Yamatoes or Malayan shrimps

[wahpiang]

Need some advice. I have a 2 feet tank with about 40 fishes (cardinals, harlequins, minnows, etc). 1 and a half month old tank, got some algae problems on java moss, e. tenellus and glosso.

Got 4 yamatoes last week and i believe 2 died almost few days later.

Thinking of getting more shrimps to help out with the algae removal job. Wondering if it is better to get 10 yamatoes for about $8-$10 or 100 malayan for $8-$10.

Headache: 100 malayan may just overcrowd my tank. yamatoes- more efficient but few may die and cannot do the job well.

[stocker]

Think it's better to find out the root cause of the algae first? likeovercrowding? too much fert, lights, etc...

Maybe a description of your setup will also help... There's a list of useful info in the stickies...

[Irwan78]

2 feet tank with 40 fishes?
Hmmm....suggest you provide more info for the experts to give you a solution.
I doubt adding shrimps would help you. 100 is way too much for a 2 ft tank.
I suspect your bioload too high and plants not doing well.

[wahpiang]

Hi Stocker and Irwan78,

Yes, my bioload is on the high side. Upgraded from 1.5ft to a 2ft tank, overly excited and increased the bioload to current quantity. That's why I started plants, hopefully to balance out with the bioload. Didn't want to kill the fishes to lower the bioload

The algae problem started only when my DIY CO2 was inconsistent and extremely low. Changed my concoction and its more stable and the algae is slowly clearing out. Just needed some booster to clean out the algae faster.

I am probably going for the yamatoes. Hopefully their demand for O2 is not as much as the fishes. Once the algae is cleared, I can give out the yamatoes to other bros.

Thanks, guys.

[limsteel]

Overload, just change water more frequently. the other problem is you might unknowingly over feed them. So you end up 2 major killer...

to what I know, Yamato don't eat every algae known. then again if there are other source of food like fish food, they will eat and thus reduce counter-algae effectiveness.

So change water more frequently. For me, I change water daily, ONE pail a day... only take 10min. tank almost algae free (apart from Spot Algae). not forgetting the addition of fert.

[illumbomb]

You should at least describe the type of algae you have in your tank. If it is spot algae or BBA, I don't think adding either 10 yamatos or 100 malayan will help.

[PeterGwee]

Wahpiang, do you like your critters? If you like them, don't over-crowd them and give them a bigger room to live and play around. They will definitely live longer with a larger home and good variety of food.

DIY CO2 on a tank with high fish load is asking for trouble. In fact, even a gas tank CO2 system may not be able to bail you out of jail if the NH4 is far greater then the ability of your plants to remove it before algae takes a dip at it. Frequent large water changes per week might help but over the long term, is a PITA. My advice to you, is either to get a bigger tank or to give or sell away some of your fishes. 5-10 critters for a 2ft tank is the best imo although you can stretch to around 15 if your plants are doing very well. Focus on keeping up with DIY CO2 or go with a non-CO2 tank if the cost of a gas tank system is beyond you. Decide first on the method you prefer before you come back for more advice.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[anaconda]

On the thingy about Yamato not eating BBAs, was at Biotope, saw their display that used to be totally infested with BBA totally cleared of it. I mean that tank had major BBA problem for ages

Asked the owner about it, he said they dumped in about 100 Yamato into the display tank and left it alone. The yamatos clear all the BBA from the tank according to him. He tried the same strategy on other tanks and it worked too....

just FYI

[wahpiang]

Thanks bros.

I am seriously considering to give away some fishes to lower the bioloads.

In fact, I am not sure what kind of algae I am having... Pretty new to aquarium plants. I believe I have a small amount of BBA on my Java moss, but removed them manually. Some brown algae on the glass (believe is diatom : from books ), cleaned them manually. And some brown algae on the Java moss also, but is clearing away by itself.

Agree with bro PeterGwee, will have to make some major decision soon

Till then, hopefully by next week, will probably try to change water more often and feed less. But I don't think I will be going for 100 yamatoes, will be committing suicide for my fishes and burning my pocket . But thanks for the info though, bro anaconda...

[stocker]

[quote:225f548dfb="PeterGwee"]
5-10 critters for a 2ft tank is the best imo although you can stretch to around 15 if your plants are doing very well.
[/quote:225f548dfb]

Peter, depends on the size of critter also right? If smallish (like small tetras), I think 20 is still ok?

[Irwan78]

Bro wahpiang,
Try to add hungry and fast growing plants.Add frogbits once algae under control.For your tank 10 yamatoes is more than enuff.

And you should read up on tetras and learn about em better.
Even thought they are small...they need a lot of space.Once you put your knowledge in use ,you might even be able to breed em too.

[jtss2001]

I have a 2ft planted tank too. 1x36W PL and DIY CO2. My Yamatos also died easily.

What expert advice what is the idea water condition (eg: ph kh,....). Is there a all-in-one tester to test the water? If the result is over or below the idea what should I do?

Thanks in advice.

[chua]

Hi.

The all in one test kit may not be very accurate i think.

You can start with PH and KH test kits first as they are needed to determine your CO2.

Use your CO2 to change your PH and sodium bicarbonate to increase your KH.

Hope these help.

[GaspingGurami]

[quote:a00fce27a5="jtss2001"]I have a 2ft planted tank too. 1x36W PL and DIY CO2. My Yamatos also died easily. [/quote:a00fce27a5]

I used to have the same problem too. Listened to all kinds of advise. There were lots of LFS that told me about Yamato's sensitivity to pH. All didn't work for me, and the Yamatos all died the very next day. I almost gave up hope of having Yamatos until I checked the kH -- 0dkH!!!

After adding baking soda and a few more coral chips (in case I forgot Kh again when changing water) to get 5dkH, and ensuring I have sufficient oxygen in the water, my next Yamatos thrived, grew to 1 inch size, have black tiger stripes on them and all sported eggs below them.

My pH fluctuations could be as wide as 6.5 to 8!!! (diy yeast hard to control) but the Yamatos thrived. Conclusion, I think Yamatos like a hardish water.

Oh, and chlorine is a No-No. I dumped in a tray of ice-cubes to lower temp. of water one day because fan was accidentally off. Melting cubes produced a "fog" of tiny bubbles than seem to sink instead of float Convection? Anyway, by nightfall, half the Yamatos have turned stiff and red at the bottom of the tank.

So, check your kH and use water free of chloramine.

Good luck on yours

Lawrence