Sucker fish in hydroponic system

Hi everyone, I am attempting to do something a little out there and I am hoping this is an original idea but let me know if I am wrong. I went to walmart recently, picked up a 55liter clear storage bin and I am planning on starting a dwc grow with it. I myself have had some trouble with algae in the past and am always looking for new ideas to fix it. I have two airpumps with stones and will be using cfl's for this grow to keep water temps down. I have always thought that it would be cool to be able to watch the roots grow as everyone enjoys watching the leaves grow as well, But as most of you know, exposure to light can lead to serious algae problems that can rob nutrients and oxygen from our precious girls and some can even attack the roots directly. It just recently popped in my head that fish tanks have the exact same enviroment as a dwc or bubbleponic system has and those little sucker fish you buy from the pet store seem to keep them in pretty nice shape. I will keep the storage bin in 24 hour direct light to PROMOTE algae growth. I will keep you guys and girls posted to see if this works. wish my girls luck!

Good luck getting that fish to live in nute water...
It won't last long. Wouldn't it just be easier to make the rez lightproof instead of killing a fish?

I was thinking the same thing about the fish too. It will probably just die from the high concentration of nutrients. I still say go for it. I'm no animal rights activist and could care less how many fish you killed in this little expirament. DO IT DO IT!!

lolololol

I give it 30 seconds

CBC Riz said:

lolololol

I give it 30 seconds

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Do you think it will die with organic nutrients as well? I was also thinking if the fish idea didnt work maybe a fish tank carbon filter will...

Just lightproof your rez man there is nothing easier than that.
Algae cannot grow without light, take the light away and the algae won't grow
You are trying to over complicate things, just lightproof the damn rez

Just light proof the reservoir. You are way overthinking this and making it way harder than it needs to be.

Ninja edit: ^^Beat me to it!

Hahahahahhaaa!... This is what potent bud does to a human being.

i have had those things in fishtanks. my tank was 28 gallons and 2 of those sucker fish still didnt keep it 100% algae free. for a 55 gal tub you will need at least 5 of those suckers.

DaddyPaddy said:

Do you think it will die with organic nutrients as well? I was also thinking if the fish idea didnt work maybe a fish tank carbon filter will...

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I have had many large aquariums. Sucker fish are very hardy fish. Plecostomus (a certain species of sucker fish) most commonly found in pet stores would survive well in nute water, be it organic or non. However they require small amounts of oxygen, I belive the resivour would be too oxygen rich. Make sure you do not get a plecostomus. But then again another species would probly die in the nute water. But good luck either way my open minded friend, I like the way your mind works, very creative ideas.

ok, well, as stated in my original post this is an expirement. That is why I bought a clear container in the first place. anyone want to help me out and not try and change my idea? Anyone know whether or not a fish will die in organic nutes?

408stein said:

i have had those things in fishtanks. my tank was 28 gallons and 2 of those sucker fish still didnt keep it 100% algae free. for a 55 gal tub you will need at least 5 of those suckers.

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55 liters but thanks for the reply. you think one or two will do it?

Bad idea. I've been keeping advanced fish for the last 5 years and there's no way the fish will live through the nutes unless you got one of the hardier species that would do a shit job anyway. Not only that but unless you wanna fork out some serious cash for some decent algae eaters like the Otocinclus which you need quite a few of, the other algae eaters generally stop doing such a great job later in their lives.


There's another option though. Light proof your res to stop algae and simply lift the lid every now and then to have a look at the roots. Is that really so hard? Even if you had fish you'd have to lift the lid to feed them as natural algae buildups generally aren't enough to give them a complete diet(unless you get REALLY bad algae and then the fish won't be able to handle it anyway).


If you've got your heart set on having fish then build a fish system where a seperate res contains fish and they produce your ferts as well.

408stein said:

i have had those things in fishtanks. my tank was 28 gallons and 2 of those sucker fish still didnt keep it 100% algae free. for a 55 gal tub you will need at least 5 of those suckers.

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No offence but I gotta call B.S. on this one. If one plecostomus has enough algae (btw you can buy algae disc) it will grow to 18inches or better=more than enough for 55 gal

imabeast said:

I have had many large aquariums. Sucker fish are very hardy fish. Plecostomus (a certain species of sucker fish) most commonly found in pet stores would survive well in nute water, be it organic or non. However they require small amounts of oxygen, I belive the resivour would be too oxygen rich. Make sure you do not get a plecostomus. But then again another species would probly die in the nute water. But good luck either way my open minded friend, I like the way your mind works, very creative ideas.

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Thank you Imabeast, First positive reply +rep for your knowlegable input. I will keep you posted and anyone else interested with pics as soon as its up and running.

ADLpotter said:

If you've got your heart set on having fish then build a fish system where a seperate res contains fish and they produce your ferts as well.

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Great idea

DaddyPaddy said:

Thank you Imabeast, First positive reply +rep for your knowlegable input. I will keep you posted and anyone else interested with pics as soon as its up and running.

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serious? Why put fish through shit conditions just so you don't have to spend half a second lifting the lid.

ADLpotter said:

serious? Why put fish through shit conditions just so you don't have to spend half a second lifting the lid.

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Ok everybody... I think some people are misunderstanding the concept of this. This is an expirement in which, if it works, will give me a grow enviroment and a fish tank all in one. Noone finds that cool? to have fish swimming around with your the roots? I understand I can prevent algae with traditional methods... HOW EXCITING...

I found this online, good luck finding one though, but he would work...

Pingi Logsucker Garra pingi pingi

A rare bottom-dwelling fish, Garra pingi pingi grows to about five inches in its native quick-flowing waters of Eastern Asia. The water should be cool and well oxygenated. Peaceful and can be kept with other cold water fishes, however, I doubt if they are hardy enough for ponds that freeze over. Care is probably similar to the Hi-Fin Shark (below). Currently available at www.azgardens.com for about $10.00. (Not an endorsement, just an observation.)


Ill keep looking

Thanks beast, I'll research species a little bit before I purchase one, they have a small selection at my local store. I'm thinking about the nutrients thing and even with inorganic nutes, It should be able to survive. If you think about it plants don't really require a substaintially toxic amount of nutes, especially in a hydroponic set-up.