growing algae

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

"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

Pieces of slate and artificial plants were always my best algae
transports. They will probably be fine as Otos are the most sensitive to
the first tank change. After acclimation to the local water and having
their bellys filled, they are much more robust. A few pieces of slate or
glass left in the current tank (or the empty hex, under 24/7 lights)
should seed and get them through the move. jmo
--
www.NetMax.tk

"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

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

Bottom posted.

--
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"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

With me artificially growing algae is like superman - where is the algae
when you need it?! I have put glasses of water with variations on contents
(i.e. nothing, flake food, very aged water, dechlorinated water, various
mixes of those) and always put the containers on the south window sill and
have never grown algae, at least not yet but I have pretty much given up on
it. I would like to not because I have otos (I don't have otos), but because
I would like to make green water and maybe some more solid algae for
breeding/raising daphnia. If I could do that things would be wonderful as
breeding the more fragile fish would be possible for me. But I have to say I
am satisfied enough with my current setups I have no drive to keep trying to
grow algae. I have tried following the directions of how to grow your own
algae according to an article in TFH magazine and still haven't had any
success. Good luck and later!

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:13:57 +0000, Gill Passman
wrote:

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


Hi Gill,

Why can't you use the algae tabs until the algae settles in?
Won't the Ottos go to the bottom?

dick

Dick wrote:
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:13:57 +0000, Gill Passman
wrote:


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



Hi Gill,

Why can't you use the algae tabs until the algae settles in?
Won't the Ottos go to the bottom?

dick

This is the problem - they just won't touch anything apart from what
grows naturally. I've never seen them feed on anything that goes in the
tank including algae wafters that I sometimes give the Plec.

Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
.. .
Dick wrote:
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:13:57 +0000, Gill Passman
wrote:


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



Hi Gill,

Why can't you use the algae tabs until the algae settles in?
Won't the Ottos go to the bottom?

dick

This is the problem - they just won't touch anything apart from what grows
naturally. I've never seen them feed on anything that goes in the tank
including algae wafters that I sometimes give the Plec.

Gill

My Otos wouldn't touch the wafers either. Until they saw the SAEs snacking
on them, then they started tussling over the wafers.

On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 12:32:06 -0500, "Bill Stock"
wrote:


"Gill Passman" wrote in message
. ..
Dick wrote:
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:13:57 +0000, Gill Passman
wrote:


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



Hi Gill,

Why can't you use the algae tabs until the algae settles in?
Won't the Ottos go to the bottom?

dick

This is the problem - they just won't touch anything apart from what grows
naturally. I've never seen them feed on anything that goes in the tank
including algae wafters that I sometimes give the Plec.

Gill

My Otos wouldn't touch the wafers either. Until they saw the SAEs snacking
on them, then they started tussling over the wafers.


Now that is really too human. "Keeping up with the Jones!"

If it wasn't for my "cloudy water" problem when dropping algae wafers,
I would drop them more often. The resulting "soccer game" is fun to
watch. They get so frustrated when they manage to shove a wafer into
the low growing plants. The fish react to algae wafers like cats to
catnip.

dick

Dick wrote:
On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 12:32:06 -0500, "Bill Stock"
wrote:


"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...

Dick wrote:

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:13:57 +0000, Gill Passman
wrote:



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



Hi Gill,

Why can't you use the algae tabs until the algae settles in?
Won't the Ottos go to the bottom?

dick

This is the problem - they just won't touch anything apart from what grows
naturally. I've never seen them feed on anything that goes in the tank
including algae wafters that I sometimes give the Plec.

Gill

My Otos wouldn't touch the wafers either. Until they saw the SAEs snacking
on them, then they started tussling over the wafers.



Now that is really too human. "Keeping up with the Jones!"

If it wasn't for my "cloudy water" problem when dropping algae wafers,
I would drop them more often. The resulting "soccer game" is fun to
watch. They get so frustrated when they manage to shove a wafer into
the low growing plants. The fish react to algae wafers like cats to
catnip.

dick

I'll try some again - it's been a while as I couldn't see the point if
they didn't eat them...it would be a better solution than trying to grow
algae

Gill