faizal
Member
Hi all. I am planning on adding some new shrimps (just your regular algae eating ones) and some new otos to my new non co2 tank. I came across this website www.otocinclus.com and it says there that otocinclus are very particular of NH4, Nittrite & nitrate contents of a tank, especially during the first month of their habitation.
I plan to put them in a holding tank first for a period of 1 month before adding them into the main tank. Now I would like the little guys to feel welcome in the new environment & hence I am thinking of planting up my 5.5 US gallon with some anubias & maybe some crypts to make them feel at home for the first one month.
The problem is, we need to dose our plants at least once a week (the holding tank is going be a non co2 tank too). Now what happens when I dose it with KNO3 & KH2PO4? Won't the otos be stressed on dosing day? This new holding tank will be started from scratch with no mature filter, Just some plain 2-3mm sized inert gravel with a Hang on back filter.
Is it worth all the trouble or should I just put in some plastic plants
and keep the otos there for a month? My main purpose is to nicely fatten up the little fellas with daily fresh veggies , keep the water clean by doing daily 30% water change. The plants would be a bonus. If it's going to be too much of a bother to keep both of them simultaneously in the holding tank during the initial transition period for the otos, I would gladly give up on the idea of having real plants in my holding tank. 
As always, your thoughts are most valuable.
I plan to put them in a holding tank first for a period of 1 month before adding them into the main tank. Now I would like the little guys to feel welcome in the new environment & hence I am thinking of planting up my 5.5 US gallon with some anubias & maybe some crypts to make them feel at home for the first one month.
The problem is, we need to dose our plants at least once a week (the holding tank is going be a non co2 tank too). Now what happens when I dose it with KNO3 & KH2PO4? Won't the otos be stressed on dosing day? This new holding tank will be started from scratch with no mature filter, Just some plain 2-3mm sized inert gravel with a Hang on back filter.
Is it worth all the trouble or should I just put in some plastic plants
and keep the otos there for a month? My main purpose is to nicely fatten up the little fellas with daily fresh veggies , keep the water clean by doing daily 30% water change. The plants would be a bonus. If it's going to be too much of a bother to keep both of them simultaneously in the holding tank during the initial transition period for the otos, I would gladly give up on the idea of having real plants in my holding tank. As always, your thoughts are most valuable.
because I really liked the light coloured sand like gravel as compared to the dark coloured ADA aqua soil. The guy who sold me the stuff was wondering the same thing. I thought it would make a nice contrast to the final layout.
