do ottos eat green spot algae?

[Linda S]

80watts 6700 K over my 29 month and a half old heavilly planted tank 2 aqua clears rated for 50 gal tank
micro swords, chain swords, crypts, amazon swords jungle vals red flame swords anubias batreri java moss
2 juvi angels, 6 black neons, 6 regular neons 5 cories, amano shrimp

pH 7.0
ammonia .25
nititres0.0.0
nitrates 10ppm
all before water change

I've read several articles and they suggest a suckermouth cat fish will remove this type of alge. My tank is too young to add ottos at this point. I currently use a green scrubby pad to remove algae in my 2 tanks, would the magnetic scaper do a better job. any other suggestions for scapers that fit the bill.

I am not planning to dose co2, I am usiong excel, and the other componets of the seachem line, and the substrate is flourish regular.

[mellowvision]

my stiphodon percnopterygionus loves the stuff. other algae eating stiphs and gobies may as well. hopefully inka will chime in here.

[fishorama]

My otos were never interested in green spot, my BN plec keeps it under control for now.

[Linda S]

mellowvision, is there a common name for that fish? thanks

[67chevelle]

I have never had anything eat green spot algae,nor did I think anything but a razor blade could take care of it.I have had otos in a tank that has it,and mine certainly don't eat it.

[FastFly67]

i have yet to find something to eat mine. i just use a plastic putty scraper thing to take it off

[jpappy789]

In my experience its too "hard" for them.

[aahhsin]

In my experience, I find Ottos to do a horrible job cleaning algae. They do however, do a great job cleaning plants. They get all the little debris that can get stuck between stems and leaves.

[jpappy789]

:iagree:

I have found their algae eating standards to be sub-par...about all I have personally seen them go after are diatoms.

[jbradt]

My amanos do a much better job with algae than any ottos I've ever had. A razor blade will be your best friend here.

[James0816]

Oto's will not touch GSA. Bout the only thing I know of that will are nerite snails.

[Linda S]

Ok, you guys are great! thanks for the input, razor blades it is.

[Linda S]

actually settled for the plastic card that came with my background to squeegee the bubbles out. Worked like a charm, and I already had it, nothing to buy. such a deal

[James0816]

Isn't DIY great! No need to go about and buy a scraper when you have credit cards or similar in your pocket. ;o)

[coach_z]

actually one of the best things to get rid of gsa is avoiding it completely by upping your PO4(phosphates) above 2ppm

and to reiterate, fish in general dont do much to get rid of GSA...i found that nerites, mystery, bladder, ramshorns also dont really do a great job at it either.

[James0816]

actually one of the best things to get rid of gsa is avoiding it completely by upping your PO4(phosphates) above 2ppm


x2

[Linda S]

thanks chris

[Linda S]

chris, do I just follow the directions on the bottle, or do I need to get a test kit?
if a test kit what do you use?

[Wycco]

I don't know about "nothing eats Green spot algae."

I've NEVER had to clean it off my tank glass- something is eating it... now I have a bulldog pleco and a wide variety of snails and shrimp (but no Nerites)- so I couldn't tell you which (although I suspect the Bulldog Pleco).


Despite getting the occasional green spot- it never spreads... I never clean it and it doesn't accumulate. All I can assume is my inhabitants eat it as fast as it can grow.

[coach_z]

chris, do I just follow the directions on the bottle, or do I need to get a test kit?
if a test kit what do you use?
iim not sure i understand your question. what bottle are you talking about?

a test kit could be handy, but we will answer that later.

[Reframer]

:iagree:

I have found their algae eating standards to be sub-par...about all I have personally seen them go after are diatoms.

Wow, you guys must have some lazy otos, put 4 in my 55 which was covered in diatom. 2 days later - spotless!

[coach_z]

Wow, you guys must have some lazy otos, put 4 in my 55 which was covered in diatom. 2 days later - spotless!
doyou have any GSA in your tank that they devour? or do they mainly stay with diatoms?

[Linda S]

the phophorus bottle : use 2.5 ml for each 20 gal once or twice a week. you were right btw, the gsa is gone.

[DavidZ]

Why not just get a BN, I have seen them do all the glass in a day, even the toughest spot algae, but for sure the younger BNs work harder.
Otos do a great job on diatoms.
Do make sure to feed them, when their work is done.

[Linda S]

I think if I can fix the algae problem by properly fertilizing the tank that is a better option than adding a fish. I was considering ottos as an addition after the tank has aged a bit, so I was asking about there algae prefernces. thanks for all the input.

[KingKuba]

Try some nerite snails.