Safe OPG (wut's OPG you ask?)

[esworp]

What's a good recccomended ratio of Ottos Per Gallon? Let's assume I have a minimally stocked 29 gallon with a good load of plants (dig on the tank info in the profile...) I am seeking to solicit those little guys for thier wonderful algeal controlling abilities.

 

[Kasakato]

Approx. 2. With your 29g I would say about 5 or 6.

 

[esworp]

Approx. 2. With your 29g I would say about 5 or 6.

Are those numbers "2, 5 or 6" fish per gallon, or max amount of fish? already have 4 Otos in there and there's still plent of 'food' for them laying around.

 

[SnakeIce]

I have found that with good plant growth limiting the algae to minimal 1 otto per 10 gallons is about what I found to be sustainable without supplimental feeding. They are great at taking a imbalance that grows more algae and making it look not as bad, but from my experience with them long term that is the sustainable ratio for me.

If you still have obvious algae with the numbers of ottos you have currently I would work on getting the plants feed better so they outcompete the algae.

 

[MMarr]

Are those numbers "2, 5 or 6" fish per gallon, or max amount of fish? already have 4 Otos in there and there's still plent of 'food' for them laying around.

I think he mean 2 OPG and that you should add 5 or 6 to your tank. At least thats what i got out of it

 

[thesydmonster]

I was told at my LFS one per 10 gallon. Although I supplement with zucchini, I want the main staple to be algae and them to be happy.

 

[RTR]

You folks must have some algae issues, or even worse than I do. I use 2 in my 29, 3 in the 55. That is total otos per tank, not per gallon. The 55 has snails and Amano shrimp, the 29 has no snails.

 

[Blinky]

I'd say 1 oto per 10-20g is enough to control minor algae problems. I have a group of seven otos in the 65g - I used to keep 3-4 for algae control, now I keep them because I like them, and they're so much more fun in a larger group. There's very little algae for them to eat (just occasional 'dust' on the glass, some hard green spot on the Anubias that they don't touch), so I spot feed them with wafers. Feeding time is hilarious, last night the entire group got together to challenge the Ancistrus, who was hogging the algae wafer. He had otos in front of him, on either side of his mouth, and even one on his head! They were persistant, and eventually he took off looking none too impressed