Ok I am currently using Game Fish Chow and thinking about changing to Aquamax.

Now my question is which one to choose and what are the main differences in them.

I was considering one of the following:

5D04
5D05
5D09

So can those that have used any or all of these tell me about their experience and recommend one or all of them?

My main fish that are being feed right now are CNBG, BG, HBG, GSF, CC and (RES if they take to the feed) they range from fry to say 5 inches.

Also some prices that people are paying would help as well.

Any recommendations would help, or since they are eating the Game Fish Chow should I just stay with it?

I was just going to up the protein, but will stick with what I have if I will not see much benefit from the switch.

Thanks

Click to this link to see the differences. I've cut and pasted them below but I am doubtful if they will format well.

http://aquamax.purinamills.com/aquamaxfishdiets.htm

I pay $25.50 per bag for 5D05 and 5D06, but others pay more based on where they buy it and the shipping cost to get it to the dealer. If your dealer is not an authorized Purina dealer you might get quoted much more $$$.

From the Aquamax web site:


Product
Code Product
Number Product Name Product
Inches Product
mm Product Form Minimum
Protein, % Minimum
Fat, % Maximum
Fiber, %
5D00 7684 AquaMax™ Fry Power Powder Powder Meal - Sink 50 17 3
5D01 5553 AquaMax™ Fry Starter 100 1/32 0.8 mm Crumble - Sink 50 17 3
5D02 5554 AquaMax™ Fry Starter 200 3/64 1.2 mm Crumble - Sink 50 17 3
5D03 5555 AquaMax™ Fingerling Starter 300 1/16 1.6 mm Extruded - Sink 50 16 3
5D04 1466 AquaMax™ Grower 400 3/32 2.4 mm Ext. - Sink/Float 45 16 3
5D05 45303 AquaMax™ Fry Starter 500 3/16 4.8 mm Extruded - Float 41 12 4
5D06 1468 AquaMax™ Developer 600 9/32 7.1 mm Extruded - Float 41 12 4
5D07 1469 AquaMax™ Pond 2000 5/16 7.9 mm Extruded - Float 32 3 5
5D08 7685 AquaMax™ Plus 3000 3/16 4.8 mm Extruded - Float 32 5 5
5D09 1470 AquaMax™ Dense 4000 3/16 4.8 mm Extruded - Float 36 6 5
5DA1 66904 AquaMax™ Largemouth 3/4 x 1 19.0 mm Extruded - Float 45 10 3
5D19** 42146 AquaMax™ Grower - AX 7/32 5.6 mm Extruded - Float 41 12 4
5D50** 66493 AquaMax™ Grower 400 1/16 1.6 mm Extruded - Float 45 16 3


**Two (2) Ton Minimum

What size and types of fish are you feeding?

I am trying to find a picture of each pellet to compare the sizes of them and determine which to feed the fish I have.

Thanks

The pellet sized are listed - no pictures necessary if you know how to read a ruler. 3/16 means 3/16 of an inch (wide and long)

It's been said before by ewest to feed pellets that are the size of the fishs' eyes that you are wanting to feed.

Size of the eye, is that for any type of fish?

Also what about stunted fish that have huge eyes, does that still apply?

What size do you use and how big are your fish.


Also is the date on the bag at the bottom the package date or expiration date?

5D04 is a "starter/grower" transition feed for all species of fish. 45% protein 16% fat

5D05 is a "grower" feed for Carnivorous fish. 41% protein 12% fat

5D09 is a "grower" feed for Omnivorous fish meant for VERY densely stocked fish >4000 fish/acre. 36% protein 6% fat



Edit; I noticed Bing's post above copied from Purina's website has an error for 5D05


5D05 45303 AquaMax™ Fry Starter Grower 500 3/16 4.8 mm Extruded - Float 41 12 4
It would be a big fry that eats a3/16" pellet!

5D00, 01, 02, 03 and 04 are all now considered "Starter" feeds for all species of young fish.

5D05 and 06 are both for "Carnivorous" fish species.

5D07*, 08** and 09*** are for "Omnivorous" fish species.

* for catfish/tilapia stocking densities up to 2000 fish/acre
** for catfish stocking densities up to 3000 fish/acre or for Tilapia in tank cultures
*** for catfish/tilapia stocking densities of 4000 fish/acre or more

All diets are 100% nutritionally complete.

All info from PMI Nutrition International, LLC Aquaculture feeding guide SP 2489E

I still say they are missing the boat to go from 9/32 all the way to 24/32(3/4) in a 41% carnivore.

So 5D05 and 5D06 would probably be the best to use in a normal pond setting correct, unless you are trying to feed some really small fish?

I was also looking at the 5D07 and it looks like it has about the same content as the GFC, so would it even be worth changing to something like that?

Actually what would the increase in % of protein need to increase to make it worth changing foods?

Like I said they seem to hit the GFC just fine, but if I can speed up the growth process and fine AM for a fraction more it would be worth it to me to switch.

Any ideas?

Ok the store I buy my feed at can get 5D04, 5D06, 5D09 BUT NOT 5D05 or 5DA1.

So what would someone recomend out of 5D04-$36, 5D06-$33, 5D09-$25?

Or should I just stick with Game Fish Chow - $20?

Just bumping this thread so I can plan for next spring. Would like someone that has experienced all of these to lead me in the right direction.

Thanks

Match your feed to the fish and the conditions. Feed to achieve goals.


aquamax chart
http://aquamax.purinamills.com/aquamaxproductlist.pdf


5D04- 400 small pellet sinks quicker than others , good for small fish - I use it for a starter food for feed out fish.

5D06- 600 is a good food for larger BG and HSB and feed traind LMB and YP. I feed HSB and larger BG with it. Be sure your feeder , if used, will handle it.

5D09- 4000 I have not seen or used. Size of 500 but low in protein and fat for the cost.

I mix GFC and 600 for all purpose food. Use LMB pellets for the HSB add on enrichment. I use to mix 400 , 500 & 600 with GFC but that does not work well in a feeder and is too much work.

I'm using the 5D06. I pay $30 a bag. The results have very good in my opinion but I'm still a rookie. My fish seem to be growing pretty quick. The BG went from 2-3" to 5-6" in about 6 months.

Cisco,

How much are you feeding per feeding per day?

What size is your pond and how many BG did you stock?

i dont have any scales to weigh my fish, but i switched to aquamax from gfc and it seeems that my fish really picked up weight (just by eyeballing). also they eat the aquamax way better than any other food i have ever thrown at them.

here is a link to my bg at feeding time. click the picture.

Scott thanks for the vid. How long would your fish eat like that (rate) if you gave them all the feed they would eat ?

Guys this is where goals and the resources (pond , fertility , cost and harvest rate) one is working with come into play. MRHELLO this should help you understand why your question is so hard to answer. Watch Scott's vid in view of the comments below.

For example with 4 feeders out (different locations) plus some hand feeding my fish would eat like that (rate) at that time of year for 10+ mins 4 or 5 times a day. That would be at least 25X what I feed now (50+ min vs 3+- min) and the cost would be out the roof. Plus we don't have enough people fishing to harvest that much. Water quality would degrade and populations would explode. That is why it really does "all depend". On your pond that approach (not that you are using that that approach - ad libitum feeding) might work well but on mine not so. We use true supplemental feeding that is only a very small portion of the food source. With feeding being such a small part of their diet the difference in GFC and AM is minimal. Many studies show 32 % is plenty for BG. The more the fish rely on feed the more important its contents become (assuming the food used is sufficient for the species). The differenc is goals – some ponds have to be run at a high rate to meet growth and fishing goals while in others that would not match the owner's goals but do harm.

If someone wants to try that they should read these links from the archives by Bruce + first.


http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92440#Post92440

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=19169#Post19169

During the spring and late summer, I had the feeder set at 12-14 seconds which I think was throwing a couple of pounds of feed. They would eat for about 5 minutes until it was all gone. It looked just like Scott's video. I stocked 500 BG and 250 RES in my 1 1/2 acre pond. I stocked 10# of FHM at the same time.

during the peak feeding season my bg would eat all that the feeder was throwing at each setting very rapidly. i could press the test button and make it throw feed again and they would keep on. i think they would eat like that for 4 or 5 blast from the sweeney feeder at one time. i usually have it set to feed for a few seconds and the test is for 1 second only. i tried to catch the food once to see how much it was throwing each time. it was hard for me to get a cup in front of the outlet. the food was about to beat my arm off coming out.. I GAVE UP QUICKLY!!!

5D04 and 5D06 is for carnivorous fish, where the 5D09 is for omnivores like CC.

scott69:

I tried to catch the food with a plastic bag and just about got my fingers beat off of my hands. I ended up getting a pair of heavy winter gloves to hold the bag. I feel your pain!

My fish feed like that as well and I am using GFC. I am sure I will stick with it since they seem to take it and I have seen growth in the 2 months I was using it.

I may try a bag of 5d04 or 5d06 just to see if they take to it any better. But with all the CC I have in the pond as well I figure they may get the best of the food and I would be wasting money.

That is why I had asked about the 5d09 which would be good for the CC but was not sure if the BG would eat it or if it would be ok to feed them that.

The protein in the 5d09 I believe is 36% while the GFC is 32%.

Just a thought, I may just have to try a few things out this spring to see what happens. It will also come down to what the feed store can get and the difference in price.

When should I consider hanging my feeder back up?

When the water temp gets into the 60°F range (not air temp).

The protein in the 5d09 I believe is 36% while the GFC is 32%

Yes but Rex says the 09 is for CC ( i.e. not carnivore) so that most likely means the 36% is plant based not fish meal. 32% with fish meal is better for BG , LMB ,YP , HSB etc. than 09.

Great posts! I am laughing so hard visualizing yall trying to catch the food coming from the feeders and having your hands take a beating. Good Stuff!