This is a powdered food mix that I developed for my otos, plecos, and turtle. Nothing ground-breaking, but I like it and thought my fellow-hobbyists might like it too. (You can read my first customer's review here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225714.)
I only have a few cups available right now, but if there is a lot of interest I can order more supplies. If you want a formulation different from what I have listed, PM me and we'll work something out.
Scroll all the way down for photos.
Algae Gel Mix #1
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Ingredients (by volume):
1 part agar
6 parts spirulina
6 parts spinach
Algae Gel Mix #2 (with calcium)
===============================
Ingredients (by volume):
1 part agar
4 parts spirulina
4 parts spinach
4 parts calcium citrate
Pricing
===============================
0.5 cups - 5.50 shipped
1.0 cups - 8.50 shipped
1.5 cups - 11.50 shipped
2.0 cups - 14.50 shipped
2.5+ cups - PM for quote
Please note that these are dry powder volumes. You should get approximately four times that volume in prepared food.
How to Prepare
===============================
1 part mix
4 parts water
For example, 2 tablespoons of powder mix with a half cup of water. This makes a pretty stiff gel that holds up well in the water. For a softer gel, use more water. For a stiffer gel, use less water.
Stir it together well, boil it, and then pour into a container or mold (steel jar lids work well), or pour/paint onto a flat surface (like slate or tile).
It sets up quickly at room temperature, so you need to pour it into your molds right away or it all gets stuck to the sides of whatever container you used for boiling. I use a regular drinking glass in the microwave, though you have to be VERY careful to watch it because it will boil over quite quickly.
For mix #2, the calcium tends to settle to the bottom because it is more dense than the other ingredients. This is not a problem as long as you shake up the powder before use, and stir the mixture thoroughly during preparation.
Storage
===============================
The dry powder can be stored at room temperature in a sealed container. Once it has been prepared into gel, it should be stored in the refrigerator and used within a few days.
Photos
===============================
The ingredients. Sorry I didn't get the calcium in there. Everything is from bulkfoods.com. If you want to order your own ingredients, I recommend them.
Regular mix on the left; mix with calcium on the right.
What you get. (Half cup shown.)
Add water, stir, and boil.
Pour it into molds or onto flat surfaces. (It does peel off the flat surfaces within about a day, but it still holds together in the tank.)
Everybody loves this stuff!
I only have a few cups available right now, but if there is a lot of interest I can order more supplies. If you want a formulation different from what I have listed, PM me and we'll work something out.
Scroll all the way down for photos.
Algae Gel Mix #1
===============================
Ingredients (by volume):
1 part agar
6 parts spirulina
6 parts spinach
Algae Gel Mix #2 (with calcium)
===============================
Ingredients (by volume):
1 part agar
4 parts spirulina
4 parts spinach
4 parts calcium citrate
Pricing
===============================
0.5 cups - 5.50 shipped
1.0 cups - 8.50 shipped
1.5 cups - 11.50 shipped
2.0 cups - 14.50 shipped
2.5+ cups - PM for quote
Please note that these are dry powder volumes. You should get approximately four times that volume in prepared food.
How to Prepare
===============================
1 part mix
4 parts water
For example, 2 tablespoons of powder mix with a half cup of water. This makes a pretty stiff gel that holds up well in the water. For a softer gel, use more water. For a stiffer gel, use less water.
Stir it together well, boil it, and then pour into a container or mold (steel jar lids work well), or pour/paint onto a flat surface (like slate or tile).
It sets up quickly at room temperature, so you need to pour it into your molds right away or it all gets stuck to the sides of whatever container you used for boiling. I use a regular drinking glass in the microwave, though you have to be VERY careful to watch it because it will boil over quite quickly.
For mix #2, the calcium tends to settle to the bottom because it is more dense than the other ingredients. This is not a problem as long as you shake up the powder before use, and stir the mixture thoroughly during preparation.
Storage
===============================
The dry powder can be stored at room temperature in a sealed container. Once it has been prepared into gel, it should be stored in the refrigerator and used within a few days.
Photos
===============================
The ingredients. Sorry I didn't get the calcium in there. Everything is from bulkfoods.com. If you want to order your own ingredients, I recommend them.
Regular mix on the left; mix with calcium on the right.
What you get. (Half cup shown.)
Add water, stir, and boil.
Pour it into molds or onto flat surfaces. (It does peel off the flat surfaces within about a day, but it still holds together in the tank.)
Everybody loves this stuff!
