I gained 3 otos with the purchase of a new tank. These fish belonged to the last owners. My tanks do not get very much natural light, and i cannot rearrange the room so that they do. I leave the light on for 12-14 hours a day, but still not a speck of algae. I really don't want to buy algae flakes. Is there some way to like harvest algae?? is there someway to force it to grow, maybe not even in my tank, but on something i could put into the tank later on?? thanks for any help
i want algae
- Thread starter friendorfoe
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29 gallon, the light is a long flourescent tube light....thats all i know, its from the last owner, i mean when i bought the tank he wiped down the hood and it had more algae on it then i had every seen, honestly it was discusting, and he had this tank in the basement so i'm guessing there is enough light to help with photosynthesis. I've had the tank for about 2 weeks....maybe three....but the original owner had it for years.
i just bought Leaf Zone, an iron and phosphate suppliment. I added 1/4 of the recommended amount to my tank. There are no live plants in the tank so i am hioping this will help get the algae growing.....
One word "light" if you have an excess of light it dosen't matter how low nutrients get, (to point that is) algae will always grow.And with you supplying food for the fish you should have plenty of nutrients. Or if you want harvest algae you could go an algae scrubber(very extrem Imho).
Take out the fish maybe for like 3 days if possible into another tank (a friend's perhaps), and leave the light on for the 3 days for 24 hours a day.
You SHOULD definitely have algae, reintroduce the fish.
You SHOULD definitely have algae, reintroduce the fish.
I'd be careful trying to cultivate algae - otos are particular about the types they'll eat, so you may end up with a tank full of hair algae, green water or BBA and no way to combat it.
Otos will happily eat algae wafers, zuchinni (courgette), and other veggies. I buy a frozen mixture with carrots, zuchinni, green beans and peas for a few dollars, and thaw and drop in a veggie or two nearly every night (for my bristlenose, otos, SAEs and platys). It's important to spot feed the algae eaters in your tank if there isn't enough algae for them, but it doesn't have to cost a lot
Otos will happily eat algae wafers, zuchinni (courgette), and other veggies. I buy a frozen mixture with carrots, zuchinni, green beans and peas for a few dollars, and thaw and drop in a veggie or two nearly every night (for my bristlenose, otos, SAEs and platys). It's important to spot feed the algae eaters in your tank if there isn't enough algae for them, but it doesn't have to cost a lot