Hikari IMO would be the equivalent to feeding a dog Pedigree. Full of fillers like corn and wheat and all sorts of things that your dog has no use for but will prevent it from starving. But, the dog would be eating more food, crapping more often, have lower energy levels, and probably over the years develop a sort of problem that would be the death of it. I'd have to say by looking at someones dog i probably couldn't tell if it was fed poor quality food without closely watching. But, that doesnt make it the smart or responsible thing to do. At the end of the day we all choose what we feed our fish. For some its a bit hard to read something like a label and if they do they have a lot of trouble comprehending what it means or lack basic common sense. And trust me a lot of people do this with their fish, dogs, cats, and even themselves.
NLS is much more balanced and suited for a fish to consume. The fish should live up to its full potential nutrition wise. I've yet to see someone argue that the ingredients on Hikari are superior to NLS with any proof. Just blind ignorant biases.
+1 and you can supplement with raw shrimp, talapia. Thats my exact diet for my shoal of rbp and imo they are the strongest thickest brutes ive seen yet!!
But a big factor in a fish growing to its max potential is CLEAN water, always less the 20ppm nitrates and obviously 0ammonia/nitrites!
#1 S. Vettel