Sorry about the extreme delay in replying to this statement but I was
busy at the time it was posted and have not had the time since. Gail
asked a question about black algae control and Alan Salmon said that I
had been experimenting with otocinclus as a control measure with a degree
of success. The fish that i was actually using was the siamese algae
eater (Crossocheilus siamensis, the spelling is probably incorrect here)
and it can be effective at controlling the stuff as long as there is not
vast amounts of other algae everywhere for them to eat as well. The
ordinary flying fox epalzeorynchus sp is better off being kept for its
own sake rather than its algae eating potential which is much less than
its cousin.
Another potential means of control is pH, many people here have noted a
reduction in the quantity of the stuff as the pH is stably (notice I said
stably) reduced to 7 or below. That has been true in my tanks as well,
there are a number of explanations as to why, but it does seem to work.
Some people in the US might disagree with that statement because it has
been shown to be exclusively associated with soft acid waters in the
america's, however the rhodophyta family is so large we are probably not
talking about the same complex at all.
The native plants that I got of Dave Wilson recently seem to be going ok
so far. I have lost some due to the protracted nature of their trip here,
but most seem to be doing very well. I can recommend the pogostemon
stellata, limnophila australis and brownii and finally the marsilea. I also
got a decent red aponogeton of him as well and that is truely wonderful.
Peter Hughes