Ottos not performing

[Bill Stock]

I bought three Ottos a few days ago and they don't seem to be doing much for
the Algae. They either stick to the glass (not moving) or sit on top of the
Pagoda. Most days it's difficult to see them, ay least two out of the three
are hiding.

Any thoughts?

[Larry]

On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 14:30:42 -0400, "Bill Stock" >
wrote:

>I bought three Ottos a few days ago and they don't seem to be doing much for
>the Algae. They either stick to the glass (not moving) or sit on top of the
>Pagoda. Most days it's difficult to see them, ay least two out of the three
>are hiding.
>
>Any thoughts?

Hi Bill,


I bought three ottos for my 26g and if they were in the real working
world would have been fired ;-}

Same problem. To be fair I'm sure they are cleaning something.

So I got a clown pleco. It's an ok algae eater(but it hides most of
the day). Think it should be fired too. (OK I've been watching too
much of the Apprentice show)

So I added two SAE's. Better. And the three Ottos are hanging onto
leaves a bit more (maybe thinking their jobs are in jeopardy)

I have gotten a hold of a phosphate kit and am taking care of the
problem at both ends. Water control and algae eaters.

Good luck.

Larry

[Victor Martinez]

Bill Stock wrote:
> I bought three Ottos a few days ago and they don't seem to be doing much for
> the Algae. They either stick to the glass (not moving) or sit on top of the

What kind of algae do you have? Ottos don't eat all kinds of algae. The
only way to get rid of *all* algae is to have a perfect balance of
nutrients/plants/light. :)

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Bill Stock]

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 14:30:42 -0400, "Bill Stock" >
> wrote:
>
>>I bought three Ottos a few days ago and they don't seem to be doing much
>>for
>>the Algae. They either stick to the glass (not moving) or sit on top of
>>the
>>Pagoda. Most days it's difficult to see them, ay least two out of the
>>three
>>are hiding.
>>
>>Any thoughts?
>
> Hi Bill,
>
>
> I bought three ottos for my 26g and if they were in the real working
> world would have been fired ;-}

I've put them on 30 day notice, then they have to to answer to the Koi.
(Kidding)


> Same problem. To be fair I'm sure they are cleaning something.
>
> So I got a clown pleco. It's an ok algae eater(but it hides most of
> the day). Think it should be fired too. (OK I've been watching too
> much of the Apprentice show)
>
> So I added two SAE's. Better. And the three Ottos are hanging onto
> leaves a bit more (maybe thinking their jobs are in jeopardy)
>
> I have gotten a hold of a phosphate kit and am taking care of the
> problem at both ends. Water control and algae eaters.

I've got a Loach who's gone vegetarian. He does more to eat the Algae than
the Ottos. I guess I'm stuck with the weekly scrubbing and trying to keep
the plants healthy. The Hornwort was bubbling up a storm (pearling)
yesterday, so at least someone's happy. It will be going to the pond, once I
find some nicer plants at a reasonable price.


> Good luck.
>
> Larry
>
>
>

[Bill Stock]

"Victor Martinez" > wrote in message
...
> Bill Stock wrote:
>> I bought three Ottos a few days ago and they don't seem to be doing much
>> for the Algae. They either stick to the glass (not moving) or sit on top
>> of the
>
> What kind of algae do you have? Ottos don't eat all kinds of algae. The
> only way to get rid of *all* algae is to have a perfect balance of
> nutrients/plants/light. :)

I've got all kinds Victor, a veritable Smorgasbord of Algea. :) Actually I
only had String Algae originally, but when I converted the pond plant
refugium into a tropical tank, the regular fuzzy Algea got a foothold. I
even had a few spots of BGA. Things seem to have settled down since I added
the CO2, but the String Algae is still a minor annoyance. I know the Ottos
won't eat this, but I was hoping they would keep the sides free of the
regular green Algae.

I don't know if they're upset by the Barb activity or just itinerant.
There's some Algae on the Pagoda where they hang out, but not enough to feed
them I don't think.


> --
> Victor M. Martinez
> Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
> Send your spam here:
> Email me here:

[Victor Martinez]

Bill Stock wrote:
> I've got a Loach who's gone vegetarian. He does more to eat the Algae than
> the Ottos. I guess I'm stuck with the weekly scrubbing and trying to keep

Huh? What kind of loach? I've never heard of or seen a loach eat algae.
I keep 5 species of loach and they are all 100% carnivores. :)

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Victor Martinez]

Bill Stock wrote:
> the CO2, but the String Algae is still a minor annoyance. I know the Ottos
> won't eat this, but I was hoping they would keep the sides free of the
> regular green Algae.

I've had good luck with algae-eating shrimp (amanos and red cherry seem
to be the best at that) for string algae. Of course, you cannot keep
shrimp and loaches in the same tank... :)

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Bill Stock]

"Victor Martinez" > wrote in message
...
> Bill Stock wrote:
>> I've got a Loach who's gone vegetarian. He does more to eat the Algae
>> than the Ottos. I guess I'm stuck with the weekly scrubbing and trying to
>> keep
>
> Huh? What kind of loach? I've never heard of or seen a loach eat algae. I
> keep 5 species of loach and they are all 100% carnivores. :)

He/She is a Yoyo Loach about two inches long. It's always scouring the
bottom and sides of the tank for Algae. It had quite a battle pulling some
string Algae off the HOB filter one day. I thought the dried Blood Worms
were not to his/her liking, so I tried the frozen BW, but he showed no
interest. The Tetras loved them though. So I bought some sinking Shrimp
pellets for him, which got his attention, but he did not want the hassle of
the Barbs and went back to eating his Algae.

Maybe I'll get some frozen Shrimp, the Shrimp pellets make a hell of a mess
in the tank.


> --
> Victor M. Martinez
> Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
> Send your spam here:
> Email me here:

[Victor Martinez]

Bill Stock wrote:
> He/She is a Yoyo Loach about two inches long. It's always scouring the

I have 3 yoyos (2 of which I guess are females, because twice a year or
so they inflate like balloons, perhaps they're full of eggs?) and they
are piggies! They will eat everything and anything, except algae. They
go bonkers for frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp, but they love bottom
feeder pellets as well.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Samuel Warren]

My Otto never did well. So I got a 2" Chinese Algae Eater. I had a
pristine 20 Gallon tank in 2 days.


This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >>

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> I bought three Ottos a few days ago and they don't seem to be doing much
for
> the Algae. They either stick to the glass (not moving) or sit on top of
the
> Pagoda. Most days it's difficult to see them, ay least two out of the
three
> are hiding.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
>
>