Compatible Foods and BrandsUpdated 2 months ago

The aF4 is designed to work with a wide range of frozen fish foods. This guide covers which foods work best, which require special preparation, and which to avoid entirely.

Best performing foods

These food types work reliably in the aF4 with standard slurry preparation and are what we recommend for most users:

• Mysis shrimp — our top recommendation. Works excellently across all settings and dilution ratios. Compatible with both saltwater and freshwater setups.
• Brine shrimp — highly reliable, flows well, and is accepted by a wide range of fish and corals
• Spirulina brine shrimp — same great performance as standard brine shrimp with added nutritional benefit
• Bloodworms — flows well when properly diluted into slurry form
• Cyclops — small particle size means excellent flow and very consistent dispensing
• Daphnia — similar to cyclops, small and reliable
• Rotifers — works well, particularly useful for feeding small-mouthed fish and corals
• Phytoplankton — flows reliably and is a great addition for reef tanks and filter feeders
• Marine snow / coral food — works well for target feeding corals and other invertebrates

Foods that work with proper preparation

These food types are compatible but require careful preparation before loading to avoid clogs or flow issues:

Krill: Whole or large krill can restrict flow if loaded without preparation. Break down into smaller pieces and ensure thorough dilution before loading. Monitor the first few feeds closely.

Sheet food and predator mixes: Sheet food containing clam, squid, mussel, or other large particle ingredients can cause flow restrictions if not broken down adequately. Always follow the preparation steps in our Sheet Food Preparation Guide before loading.

Recommended brands

We have extensively tested the aF4 with frozen foods from the following brands and can recommend them with confidence:

Piscine Energetics (PE Mysis): The gold standard for mysis shrimp. PE Mysis is our top recommended brand — the particle size, consistency, and quality make it an ideal match for the aF4.

Hikari: Hikari's frozen range — particularly their mysis shrimp and brine shrimp — performs very well in the aF4. Widely available and consistent quality.

San Francisco Bay Brand: A reliable and widely available option across multiple food types including brine shrimp, mysis, and bloodworms. Works well in the aF4.

The aF4 is compatible with many other frozen food brands not listed here. These are simply the brands we have tested most extensively. If you are using a different brand and experiencing issues, the food type and particle size matter more than the brand — refer to the compatible food types above.

Foods that are NOT compatible

The following food types are not compatible with the aF4 and should not be used:

Tips for best results

• Mix and match — try combining mysis with spirulina brine shrimp for variety, or adding a dose of phytoplankton to every reservoir load for reef tanks
• Add supplements — liquid additives such as Selcon can be added directly to the slurry in the reservoir for an easy nutritional boost. See our Additive Use Guide for more detail
• Dilute correctly — regardless of food type, always fill to the max fill line with the correct dilution water. Proper consistency is the single biggest factor in reliable dispensing. See our Slurry Dilution Guide

Related articles

• Sheet Food Preparation Guide — how to prepare krill, predator mix and other large particle foods
• Slurry Dilution Guide — correct dilution for reliable dispensing
• Additive Use Guide — adding supplements and additives to your reservoir
• Food Not Dispensing Guide — troubleshooting flow and clog issues

Not sure if your food is compatible? Submit a support ticket and our team will advise.