Are Otos really the best algae eaters for small tanks...ie <10 gal? I have a 5.5 gal tank with killifish and lost of brown diatom algae and was wondering if they were the best or whatever. Ive had them before and never really seen much difference in larger tanks >10gal...let me hear your thoughts.
Otos
- Thread starter VTwinFanatic
- Start date
I dunno if they're the BEST but they do work pretty well...you just have to have a bunch of them in big tanks, like a little army :joke:
I have had CAE's, and SAE's. I like the otos better than SAE's just because of their temperment. Every CAE I had turned into a PITA by maturity and it was hit and miss with the SAE's, some were great, then some got territorial, or would quit the algae and try to catch my Gourami sleeping and latch onto their sides. The CAE's just turned into useless creatures that caused way too many problems and offered no benefit. Otos have never been a problem. Just my personal preferance.
I voted on the poll before reading your post. They are one of the best algae eaters out there, but IMO shrimp would be a much better choice for tanks under ten gallons. Keep in mind that otos do best in groups and small tanks don't allow much space for them. Also, three otos would make quick work of the algae in a ten gallon (or even a 20 gal, depending on how much algae there is).
Oto's must be kept in groups of three. Also fish should never be bought to clean your tank. Nothing can take over 40% weekly water changes. I don't think they would be good for a 5.5 gallon sheerly because of their size.
I beg to differ....brown diatoms are almost immune to anything....i have been doing water changes anywhere from 2-4 times a week minimum of 30% each time....even wiping the algae off the sides of the tank dont defeat it...its back within 24 hours....so what to do?....water parameters are....
pH-6.8
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-5
gdH-3
kH-2
It has a few dwarf lilly plants and two killifish but other than that nothing special. I dont dose any chemicals so i know thats not the problem. Lighting is about 2.5 wpg x 6-8 hrs per day. So what do I do?
pH-6.8
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-5
gdH-3
kH-2
It has a few dwarf lilly plants and two killifish but other than that nothing special. I dont dose any chemicals so i know thats not the problem. Lighting is about 2.5 wpg x 6-8 hrs per day. So what do I do?
I've never actually seen my otos eat algae, but they're always working on the sides of the tank.
They like cucumbers, but seem to prefer sinking algae wafers. They seem to be less proactive going after food than amano shrimp. Those amanos are ruthless once an algae wafer or cucumber is introduced into the tank. I worry about the otos more, but they seem to be doing fine.
They like cucumbers, but seem to prefer sinking algae wafers. They seem to be less proactive going after food than amano shrimp. Those amanos are ruthless once an algae wafer or cucumber is introduced into the tank. I worry about the otos more, but they seem to be doing fine.
Diatoms are common in new tanks, but usually will go away as the tank matures. How long has the tank been running?
Generally true, but I have this problem too and the tank has been running for better than 6 months. Some tap water (and some water conditioners) add phosphates or other elements to the water which encourages the brown diatom growth. Reduction of light, scrubbing the walls, cleaning the plants, twice weekly 50% water changes, etc... still have it. Brown algae is apparently a bit more of a problem for some folks than for others IMHO.Aqualung said: