otocinclus in hard water

**Brit** · 03-05-2013, 02:00 PM

Has anyone succeded in adapting otocinclus to live in hard water? (say DH 11 - 16). If not which algae eater is suitable for such hard water? Thanks in advance of your help with this.

**Sandz** · 03-05-2013, 02:25 PM

I have oto's in 8+ph and liquid rock... If the LFS can keep them, so can you and they should come seasoned to your water conditions. Otherwise a simple drip aclimation should be sufficient.

**Brit** · 03-08-2013, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Sandz

I have oto's in 8+ph and liquid rock... If the LFS can keep them, so can you and they should come seasoned to your water conditions. Otherwise a simple drip aclimation should be sufficient.

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

**talldutchie** · 03-08-2013, 11:48 AM

I don't think it's that simple but I also hold a minority view on that.

Anyway... algae is best tackled at the root cause. Nerite snails also help and they love harder water. So many otocinclus die in transit or because people thingk they will exist on tank algae alone.

**Gesp56** · 03-08-2013, 12:36 PM

I'd go with Nerites. I got 8 for my one 10 gallon and 4 for my other 10 gallon, both infested with algae. In 2 weeks time there was not a single bit of visible algae left.

**Limming** · 03-08-2013, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by talldutchie

I don't think it's that simple but I also hold a minority view on that.

Anyway... algae is best tackled at the root cause. Nerite snails also help and they love harder water. So many otocinclus die in transit or because people thingk they will exist on tank algae alone.

I agree otos are awesome little fish but don't get them for algae control alone get them because you enjoy them.

**Triton** · 03-08-2013, 02:08 PM

I love my otos, but they are also very fragile fish at first... Unless you have a really good pet store plan on losing a few... I have 5 left in my 55, and now that it is planted with a bit of algae they have been very happy fish. I do give them some zucchini every once in awhile but haven't in awhile.

I think if you acclimate them slowly they should be ok. But i also am biased cuz I love these little fish

**madagascariensis** · 03-08-2013, 02:13 PM

Even under best conditions biofilm will slowly build up on all tank surfaces, good enough reason to have something to clean it off. In my opinion, nothing really can replace otos. All nerites, including small ones, tend to stick to hard surfaces and only occasionally visit leaves. My hardness is between 11 and 14 and my otos have no problems after a good acclimatization.