Oto Or Amano Shrimp Onwers... Or Hair Algae Owners!

[TheRedDarren]

hi guys,
As some of you guys may know from my previous posts I have an ongoing hair algae problem.
My nitrates are only 5-10ppm so I dont think this is the problem, my tank is heavily planted with good growth, at least it was good growth until I stopped using fertiliser because I noticed the algae, which has slowed the plant growth down a lot, but not stopped it... anyway, I decided to buy amano shrimp to eat the algae but after watching them recently they dont appear interested in it at all, they skip over any leaves with algae on them to other leaves, so do any oto owners notice them eating hair algae or do they just eat other "normal" algae.
Also if I were to purchase oto's are they compatible with my botia striata?
Also... if anyone has had success in eliminating hair algae i'd like you're thoughts.
Thanks, D.

 

[Bex]

We were having the same problem in our main tank. We were removing the algae one day, but by the time we got home from work the next day, it was back again and just as bad. We tried using less light but that didn't really work either.

The only way we managed to get rid of it, was by using Interpret Anti-Hair Algae. Cleared it up a treat and we've had no more trouble with the evil hair algae from hell!

 

[BigIan]

When you feed your tank are the shrimp getting to the food?
As if you feed them fish food they won`t graze on the alge and just go for the fish food,
try skipping a day or two feeding then feed less and see if the shrimp are more tempted by the alge then

 

[Spank]

Do you have anyform of CO2 injection in the tank?

 

[TheRedDarren]

Hi bex, thats what i'm using atm, not much luck tho, how long did it take you to get rid of it using the specified dosage?

BigIan, I have reduced feeding to every other day for a while now, the shrimp dont get any fish food at all as all the others go absolutely rampant for it as soon as it hits the water, but they clearly dont appear interested in the algae, althought there is an odd growth of white fungusy type stuff on my mopani which they graze on.

yes i do spank, pressurised c02 unit. I think it was running at below 20ppm, so I've increased it to 40ish (I hope) although very hard to measure it because I had peat in the filter aswell, have removed the peat now to try to accuratley read my c02 level.

 

[Bex]

I can't believe the Interpret hasn't worked? I didn't even do the full dosage. Our tank is 480 litres and I only did the first dose, which was nearly the whole bottle anyway, and over the first 7 days, when we pulled the algae off and trimmed the plants with it on, it just didn't grow back!

Now we get the odd bit here and there, but quite rarely. There's none at the moment.

 

[oscar52]

Probably s stupid question - did you take the carbon out of the filter? otherwise, it'll soak up the interpret.

 

[Spank]

Hi bex, thats what i'm using atm, not much luck tho, how long did it take you to get rid of it using the specified dosage?

BigIan, I have reduced feeding to every other day for a while now, the shrimp dont get any fish food at all as all the others go absolutely rampant for it as soon as it hits the water, but they clearly dont appear interested in the algae, althought there is an odd growth of white fungusy type stuff on my mopani which they graze on.

yes i do spank, pressurised c02 unit. I think it was running at below 20ppm, so I've increased it to 40ish (I hope) although very hard to measure it because I had peat in the filter aswell, have removed the peat now to try to accuratley read my c02 level.

hmmm, strange, well I've read that the best way to get rid of algae is to get your plants thriving, so maybe more lighting, CO2 or some form of fertilisation is needed?
Otto's are fine with loaches, I have 9 and they live happily with my Yoyo loaches, but I wouldn't rely on them on clearing up an algae problem. I'd post in the "plants and planted tanks" section for mor useful advise, the people there know they're stuff about controlling algae and improving plant growth!!

 

[TheRedDarren]

Okay, did loads of research on t'internet last night and found that it is black bush algae, apperently easliy eliminated by high c02 levels, so I turned my c02 output up last night to roughly 1 bubble every 2 seconds.
I wonder if thats why the hair algae remover from interpet hasn't shifted it...!
I think I'm gonna take a chance and resume normal feeding and fertilising with the higher c02 output and hope for the best.
Yes oscar52 mate, I did remove the carbon, well i don't use it in the tank as a rule anyway, but thanks for input.
Thanks everyone for ideas, will try the planted section for more help!

 

[Sibelius]

A siamese flying fox helps in some tanks, if they're big enough. Mine sadly passed away earlier this year, and with hindsight, my tank was probably too small for it anyway. Make sure you only get 1 or they'll fight, and make sure you get the true species, not anything else, but these do a good job in my opinion. See what others think first. They're also know as Siamese Algae Eaters.