Algae Eaters

[pippoodle]

i add cuttlefish bone to all my tanks aswell keeps snails shells perfect

 

[Syphoniera]

Me, too.
I picked up a box of crushed oystershell to mix with earth for Walstads and a cuttlebone for the snails, and keep a bit on top in each tank.
Most of the bits last apparently forever, but in a couple they disappear pretty quickly.
And I think the piece I got will probably last a lot longer than I will.
Unfortunately, my LFS doesn't have any sort of mineral supplement and I was thinking the calcium should at least be balanced with magnesium, as the only water column fert I'm using is a weekly dash of Flourish.
Does anybody else add additional minerals?
If so, what do you use, and in what proportions?

 

[Nick16]

i know you said you dont want snails but Nerite's are excellent algae eaters. ^^^^^^^^^^

Hey, Aaron, I am interested in Nerites, but I have soft/acidic water. can you keep them by adding supplements (calcium) that won't harden the water too much for my fish species? On that same token, can you do the same with amano and cherry shrimp?

well the water round my way is very hard so therefore has lots of calcium in it but it may still need addressing. i am still very tempted to get more ottos as i only have one in that tank (moved from the 120l) and i know they are highly social fish so i should at least get 3 more. on his own he has eaten 20% of the algae in 3 days.

 

[aaronnorth]

you can add calcium without it having an effect on ph, so just make sure that the kh/ gh levels are fairly high although i am not sure at what point you would call a 'reccomended' level.