Mary Burns wrote:
"Gill Passman" wrote in message
.. .

Still planning the upgrade on my tank but one thing that is worrying me
right now, ironically, is the lack of algae that there will be in the new
tank and how this will impact my otos that won't eat anything other algae.

So, I need to look at ways of introducing algae into the new tank - I
could take plants from the Malawi tank that always seem to get coated but
was wondering if anyone has any ideas as to how to get a more sustainable
source of algae until it starts to grow naturally in the new tank - I'd
hate my algae eaters to suffer because of the move.

TIA
Gill



Most new tanks have a brown algae (diatoms) phase for a week sometimes which
the ottos will love. Moving plastic/silk plants or ornaments will work as
long as tanks have no problems, reducing risk of spreading anything to other
tanks. If your new tank is going in conservatory, you may have more algae
anyway because of the extra daylight. My 65g is in front of south east
facing big window, even keeping blinds shut all day doesn't stop an increase
in algae in summer, which goes in October and comes again in April/May, even
if I reduce tank lights to 6 hours as well. I find smaller plants in a big
tank always get a bit more algae as the bigger plants hog all the light, so
that may be another way to get algae. I don't move my live plants, because
most are probably just dying very very slowly as the clowns uproot them, and
the few that really do grow are left alone!!! Mary


It is going in the Conservatory and experience has taught me that the
algae does much the same as you describe in your tank (I need to reduce
the lighting in the summer)...I also have the blinds closed almost all
year round. It's really the short term lack of algae that I was
concerned about....

The plant idea might work or some rocks. The options would be to either
add this into the Malawi tank - which hasn't add any fish added to it
since I first set it up early this year (apart from the self-made
additions) or to do as NetMax suggests and set up the Hex tank as an
algae factory....(might get tempted to put in fish though if I do that)...

Anyway the tank has been ordered today :-) It will take 3-4 weeks to
arrive....have gone for 72" long, 18" high and 24" deep....

Thanks for your ideas

Gill