change of plan???

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patagonia

Aquarium Advice Freak
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
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376
Location
toronto
well...i think i might have to re think my stocking list...my 29gal finished cycling last wednesday...so friday i went to pick up my first batch of fish...i asked (and actually paid for) 6 harlequin rasboras...when i floated the bag i realised they gave me 8 8O ...its been 4 days and they are doing great...proud to say i havent lost a single fish since i joined this forum...the thing is i have diatoms (brown algae) growing in the tank :( ...sooo....my plan was to get zebra danios, neon tetras and panda corys...i think im gonna skip the zebra danios and after the 2 week quarantine period for the rasboras im going to get some otocinclus affinis...they only grow about 2''...(right?)...why is this algae growing there??? i have a 20w aqua flora plus fluorescent light bulb that stays on for about 10 hours a day...im thinking of getting something around 40w...will that help? THANKS! :wink:
 
this is what i found after some research....


DIATOMS
Diatoms: Diatoms develop in aquaria that are poorly illuminated, have a high load of nitrate and phosphate, and a pH above 7. Diatoms forms a brownish layer on plants, rocks, and glass and can be removed by snails and algae-eaters. Diatoms die off when water conditions improve and lighting intensity is increased.


i have 5ppm nitrates...pH=7.6....no idea about phosphates...dont have a test for it...so i think im gonna go ahead and change that cheap light that came with the aquarium and try to get at least 2w/gal...any suggestions?
 
Congrats on your fish! :D

The diatoms are to be expected; and the otos will happily chow down on that, if you decide to go that way. Otos do only get to be about 2" and are awesome little guys - they're fairly active and cute. ;)

From what I've read, more light will help the diatoms (brown algae) go away as well. The diatoms are a different kind of algae that isn't necessarily due to a nutrient imbalance.
 
thanks cJw! i have another question though...if i replace the light and get 2w/gal and the diatoms die off...what will the otos eat? i mean the main reason why im getting them is to eat the diatoms...i know u can feed them algae waffers (or something like that) but can i get the otos without replacing the lights? i dont know...just a thought... :roll:
 
i love otos they are awesome, i feed mine algae wafers....but usually since your tank is big enough, the algae will end up growing again at the end he just finished....it should be a good long feast :D but becareful, ottos are very touchy and die easily in shipment...so make sure to get at least 3 if one of them dies...good luck!!!! :mrgreen:
 
thankssss...i wants planning on getting them online...i never buy fish online...ill go to my lfs and see if they have them...ive seen them for sale there a couple of times so maybe ill get lucky and find them...thanks again...they do look very cute btw... :mrgreen:
 
I feed otos veggies about once a week and really need to invest in some algae wafers. . . they don't seem to eat too many extra flakes or shrimp pellets leftovers. . . at least that I see.

They are very industrious, though, constantly cleaning every surface in my tank - which makes me wonder if I have enough?

Anyone able to make a recommendation for a oto population? I remember somewhere seeing 1 per 5 gallons. . . sound about right? If so, I'm short 3. :D
 
i was just going to post the same question cJw...hehe...ive read somewhere else that u shouldnt get more than 1/3gal water... :roll:
 
I could see there being a 'food' shortage if you have too many otos, patagonia - let me see if I can't google up some info before an 'expert' beats me to the answer. :D
 
Well, first results are "One per 10 gallons is a useful rule of thumb.". . . didn't see too much else.
 
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