I've got 3 little borneo suckers I mentioned in another post. The tank is newly set up and planted so no algae growth yet.

It's also not technically cycled yet so I'm testing ammonia/nitrite daily. There was a small 'blip' on day one and none since so perhaps that was it (3 itty bitty fish in 40L), they've been in there since Thursday so will carry on testing for about 10 days to be sure.

One of them is really thin so I want to make sure it starts to gain a bit of weight, but I don't want to overfeed. They are getting JBL Novoplec and I'm sort of putting in 1 per day - and an extra every other day so far.

It looks like its all getting eaten apart from small bits which need vacuuming from between the pebbles. I gave a couple cooked half peas too for some 'fresher' greens.

Does that sound reasonable? Should I decrease the amount once I start seeing some algae? Packet says as much as they can eat in 20 mins but 1 tab last them almost a whole day!

They aren't catfish are they?

suckers aren't plecs, they are not herbivores. Feed them on bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, flakes, anything like that. Some people say their suckers eat algae etc but it is not and should not be their primary diet.

suckers aren't plecs, they are not herbivores. Feed them on bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, flakes, anything like that. Some people say their suckers eat algae etc but it is not and should not be their primary diet.

I think it is only a 'by-catch' as they try to eat the critters in the algae.

Yup.. I know aufwuchs or something like that.. micro-organisms that live in the algae....I was told to feed them pleco tabs when I bought the fish at Organism (I specifically asked).

They eat them, they loved the peas. I know they need algae and have been letting the tank get a bit of natural sunlight to help encourage this.

But in the meantime.. they've got to eat something right?

I can't imagine them chasing live food?

(I wasn't sure if they were technically lumped wth catfish or not so I posted in here. ... but I figured poeple who knew about sucker typed fish might be reading under this section)

I can try to speed up some algae by putting some stones and some driftwood out in a sunny spot in some water...but will that work or will it just go stagnant and rancid? Does anyone know how I can culture myself some algae?? I have plenty in my other tank but these guys were expensive and they're in quarantine for at least 3 weeks no ifs, ands, or buts!! (and until I'm 100% comfortable that my other tank is safe for them.. bug wise!!)

I don't want to take the plants out of the tank their in cause they're using them for cover although I know this would free up extra nutrients for algae growth I think the fish and the tank would be worse off for it while its cycling)

What other helpful hints can you give me?

How about NovoRift - algae with critters in for African cichlids, but pretty much every plec I know loves the stuff - or JBL Tabis if you want more bugs and less salad.

Oh yeah.. I have shrimp pellets too.. but they break apart easily and they seemed unfamilair to them so I've only twice given them a half so it doesn't pollute the tank.

Ok.. spotted on loaches.com that they do put stones outside in sunny tanks.. so will set that up tonight. They have flat stones big enough to sit on all around the tank.. and one cheeky fellow has dug himself a big pit underneath one of them and defends his spot relentlessly!! Comes racing out when anyone else get on top.. chases them off.. and goes back into his hidey-hole!

What's the probablilty of stuff growing on the surfaces without visible algae??

(Oh.. and if any mods this this would be better off in the freshwater section I'm happy for it to be moved :-? )

If I tied java moss to some stones would that eventually grow into something that could host their usual foodsource?

Yep- JBL tabis tabs. Combinations of greens, bugs and shrimp etc- great for omnivores.

Ok.. 2 votes for tabis then.. will get some thanks!

Is that different than JBL- NovoTab?

http://petplanet.co.nz/shopping/pgm-mor ... id=44&=SID

I can't seem to find 'Tabis' ?

Ok.. 2 votes for tabis then.. will get some thanks!

Is that different than JBL- NovoTab?

http://petplanet.co.nz/shopping/pgm-mor ... id=44&=SID

I can't seem to find 'Tabis' ?

Yes, it contains Spirulina etc, and its more expensive :-?

More expensive is ok.. it usually means you feed a little less to get equal nutrition value!! So where can I get tabis locally?

And THEN.. how much Tabis would I feed !!

Once/twice daily? Every other day?

Hopefully the sun will come out again some time soon and I can start culturing some algae in a fishless tub outdoors! Maybe using the water I change out of their own tank.

(I have plenty of algae elsewhere.. but its all contaminated with goldfish greeblies I'm sure!!)

Organism have it - about $25 for a 140? gram (small) jar - one tablet per day per fish, as a start, I guess.

Merci!

Hmmm....sh!te.. thats expensive alright! I thought the pleco tabs were expensive!

Never mind...my xmas shopping is paid for I'll handle it !!

Dunno what I'll do once I put them into my other tank though.Surely don't want to be spending that kind of dosh on my other fish with simpler requirements...

Ahhhh.. I'll just have to dream sugar-plum dreams of a river tank in my future...

Redwoods should do it cheaper than that .

Redwoods should do it cheaper than that .

They don't. And it will take you until Christmas 2010 to get served anyway.

They don't. And it will take you until Christmas 2010 to get served anyway.

whys that?

the service is pretty slow at Redwoods

the service is pretty slow at Redwoods

Lol, once when we were there, a lady was standing at the counter waiting for about 5 minutes, seriously. All the staff were in other rooms so couldn't be found. Was funny.

Depends when you go I guess... I popped in on a weekday and it was pretty quiet

Anyway.. bought some tabis from Organism today. My fish thank-you They seem to like it.. although it appears to be making quite a mess in my tank! Bits flying everywhere!!

I'm starting to think I should have only big stones in there and no gravel..

but I'd need to find a way to anchor my plants!..maybe I should pot them up.