I've been feeding primarily this to my Cichlids for about 2 years, and have never gotten a case of bloat since. I took the advice of my LFS and began mixing the Ultima with VeggieFX which cuts costs a bit, but also provides a lower protein content than just Ultima for some of the more veggie-oriented cichlids (mostly the labs). When I first started on this food, I could get a 1.1 lb bag for about 20$, which would last at least 2 months. Now, I'm lucky to find an 8.8oz bag locally for less than 20!

I've contemplated switching to feeding primarily NLS to save money (I feed it to my community tank), but that would be a hard decision considering how well my fish take to this food.

The food itself tends to sink pretty quickly, but will float on surface tension longer than NLS, which gives the fish a bit more time to grab it. The pellets are shapes like short cylinders as opposed to spheres, and that shape allows them tumble as they sink, which slows them down just a bit. I also wish they had a 4mm pellet size (the small is 3mm, the medium is 5mm), but that's just me being picky.

Overall a great food, but the price has been rising steadily over the past few years.

This is a great pellet. It does not cloud the tank and is quickly devoured.

All the fish in my Malawi mix tank LOVE this food! When I give them the floating variety, you'd think you were watching Great White Sharks attack seals! I even smash some up and give it to my fry and juvies.

The bigger fish in my tanks went crazy for this stuff, it is really good

Best food i've ever used! My fry and adults both have showed remarkable results. I ran out and gave them another brand, and their growth and coloration suffered. I just ordered more from Dainichi's website and received it very fast through priority mail. Very helpful customer service!!! They are located in California and i'm in pennsylvania. I received the product within 2 days!!!They need to have this brand in every pet shop.

I've bought some Dainich Ultima, along with Veggie Deluxe, Primary Krill, and Color Supreme to test how this fairs with NLS. But since this is only a review for Cichlid Ultima, I will focus on this. When I first opened the package, it smelled fresh, similar to NLS. Feeding is clean. The floating forumla and sinking formula vary in size by .5mm. This stuff rocks. It doesn't leave any residue on the water's surface or dirty the water like NLS. Don't get me wrong, NLS is a great product, but this product seems to work well. Even though it contains ahigher protein content than NLS(mostly from spirulina and krill), these are easy to digest and will not lead to bloat if fed correctly. What's cool is that each pellet is encapsulated with a coating of vitamins and clay to help with digestion. So far, this product is great and I would buy again. NLS is the benchmark for all fish food companies, but Dainichi has taken premium food to the next level, making it fresh.

My peacocks go crazy over
this food. IM supprised not may sell it, I got it cheap by
the 5.5lbs bag. I used there
carnivores sinking pellets. have trouble getting any pellets to bottom for loaches!

...This is excellent quality food, I combine mine with veggie fx, as well as , the fish go seriously insane, the just eat like mad, there is very little waist...the colors on the fish are gorgeous all my friends have complimented my fish .... Good Stuff Dainichi....right on the button!

I have the veggie deluxe formula that I feed my Tropheus and carnivore Lamprologous too. The Lamps breed like crazy with this food and the Tropheus...well in 3 months I have not had 1 episode of bloat and I don't expect it either. They all seem to love the taste too. I would clearly recommend this stuff to anyone with Tropheus or any Africans for that matter.

Cost: I got a key of it for 25 bucks from Jehmco. A great price!

I'v been in the hobby for quite some time, and I've tried all the better foods available(NLS included), but this food has the two ingredients that are missing from all others. Cyclop-Eeze, & Montmorillonite Clay. In addition to these ingredients, the spirulina is uncooked, preserved in it's natural state, and anyone who knows about greens be it vegetables or fish food vegi's, cooking the greens and then drying them out is depleting the food of all it's natural benefits. Also the montmorillonite clay has a scouring effect that enhances digestion, making it vitually impossible for bloat. In addition to all these great benefits, the vitamin and mineral mix is added lastly in a coting that encapsulates the pellet, making sure the vitamins are not cooked and preserved also in thier natural state! I recommend Cichlid Color FX & Cichlid Vegi FX. Best food on the market...hands down!! Try it and you'll agree. I just can't believe there aren't a whole lot of people that know about this great food yet?

This food rocks! Definitely try to order some for the fishies. If you have calvus or compressiceps, the mini size rocks for growing them up quick. I'm tellin u that these calvus grew from 1/2 inch to 1 and a quarter inches in less than three months! This stuff rocks.

This food is excelant. It has increased the blue of my frontosas a lot from what they were when i first got them. and fish love this stuff they almost attack it as it is going down.

Well of all the food I've used this must taste best. Fry will just try aand try to eat the big pellets instead of their food.. Colors on all the fish are great. I'm going to try the mini and see if the fry can get it in..