When to add otos?

[Lolita]

I love finally having fish in my tank! This morning I woke up at 9, and sat in my room and just watched them until noon.

One of my guppies is totally messing with my head! He burried himself in my substrate for 2 days and I was convinced he was dead...then all of a sudden I got home from running errands and he was swimming around with all the rest of them like he had been the whole time!

Sneaky.

They're all doing fine. I went back today to pick up a waterlily bulb and to see if they had any guppies that were different than what I already had. There was only one that looked different, so I decided to get him. He's orange with a white belly! He mixed in with the rest immediately.

I saw some adorable otos while I was there too, and it got me wondering how long I should wait before adding them. Is there a set amount of time really until I can call my tank "established" enough for them? I was originally thinking I'd have to wait until February or something...but I wasn't sure if I actually had to wait that long.

[Taurus]

Is there any algae or diatoms in your tank now? Don't add otos until there's enough algae or diatoms for them to feed on.

[Red]

I would wait 4-5 months until the tank is steady and algae is prevlant.

[Taurus]

I think that's good advice Sev. thumbs2:

[Northernguy]

How bad is the algae in your tank now!
You could grow some algae on rocks in a water filled jar.Keep it in a sunny window.Just place a stone in the tank and replace it once its cleaned off.

[Lolita]

Algae has completely taken over my tank actually xD

It's EVERYWHERE. you can't even see the back of the glass anymore because there's green algae all over it.

I cleaned most of it up, but it all grew back within a few days in a thin coat.

I can just keep cleaning it off until I can get the otos though.

[Red]

How bad is the algae in your tank now!
You could grow some algae on rocks in a water filled jar.Keep it in a sunny window.Just place a stone in the tank and replace it once its cleaned off.

Its just not about the algae NG, otos are real sensitive to new tanks and the parameters, and the tank is pretty young.

[Lolita]

Its just not about the algae NG, otos are real sensitive to new tanks and the parameters, and the tank is pretty young.

Yeah that's the only reason I asked. I know I have more than enough algae, I'm just questioning the timeline since my tank has only been cycled a month or so.

[rich311k]

They also only eat certain types.

Lo what kind of algae is it? I forget how much light do you have? How long is it on?

[Taurus]

Yes, it's gotta be a soft algae or diatom or they won't eat it. Hard, green algae spots that from on the aquarium glass they will not eat.

[Lolita]

They also only eat certain types.

Lo what kind of algae is it? I forget how much light do you have? How long is it on?

Green hair algae as far as I know? That's what it looks like to me. It's bright green and loong and stringy.

It also starts to grow into knots and clumps after a while.

I used to have my light on for like 12 hours. But like 2 weeks ago I changed it so it's on for about 10 hours. I could lessen it again, but any shorter and the light would be on ONLY when I'm not home and I wouldn't be able to see the fish. Ever lol

I have 65 watts, so a little more than 2 watts per gallon.

Should I try dropping a moss ball on there maybe?

[rich311k]

You could do 8 hours and change the timing so you are home when they are on.

More plants, fast growing stems especially, could help reduce the nutrients available.

With over 2 watts a gallon you may want to dose Flourish excel.

[Lolita]

You could do 8 hours and change the timing so you are home when they are on.

More plants, fast growing stems especially, could help reduce the nutrients available.

With over 2 watts a gallon you may want to dose Flourish excel.

I wonder if I should get a timer that turns the lights on for a few hours in the morning so all the fish are awake when I feed at 8:30, then turn them off, and on again in the early evening...

I dose with Flourish excel once a week with my water changes, should I do it more often? I figured it was a good way to be conservative. lol

[Lab_Rat]

Agree with changing the time your lights are on. I don't turn my tank lights on until I get home, which is usually about 5:30 in the evening. Then I leave them on until 1 am or so. Weekends the photo period is longer. So far I haven't had any algae issues, except for stupid diatoms everywhere (not in my planted tank, the bn takes care of those.)

Excel should be dosed daily or every other day. Flourish is the one dosed weekly or twice a week.

[Taurus]

I wonder if I should get a timer that turns the lights on for a few hours in the morning so all the fish are awake when I feed at 8:30, then turn them off, and on again in the early evening...


All my tank lights are on timers. On at 6:30am, off at 11:00am, on at 4:30pm, off at 8:45pm.

[Lolita]

Okay, thanks guys!

I have a timer now, but it's a 4 dollar single timer.

I'll get one that can do multiple times.

I'll probably have them on from 7 am to 9 am in the morning, since my fish don't seem to notice their food if the light is off, then I'll have it turn on at 5:00 or so since that's when it gets dark here, and stay on till 11.

I'll also try dosing with excel more often! =D