Mixed results from my own algae farm...

[Jim Powers]

I set up my own algae farm using Martin's as a guide ("secret" ingredient and all ) and harvested the first rocks today.
I placed them in two tanks containing hillstreams with mixed results.
In one tank the gastros (ctenocephalus and oscellatus) as well as the L. disparis have worked the stones over well. Unfortunately,the many shrimp (bumblebee, cherry, amano and neocardina) also seem to like them,too. I placed the rocks in good current flow to keep the shrimp hoard off them as best I could and that seems to help.
In the other tank, the chenis checked out the rocks quickly and did some grazing but not as intensely as the gastros in the other tank. The two gastros (oscellatus and scitulus) haven't given the rocks any notice. The scitulus is strictly an algae eater as far as I can tell and has never been seen eating anything else, but he has not grazed the rock despite being within an inch of it.
So, while the rocks in one tank have been cleaned of algae the rocks in the other tank have barely been touched. Very odd.

[Hendra]

Yes, its sound odd, Jim.

Perhaps because of the species of the algae

[Martin Thoene]

Bet the rocks are all clear this morning. First time I put two in the main River-Tank, one got eaten, one left. By the next morning both were denuded.

Martin.

[Rod]

Hey Jim
I missed the info on the algea farm could you please pass me the info?

CHEERS
ROD

[Martin Thoene]

Here you go Rod............

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=922

....and the April Fool part of the thread....

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=932

Martin.

[Jim Powers]

Yes, the rocks are cleared off this morning. I'll put them back out in the algae farm today and see how fast they regrow. We are having lots of sunny weather(between severe storms) with temps 15-20degrees above normal so the algae is really taking off.

[Martin Thoene]

That's funny....this came up in the Google Ads bar at the top......

http://www.lgsonic.com/LG%20SONIC%20EN/En%20home.htm

Martin.

[Jim Powers]

That IS funny.
I guess you would have to make sure you didn't use this in a whale pond.

[Jim Powers]

Well, FINALLY, the G. oscellatus in the cheni tank has begun to graze on a new rock I put in this evening. Now, if the little scitulus would only figure out the the rocks are covered with food.
Part of the problem, I think, is the chenis themselves. They are in pre-spawn mode and tend to be a bit more aggressive towards the other hillstreams at that time.They have been chasing the gastros away from the algae rocks.

[Jim Powers]

Well, I think the scitulus in the cheni tank is finally grazing on the algae rocks. I just noticed a nice bright green string coming out of his back door.
Then, after putting a new rock in the tank I noticed him coming right to it. So it seems the algae growing has now been a complete success.

[Martin Thoene]

Excellent news Jim! It seems that once they get the idea that it's food then they'll just keep coming back for more when you replace the rocks.

Martin.

[Jim Powers]

Martin, have you noticed any increase in grazing behaviour in your hillstreams even after the algae rocks are removed?
Most of my hillstreams graze much less after they discover that pellets, bloodworms and brine shrimp are food. But now that I am using the algae rocks, the natural grazing behaviour seems to have increased.

[Dr. Momfish]

why natural? if you can get potato chips why would you collect dandelion greens? the natural instinct is to use as little energy as possible to obtain as much energy as possible.



just thought i'd bug you Jim.

[Jim Powers]

I guess you're right. Its kind of like the bears used to be in Yellowstone and the Great Smoky Mt. National Parks. Why forage when you are fed all the cookies and sandwiches you can eat.

[Martin Thoene]

Hmmmm....if I was going to name Hillstreams as I know many name their loaches, Yogi and Boo-Boo would kinda fit I think.

Martin.