MerkySky

Thank you Phill and Chef. My ottos are doing really well. I am going to order 9 more as I have read they like to be in larger group. I have plenty of Algae. I really appreciate the responses. I have watched them closely I really enjoy them.

Thank you for the quick reply. So we have well water so its hard I do not have the numbers specifically. I have a 40 gal shrimp tank with a mix of cherry and other hard water shrimp. That tank has panda corys in it, enders and tetras. I also have BLUE EYE LEMON BRISTLENOSE PLECO in all my tanks. I will keep eye on them and still use rain water when I can. Yes I have plenty of algae and added cucumber in also. Thank you again I really appreciate it. I can get a number a little later. I have had 8 tanks for 3 years now and do my best to make sure I only add fish that go with my water parameters. I have however taken in several kinds of fish as rescues and even the soft water ones have done well in my tank. Even tho it is not my intentions to do that to them. I only take them if there is no other choice . Ok so I checked we are on the 10 of hardness and I checked a site that sells them that I get my fish from and never had a problem with any of my orders and they have the RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS: Temperature: 74° - 79° F (23° - 26° C) pH: 6.8 - 7.5 KH: 2 - 10 dKH Minimum tank size: 10 gallons So I feel a bit better now. If these guys make it a month or so I will add 6 more from this particular place I get my fish from then the numbers will be larger and they will be happier. Aquatics Arts is where I order from. Thanks again

So I rescued 9 otocinclus catfish. I really did not want them only ,as I know they need soft water. But this guy was literally flushing his fish down the toilet, when I went to take a few of his other fish. Believe it or not all 9 look really good fat bellies. He has hard water also so I am not sure how he managed to keep them alive. He says he has done nothing to his water. I honestly have no idea how to even believe what he says. So please advise me. I would appreciate it if the advice is kept polite as I have read up on them and understand they need soft water. I took them in, as I thought that would at least be better then going down the drain. I have longfin cory's and a frontsoa in the 120 gal tank they will go in after quarantine my corys have done wonderful and even have had babies so much so I have had to rehome some. My quarantine tank has plenty of algae and live plants in it . We are in the process of setting up a rain barrel to use for water changes. Is there anything else I can do to help these guys fit in and thrive in my tank. I do weekly water changes of 35% and all my tanks have good strong water flow. I keep tanks at 72-74 degrees . Thank you CJ