Looking for Ottos

[djmatthewblack]

I was at the Fish Gallery and the people working there told me that about the only thing that would eat the algae in my planted tank would be Ottos.  They were out of course and everywhere else I checked was out too.  But is this true?  I am not sure if it is brown algae or brush algae but my tank is pretty heavily planted (see gallery).  Is there anything else that would be good in my tank that could live off algae growth?  

I know it is a shot in the dark but I thought I would put this up in case anyone was breeding them.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Looking for Ottos

Checked out your gallery and the only planted tank is the one with plastic plants in it.

Shrimp.....RCS/Tiger/Amano does a good number on most algae
Otocinclus...does good on some
True Siamese algae eaters.....about the only thing that supposedly eats brush algae.

Did you try Fish Ranch? they are not far from fish gallery.

[Mzungu]

Re: Looking for Ottos

Was thinking the same thing about the plants, ek...

Maybe you can post a picture of the algae? Also, most fish will need supplemental food, not just algae.

[MJY6087]

Re: Looking for Ottos

petco has some

[djmatthewblack]

Re: Looking for Ottos

Whoops, sorry folks.  I added pictures.  For some reason my P.C. at home won't find Houston Fish Box, so I posted the pictures on the Dallas Box.  I will also put some newer pictures when I can now that I have driftwood and a grass like plant in there.  I will also try and get you some pics of the algae.  I would say there is maybe 3 types, a little green algae, brown on the plants (particularly the large one that has decaying leaves), and red on the glass.  There also might be some hair algae starting to grow on the large plant as well.

I checked out Aquarium World on 290 for the first time and they had some small ones and I bought two.  I can't find amano ghost shrimp anywhere.  I plan to get some of those when I start my second tank (when I find space to start it).  I will occasionally supplement them and monitor them to make sure they are getting enough food.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Looking for Ottos

How long do you have your lights on?
Direct sunlight?
Over feeding?
Dosing anything?

Fish gallery has a tankful of amanos and so does fish ranch.

[djmatthewblack]

Re: Looking for Ottos

When I was manual doing the lights, they could be on for up to 12 hours.  It is on a timer now for only 7 (hope that is enough light for my plants).  No direct sunlight.  Also I've been using a blacklight for viewing at night sometimes.  Those bulbs are suppose to keep 80% of the light from passing through but I guess it is enough cause there is quite a bit of algae growing in the back of the tank (where the light is often kept) in, and above the substrate line.

Overfeeding, yeah, maybe a little but I've gotten better about that as well.  Would a feeding ring be a good idea?  I am not sure cause the guppies that swim at the top are more aggressive about getting at the food and the tetras will occasionally hit the top (the two larger females) but especially the male rather wait and when the food breaks up and sinks it will swim around and collect the fallout.
No dosing (not even sure what that means,...meds maybe?)  

The ottos seem to be doing well as far as I can tell.  They've been hanging out on the glass mostly.

I've seen the shrimp at Fish Gallery and I was wanting the ghost amanos.  It will be maybe a week or two before I start a second tank.

[Mzungu]

Re: Looking for Ottos

"brown on the plants (particularly the large one that has decaying leaves)"

Algae is common on dead/dying/slow-growing leaves, so you might want to pull those decaying leaves off. It could help with at least some of that algae.  :)

[Mzungu]

Re: Looking for Ottos

Glad the otos are doing well!

Dosing is supplementation with fertilizers.

I'm going to go take a look at your gallery.  :)

[djmatthewblack]

Re: Looking for Ottos

Cool, I will try and get pictures of the completed tank up asap.  I don't think I will be adding anything more and when I get a second tank I will be moving stuff around.  I do take out the decaying leaves whenever I can.  I found a snail in the grassy plants .  I didn't wash the plants before putting them which I will do now in the future.

[Mzungu]

Re: Looking for Ottos

Okay, well, the "decaying" plants look like cryptocorynes, and "melting" can be common in these species. Not sure if anyone has found a definitive reason yet. Some come back, some don't. But I would pick off those leaves that are decaying. And hope that they come out of it!

What kind of light are you using during the day? Is it fluorescent? Do you know the K-rating? How long have these plants been in the tank?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Looking for Ottos

There are no "Ghost" amanos.....just amanos.