Newly set up planted tank - advice needed

[Puffermania]

Sorry to disagree, but healthy heavily planted tanks - which this tank is - if well (properly) lighted rarely show nitrate. In my even moderately lighted tanks I have to add nitrate regularly. This is especially true if the tank is not overcrowded and this tank is not yet stocked. There is nothing to provide nitrate but the cycling ammonia, which is at the levels it should be for that purpose.

Sorry to disagree w/pp on Otos, but their common failure in tanks is not IPs but simple starvation. If a batch of newly received Otos are flat-bellied or hollow-bellied, they are quite possibly doomed due to starvation during holding before shipping. As with many South American sucker-mouth cats, these have specialized gut microbes (but not the same ones the wood-eaters have) which will die off it not fed. They can only replace these in the wild, not in captivity. If they have been starved, they are doomed. Such fish generally die within the first 2-3 weeks. So do not purchase them until they have been in the LFS that long.

But it is correct that Otos do need established and relatively stable tanks. I do not add these to new tanks for at least 2-3 months either.

Nice looking tank, it should suit DPs well.

Thanks RTR.
1) would regularly feeding them Otos with cucumber and algae wafers help?
2) Also, as with your planted tank, does it mean that since i'm going for only 5 DPs in such a heavily planted tank, i would do well to dose NO3 from now on, since ammonia is dropping and nitrate from fishes are insufficient to meet my plants demands. My current lighting is 24w x 4 and is switched on for 8 hours, together with the Co2. I dose Seachem's Excel, Potassium, Iron, Trace and Comprehensive accordingly too.

[Puffermania]

Sorry to disagree w/pp on Otos, but their common failure in tanks is not IPs but simple starvation.

LOL, I knew there was some reason...

How exactly are you cycling this tank? How much ammonia are you adding daily?

I didnt have to add any, cos the ADA Amazonia New provided a NH3 spike of as high as 8ppm during the few first days, and i was doing WC every 3 days to bring it down since setting up on 3rd Oct.

[defool89]

These threads are my favorite. I have no input but do thank you for helping mania out for its educational just to read.

[RTR]

In acidic water, ammonia is almost entirely in the ammonium ion form, which is harmless. In alkaline water the percentage of ammonia as ammomia increases strongly, and so does the toxicity. Chloramin and chlorine "neutralizers/conditioners" act by locking ammonia into the ammonium ion (harmless) form. That is also the form in which nirification bacteria act on ammonia to oxidize it nitrite.

HTH

[Puffermania]

UPDATES FROM MY 29G PLANTED TANK

Tank Occupants:

1) 7 x DPs
2) 3 x Yamato Shrimps
3) 1 x Red Cherry Shrimp
4) 1 x SAE ( the other one jump out of tank and died)
5) 2 x Otos

[RTR]

FYI, SAEs only eat algae as immature fish. As they mature they switch to high-protein diets and are too big and waste-producing for this tank.

HTH

[Tim]

FYI, SAEs only eat algae as immature fish. As they mature they switch to high-protein diets and are too big and waste-producing for this tank.

HTH

The adults I've seen still ate algae, but not in amounts worthy of keeping it as an algae eater. I personally don't think they are worth keeping at all though . I found they pester other tank inhabitants, especially shrimp .

[Puffermania]

FYI, SAEs only eat algae as immature fish. As they mature they switch to high-protein diets and are too big and waste-producing for this tank.

HTH

My SAE is eating the same bloodworms as my DPs. In fact, i think it's pretty useful as they tend to feed on scraps or leftover food on the subtrate. Quite a clean up crew.

[RTR]

LOL! Can we just say that they are not picky eaters as adults, but do want high protein diets when mature. Algae no longer interests them as it did when they were small.

I have little room to talk - I keep two plecos (in separate tanks) which are both protein-eaters and overt 20 years old. At least they are both gold-spotted.

[Pufferpunk]

Many plecos ere protein-eaters.