Staying the Course

[cdelucia]

Well, have been running by 29 gal. tank for awhile and although things are far from being as impressive as some of the photos I see on this forum, they're not too bad. A couple questions mainly concerning algae:

1. What kinds of algae to flying foxes eat? They don't harm plants, do ther?
2. Are algae eating shrimp afraid of light? Mine seem to be keeping a low profile these days and the only thing I can think of is it's pretty bright where the algae is greatest (tops of vertical standing driftwood). My pH has been lower lately too, thanks to better keeping of my DIY CO2. Maybe that has something to do with it.
3. A Pakastanin Loach wouldn't happen to like algae eating shrimp would it? They seem to be dissappearing only a week after I got a 5" long Pakastani Loach (a beauty it is though).
4. How much circulation has to be in a tank for nutrients to get to the plants? I've read some of people using powerheads lower in the tank to keep things flowing throughout so the plants come more into contact with the PMDD that we put in.
5. Is there a best time of day that I should put in my poor man's dupla drops?

[|squee|]

1. Flying foxes are known as the False Siamese Algae Eater. If I'm not wrong they do not eat algae at all. Both do not harm plants.

2. Are they newly introduced? They tend to do that when they're new to the tank, or when water conditions aren't what they like, or more likely there's a predator fish in your tank (Cichlids, angelfish, apistos)

3. How big is it? If your shrimp can fit into it's mouth, it's most likely the cause for your hiding shrimp.

4. That's important in a big tank, water circulation indeed brings nutrients to the plants like CO2 etc. Generally, if you feel a place has no circulation, it probably doesn't. I've read suggestions about placing a rainbar at the back of the tank above the substrate line to help circulation.

5. Nope. There've been numerous discussions on this particularly at Aquatic Plant Central. Some say yes, some say no. If you ask me, I say experiment and do what you like.

[cdelucia]

Thanks. Exactly what is a rainbar? And what are some good algae eating (and plant safe) fish?

[bclee]

Rainbar is a tube connected to the filter outlet with holes drilled into it that help to distribute the water flow.

IMO, Siamese Algae Eater (SAE), Octocinclus, bristlenose pleco and yamato shrimps are among the best algae eaters.

BC