otos in a Tanganyikan tank?

[MultiPunk]

Due to high levels of diatoms in a fairly new tank (2 months) I am considering the short- to medium-term addition of otocinclus affinis....having researched the prefered water values of this fish it doesn't seem to be a great idea, especially when they seem to have a reputation for dying on you shortly after introduction.

My water parameters are temp 26.5oC, pH 8.2, GH 17 KH 15 (hard)

I have syno petricola in the tank but they don't eat diatoms at all - are there other options for diatoms feeders or am I reduced to scrubbing? Obviously, I am prepared to forego the Tang authenticity on this issue!!

[DeepFriedIctalurus]

A captive-bred bushynose should take care of that just fine, they're much more resilient than the little Otos. Even if they didn't actually eat the diatoms (I'm sure they would anyway), their scraping would remove it all. I have a couple tanks that get diatoms and 90% of it can be wiped off the glass w/ only my hand, so it's not difficult stuff.

Just remember to acclimate the new guy to the hard water as slowly as possible, unless your local tapwater is very close to the tank conditions. Test the water the bushy came in to be sure.


Tyler

[MultiPunk]

thanks deepfried, can you please let me have a latin name for that bushynose?

it's the diatoms on all the rockwork and decor that's the problem, like you say, when it's on the glass it's a doddle.

how many bushynose in a 90g and how would they get on with syno petricola and various Tanganyikan cichlids?

[DeepFriedIctalurus]

Well it's -assumed- that most common tank-bred bushynose are A. dolichopterus, but this doesn't really matter. What you'll want to look for is a group of young fish w/ vibrant patterning that are all around the same size. Being very small and lacking the shipping injuries of wild Ancistrus is a fair clue to being the domestic variety... Not to mention the store ought to know if they are.

As to how many to put in there, 1 is all that's needed for the utility end of keeping the fish. They are interesting in their own right so 2 or 3 would give you a little more activity from them. Most likely your other fish will completely ignore them, worst case scenario is they may have slightly tattered fins until they get larger. Just introduce them after you've fed the other fish and turned the lights out, that way you can prevent any of your other fish seeing them as food if they're very small....

Here's a pic on fishbase of a young A. dolichopterus,
http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/Pictures ... at=species
This is what most tank-bred fish look like, they can be slightly greenish when under 2"

[MultiPunk]

much appreciated deepfried, I guess it should be a minimum of 1"?