Re: Time for an algae eater

[NetMax]

"teri" > wrote in message
...
> So we are starting to get the green film on everything (despite no
> direct sunlite) and I guess the next addition should be someone to
> take care of that if possible. So far in my 30G I have the three
> platies and two new little cherry barbs. Probably will add harlequins
> next. Then possibly more cherries, or maybe gold barbs, or I just was
> reading about rhomboocelatus barbs (but don't expect to find them),
> or... maybe some tetras (although my pH is pretty high).
> I have never liked catfish-like fish, but you gotta do what you gotta
> do. I have been doing some reading and have narrowed it down to two
> to chose between but am looking for other's opinions. Keeping in mind
> I would like to use up as few of my available fish inches as possible
> on this, what are your suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Teri

Catfish have to eat, so unless you have fish food which reaches the
bottom, you will need to feed them. What I'm saying is that you don't
need catfish, they are just comical to have. They won't make much of any
kind of impression on your algae.

If you want the gravel kept cleaner (reducing the stuff decaying and
feeding your algae), gravel vacuum.

Rhombos are hard to find here too. I'm not a big fan of having a few
fish of many kinds. I find lots of fish of few kinds can give a better
effect. If overstocking with tetras, increase your filtration capacity
and consider adding a UPS (just for the filter). Tetras are one of the
easiest to go to high fish-loads and very pretty. Imagine a tank of
Cherry barbs, Cardinals and Harlequins.. sweet.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Pedro]

Get some otto, siamese algae eaters. If you want a catfish, try the
bristlenose(acintrus?), bushynose plecos.



"teri" > wrote in message
...
> So we are starting to get the green film on everything (despite no
> direct sunlite) and I guess the next addition should be someone to
> take care of that if possible. So far in my 30G I have the three
> platies and two new little cherry barbs. Probably will add harlequins
> next. Then possibly more cherries, or maybe gold barbs, or I just was
> reading about rhomboocelatus barbs (but don't expect to find them),
> or... maybe some tetras (although my pH is pretty high).
> I have never liked catfish-like fish, but you gotta do what you gotta
> do. I have been doing some reading and have narrowed it down to two
> to chose between but am looking for other's opinions. Keeping in mind
> I would like to use up as few of my available fish inches as possible
> on this, what are your suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Teri

[Bill Stock]

"teri" > wrote in message
...
> So we are starting to get the green film on everything (despite no
> direct sunlite) and I guess the next addition should be someone to
> take care of that if possible. So far in my 30G I have the three
> platies and two new little cherry barbs. Probably will add harlequins
> next. Then possibly more cherries, or maybe gold barbs, or I just was
> reading about rhomboocelatus barbs (but don't expect to find them),
> or... maybe some tetras (although my pH is pretty high).
> I have never liked catfish-like fish, but you gotta do what you gotta
> do. I have been doing some reading and have narrowed it down to two
> to chose between but am looking for other's opinions. Keeping in mind
> I would like to use up as few of my available fish inches as possible
> on this, what are your suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Teri

Some Ottos may help with your Algae, but plants will also help curtail it.
Now that my plants are starting to grow well, I may actually run into an
Algae shortage for the Ottos.

I originally wanted Cherry Barbs and Lemon Tetras for my tank, but the LFS
had neither at the time. so I ended up with 8 Cardinal Tetras, 6 Golden Rosy
Barbs, 6 Tiger Barbs, 1 Yoyo Loach and three Ottos. These were introduced
over about three weeks, with the Ottos coming last. Everyone is doing fine
and the Tetras did not care about my PH, which was over 8 at the time. It is
now around 7.2 with CO2. I would increase the Cherry Barbs to about 6 to
give you a nice school.

[Daniel Morrow]

"teri" > wrote in message
...
>
> >If you want the gravel kept cleaner (reducing the stuff decaying and
> >feeding your algae), gravel vacuum.
> I do vacuum it and don't get all that much, I don't think.

The trick is to get the proper gravel vac for your own particular aquarium.
Generally bigger is better but you don't want it to be too big and not give
you enough time to move the cone around in the tank and press it into the
gravel good. The design (I know they're simple in design (gravel vacs)) is
important too. Try to stick to a name brand vac unless you know what you are
looking for. A gravel vac should work great for a job if a little quicker
than some people expect. Just a tidbit to help you out if you ever need to
improve your gravel vacing, and I know you said you don't have a gravel
vacing problem but I thought I would share with you anyways. Good luck and
later!

My problem
> is the algae, not dirty gravel. > Teri

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

teri wrote:

> So we are starting to get the green film on everything (despite no
> direct sunlite)
> I have never liked catfish-like fish, but you gotta do what you gotta
> do.

What are your feeding habits? Can your fish make do with less food? What
are the nitrate and phosphate concentrations in your tank? Are you using
any additives for your water? pH-Right or black-water extracts for
example contain phosphates, which lead to algal blooms (I wonder which
homo hebes got the bright idea to use phosphate as buffer in an
aquarium).

Do you have any fast-growing plants in your tank (Java moss, Cabomba or
the like). They compete with algae for light and nutrients. If the plant
are not growing well, adding iron, potassium and trace elements can help
make them more effective (that's right: add fertiliser to have less
algae).

Illumination should be 12 h/day (tropical day), but a 2 h nap around
lunch can help to keep algae at bay. Added benefit: Since most people
are not at home during daytime, that prolongs the "light on" time in the
evening.

If you don't like cat fish then don't get them. Have you investigated
/Jordanella floridae/ as algae eater? Another alternative might be
shrimp (/Caridina ssp./ or /Neocaridina ssp./ for example).

[teri]

>What are your feeding habits?
Twice a day flakes, occasional tubifex worms, freeze dried brine
shrimp. Speaking of which, I got some frozen bloodworm cubes today...
no instructions, how do you do them?, pop a cube out, let it thaw, put
it in the tank? Sorry for stupid newbie questions...

>Can your fish make do with less food?
Never seems to be any leftovers, but maybe they could eat less.

>What are the nitrate and phosphate concentrations in your tank?
Nitrate - 10 - 20. Never tested phosphate.

>Are you using any additives for your water?
No.

>Do you have any fast-growing plants in your tank
No plants, don't really want to have any either.

>Illumination should be 12 h/day (tropical day), but a 2 h nap around
>lunch can help to keep algae at bay. Added benefit: Since most people
>are not at home during daytime, that prolongs the "light on" time in the
>evening.
Since it is so warm I keep the light off when I am at work or the temp
goes up to 82. Turn it on when I am home. Otherwise have it on
during the day.

Have decided on two otos, store was out of them today though.
Teri

[Elaine T]

teri wrote:
>>What are your feeding habits?
>
> Twice a day flakes, occasional tubifex worms, freeze dried brine
> shrimp. Speaking of which, I got some frozen bloodworm cubes today...
> no instructions, how do you do them?, pop a cube out, let it thaw, put
> it in the tank? Sorry for stupid newbie questions...
>

The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask! If the whole cube
is the right amount for the tank, I just toss it in. The fish eat as it
thaws. For my current smaller tanks, I put the cube in a tiny bowl with
some tankwater and let it thaw. Then I feed what the fish need and put
the remainder in the 'fridge (much to my poor BF's distrss) and feed the
rest later in the day.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Gill Passman]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
...
> teri wrote:
> >>What are your feeding habits?
> >
> > Twice a day flakes, occasional tubifex worms, freeze dried brine
> > shrimp. Speaking of which, I got some frozen bloodworm cubes today...
> > no instructions, how do you do them?, pop a cube out, let it thaw, put
> > it in the tank? Sorry for stupid newbie questions...
> >
>
> The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask! If the whole cube
> is the right amount for the tank, I just toss it in. The fish eat as it
> thaws. For my current smaller tanks, I put the cube in a tiny bowl with
> some tankwater and let it thaw. Then I feed what the fish need and put
> the remainder in the 'fridge (much to my poor BF's distrss) and feed the
> rest later in the day.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

I get frost bite gently rubbing the cube in the water for my fish so I get
the freeze and they don't....melts very quickly...my fingers also get chewed
from time to time...

[teri]

>The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask! If the whole cube
>is the right amount for the tank, I just toss it in. The fish eat as it
>thaws. For my current smaller tanks, I put the cube in a tiny bowl with
>some tankwater and let it thaw. Then I feed what the fish need and put
>the remainder in the 'fridge (much to my poor BF's distrss) and feed the
>rest later in the day.
Thanks. I am going to give it a shot now.
Teri

[teri]

>Get some otto, siamese algae eaters. If you want a catfish, try the
>bristlenose(acintrus?), bushynose plecos.
I saw some bushynose plecos today, and man are they weird looking. In
fact I saw so many freaky things at That Fish Place in Lancaster that
I didn't stick around for all the tanks. What a baby huh.

Back to the subject of algae eating, I ended up getting two otos last
week, they are pretty cute, and they did such a good job of cleaning
the tank already I am worried about them going hungry now.
They eat cucumber right? Would wedging a raw piece under a rock once
a week be adequate. Leave it overnite and take up what is left of
course.
Teri

[NetMax]

"teri" > wrote in message
...
>
>>Get some otto, siamese algae eaters. If you want a catfish, try the
>>bristlenose(acintrus?), bushynose plecos.
> I saw some bushynose plecos today, and man are they weird looking. In
> fact I saw so many freaky things at That Fish Place in Lancaster that
> I didn't stick around for all the tanks. What a baby huh.
>
> Back to the subject of algae eating, I ended up getting two otos last
> week, they are pretty cute, and they did such a good job of cleaning
> the tank already I am worried about them going hungry now.
> They eat cucumber right? Would wedging a raw piece under a rock once
> a week be adequate. Leave it overnite and take up what is left of
> course.
> Teri

Right, though I use zucchini (less water, more meat, last about 1-1/2
days). There are also algae tabs which you could use during the week.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

teri wrote:

> Back to the subject of algae eating, I ended up getting two otos last
> week, they are pretty cute, and they did such a good job of cleaning
> the tank already I am worried about them going hungry now.
> They eat cucumber right? Would wedging a raw piece under a rock once
> a week be adequate. Leave it overnite and take up what is left of
> course.

Mine take any kind of vegetables really, you can use the bits left in
the kitchen: Ends of zucchini, cabage and the like, peel of kohlrabi,
that sort of thing. Best if you blanche the bits to get them soft, and
use only a small bit at a time, less than 1 cm. Otos need a wile to
recognise them as food, so leave them in for 2-3 days but get them out
before they fall apart. I put them on a metal kebab-thing to prevent
them from floating up.

You can see when an oto is happy: A well-filled tummy and constantly
c***ing.