Fish Food Guaranteed Analysis

[agaupt]

On all the fish food labels it gives a breakdown of the food like;

Crude protein (min.) 49%
Crude fat (min.) 9%
Crude fiber (max.) 2%
Moisture (max.) 6%
Phosphorus (min.) 1.3%
Vitamin C (min.) 95 mg./kg.

I feed about three different flake foods (TetraColor Tropical Flakes, Wardley Total Tropical, & NutraFIn Max Complete), plus freeze dried bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, and zucchini. Rotating the foods.

My first question is when looking at the breakdown of the food what make it good, what makes it bad?

Second question; is this a good diet, should I change anything?
Thanks.

[Jay]

The diet looks good to me, keep in mind that the pleco needs more vegatable and less fat than other critters.

Most folks do not realize that a major source of phosphate PO4 into the tank is flake food. See Phosphorus 1.3%

Good water change routine takes care of that

Regards,
Jay

[agaupt]

I feed the pleco a large slice of zucchini about twice a week. Its a clown pleco so he only supposed to get about 5"-7" in length, he is currently about 4". Would it be bad to feed him zucchini more often, he is the only algae eater in the 46 gallon tank. I change about 25% of the water with my weekly gravel vac.

Excess phosphates produce algae right? What would be a good range for phosphates in a lightly planted tank with about 2 watts per gallong lighting?

Thanks

[Jay]

Excess phosphates produce algae right? What would be a good range for phosphates in a lightly planted tank with about 2 watts per gallon lighting?

NO, excess phosphates in a tank do not cause algae blooms! They (algae) will utilize the phosphates but it is not the cause.

I keep my PO4 (phosphates) at 3ppm in my heavily planted tanks. I would think in a lightly planted tank with 2 wpg as long as you are getting a low positive reading on your test kit you should be fine.

Regards,
Jay