Any Equipments / Methods to grind Algae Wafer?

**paladin** · 14th Mar 2012, 15:12

I have been feeding my Tetra, Cory, Guppy, CAE with Hikari Algae Wafer. They likes to eat it.

But i have to use something hard to smash it into small pieces before i can feed them.

Are there any small grinders specially to grind these wafer? Or any methods that i can use? The wafer cannot be grinded too powderish as it may cloud the water. I prefer to make it small bite pieces so that the fishes can suck on it.

**Aquanoob** · 14th Mar 2012, 15:18

Why not try feeding them Hikari micro wafer or mini algae wafer? I also give my fish algae wafer and they like it, but since introducing the micro wafer to the fish, they enjoy it a lot too.

**SeVenZ** · 15th Mar 2012, 01:34

i just break it with my hands into pieces. its not that hard?

**stormhawk** · 15th Mar 2012, 04:11

Get a wooden board or stone board. Lay a piece of plastic over it, place the wafers then lay another piece of plastic again. Pound gently with a stone pestle or use a spoon to crush it. The wafers should be moistened beforehand to mash it easier. You can now scrape it off the plastic into a small bowl, mix with some water and pour in.

Or, you can find a kitchen mill to crush your stuff but the cost may be a little steep unless you purchase a hand powered mill. By mill I mean something like the machine that crushes sugar cane to produce the drink we all love.

**tetrakid** · 15th Mar 2012, 05:49

@stormhawk,

Thanks for the useful tips. I've also been scratching my head thinking of a way out of this problem.

Previously a friend said he used to pound the pellets using his grandmother's kitchen mortar and pestle, which scared the fish no end, lol.

**mincedmeat** · 15th Mar 2012, 10:26

I would just break the pellets with my bare hands. Don't need to feed them much either since there's some algae on the DW for them to much on and my plecos have been pretty lazy ever since they had grown bigger. I feed half a wafer every 2 days, ensuring that the rest of the fishes had their fill before doing so, just so I don't run the risk of having my plecos starve.

**tetrakid** · 15th Mar 2012, 10:40

Lol, you must be a karate champion or something. The algae discs I have are the very tough and brittle type. I've thought of going to Best Denki or Courts to get a small coffee grinder, or maybe a hand pepper grinder.

Originally Posted by mincedmeat

I would just break the pellets with my bare hands. Don't need to feed them much either since there's some algae on the DW for them to much on and my plecos have been pretty lazy ever since they had grown bigger. I feed half a wafer every 2 days, ensuring that the rest of the fishes had their fill before doing so, just so I don't run the risk of having my plecos starve.

**stormhawk** · 15th Mar 2012, 10:43

Mortar and pestle works, but the problem is that the stone mortar usually has those crevices all over it, because of the texture. Long term, if any trapped food is not cleared, it will be a massive hygiene issue. A simple kitchen mill will do the job but I haven't seen one for sale for a long time. Perhaps I didn't look well enough at the hardware stones but they should be available. I don't break the food I just throw it in. The fish, even the smallest one will rip chunks out of the pellets.

**paladin** · 15th Mar 2012, 10:50

Originally Posted by Aquanoob

Why not try feeding them Hikari micro wafer or mini algae wafer? I also give my fish algae wafer and they like it, but since introducing the micro wafer to the fish, they enjoy it a lot too.

Thanks bro! Didn't notice Hikari got micro wafer... would give it a try.

**paladin** · 15th Mar 2012, 10:52

Originally Posted by SeVenZ

i just break it with my hands into pieces. its not that hard?

Yup, its not hard. I can easily break it with my hands. But the problem is, i need to make it small bite-size pieces so that my tetra and guppies can eat. For bigger pieces, the cory and algae eater can slowly chew on it.

**tetrakid** · 15th Mar 2012, 11:17

That's true. My Tetras go bonkers when I sprinkle the crushed algae on the surface. My C. Sterbais can work on the bigger pieces at the bottom. By by the sad look in their eyes and their cold disposition, I can know that they are thinking of tubifex rather than algae pellets. When given tubifex, they go bonkers over it. lol.

Originally Posted by paladin

Yup, its not hard. I can easily break it with my hands. But the problem is, i need to make it small bite-size pieces so that my tetra and guppies can eat. For bigger pieces, the cory and algae eater can slowly chew on it.

**shawnc9** · 15th Mar 2012, 14:11

I cut them into small pieces with a pair of scissors. Maybe I should try the pepper grinder method.

**tetrakid** · 15th Mar 2012, 14:32

Yes, I think the pepper grinder is best. It can be found at IKEA. Probably comes in pairs (one for salt). Very useful things.

Originally Posted by tetrakid

That's true. My Tetras go bonkers when I sprinkle the crushed algae on the surface. My C. Sterbais can work on the bigger pieces at the bottom. By by the sad look in their eyes and their cold disposition, I can know that they are thinking of tubifex rather than algae pellets. When given tubifex, they go bonkers over it. lol.