In a recent post we talked about how to reduce NO3 and PO4 by dosing vodka (see Dosing Vodka to reduce NO3 and PO4…). Today, we will have a look at an other technique, very similar to vodka dosing, where sugar is used to reduce NO3 and PO4.

The Otocinclus affinis, also known as Otocinclus catfish or simply Oto cat is a small south american fish native to Brazil where it can be found in heavily vegetated streams and rivers. According to many, the Otocinclus catfish is the perfect algae eater and this is probably one of the reason why it became so poppular over the years.

I won’t go deep into the scientific area of this. I’ll leave this to others who are more comfortable with this topic. To make a long story short, the goal of dosing Vodka is to provide an organic carbon source to grow bacteria in order to consume phosphates and nitrates.

Crossocheilus siamensis, also known as Siamese Algae Eater or simply SAE is a freshwater fish in the Cibrinidae family (carp family). Native to the Malayan peninsula, the Siamese Algae Eater is a bottom-dwelling fish that lives in streams and rivers…

Some of us love them, some hate them. Snails would probably be more welcome in aquariums if they weren’t so prolific. A large population of snail can lead to the destruction of your aquatic plants, mar the appearance of your aquarium, and even upset its ecological balance. Here are a few tips to help you control snails in your aquarium