the kid was right, my fish look just as healthy and colourful. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidrookie12 Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 Damn a bit too late now. Already got 2 kg nls. Trying to finish off the food I got left and can't wait to try it out and see it for myself. Thank you for the input everyone. Appreciate the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ageofaquariums Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I have not been able to replicate the results I have achieved in rift lake cichlids with NLS with another food. I try everything new, but I always come back to NLS for pellets eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noxious_nasties Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 14 hours ago, PlecoSam said: I don't think pellet size is going to help, waste is waste and fish living in waste is counter intuitive, all for a supposed healthier food. I also will say in my opinion healthier fish on NLS is debatable, Dainichi and Extreme are not exactly cheap, give the same results colour wise but are much easier on your filter and maintenance. Each to their own but after 3 years of feeding NLS and some debate with Buccal, I bit the bullet and had to say the kid was right, my fish look just as healthy and colourful. :-) Waste is waste, but there is no point feeding a pellet bigger than what a fish can digest only to spit it out back and forth until it can swallow it. This kind of waste is redundant and wouldn't otherwise be present by feeding a properly sized food . It wouldn't matter what food you use if you follow this practice you will always reduce the wastage. If you think Dainichi doesn't leech waste either you're mistaken... just because you may not see it doesn't mean it isn't leaching organics into the water. Don't believe me? Why do you think they say don't soak the food? Brings back the point of feeding the right size pellet so most of the nutrition ends up eaten by the fish, rather than in the water. I don't have a food preference and have tried many types. The main difference I find is the ingredient ratios giving different colour intensities and vibrance across different colour spectrums. The physical effect of food waste I'd consider fairly negligible personally. If you've got enough mechanical filtration you should never really get much particle buildup in the water column and regular water changes/sponge cleaning should take care it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishdance Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Waste is not always waste though.... just because food is swallowed doesn't mean it is consumed. Quite a high percentage of fish poo will contain perfectly good food which is why some people run scavenger fish in tanks. Hate seeing fish waste go to waste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noxious_nasties Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Lol. That is true indeed! Perfect example of the difference between the functionality of a multi-layered ecosystem and a single mono-family habitat . The more detritivores and autotrophs the better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ageofaquariums Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 By the time a bit of fish poop hits the ocean floor, its usually been through the guts of more than a few fish. As to its make up, well poop is usually mostly dead cells. If its not, its likely the fish is unable to digest that food, or it has gut issues. Its common to find undigestable fecal matter in aquariums, and it can be everything from bone meal to quartz sand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Anyone one know any stores in sydneys west that keep NLS buckets in stock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidrookie12 Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share Posted August 27, 2017 On 25/08/2017 at 9:39 PM, Yowie said: Anyone one know any stores in sydneys west that keep NLS buckets in stock? Where are you located? I have been few lfs around Sydney stocks them. I bought mine from city garden aquarium at Greenacre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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