Originally Posted by anthropic
We are truly fortunate to have a choice of good BG feeds these days. Speaking personally, I've been quite happy with both AquaMax and Optimal, and fish seem to agree. Optimal more expensive, maybe worth it. If I had a naturally fertile pond, the FA deal would be important, but that's definitely not my issue.

Assuming that FA actually does grow less in Optimal fed ponds, is that because fish turn it into flesh more efficiently?

That's my assumption. Less passing through the fish to feed the "plants". Some on here have done a feed to flesh comparison too, more fish flesh for the same weight in food tossed to the fish.

I should have results from a much larger test that will be done this Spring/early Summer. Just to see how much faster the fish grow from hatching to 4: or so.

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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).