Otocinclus Algae Eater for Betta Tank Plants (drip acclimation)

Otocinclus, dwarf suckers, oto cats.

Because my betta tank is new, diatoms started to spread. I bought the otos and the result is pretty good. They seem to eat the diatoms and green algae, but not the hair algae. Otos do loosen up the hair algae enough so that they pretty much fall off the leaves.

Plants that are growing and healthy do not have any diatoms or algae on them. This is because healthy leaves or plants release bio-chemicals that naturally fight off algae. The old leaves that are not growing don't fight off algae as well.

The plant is Whorled Pennywort (Hydrocotyle verticillata). I bought a pot full of it cheap at a gardening store. This plant can be grown submerged, emerged, or just in a pot out of water altogether. It's very hardy and versatile plant. It's a low co2 requirement plant, so as long as the substrate is for plants, it should do pretty well.

I used the drip method acclimation. I've never lost a fish doing it this way.