Ottos, algae and current

I introduced 7 Otocinculus fish 3 months ago along with 10 Cardinal Tetras. I have since then added 10 more Cardinal and 7 Rummy Nose. Since the very first day I have only seen 1 otto (briefly) and thought that all others had died. Over the weekend I finally introduced 8 male fancy guppies that were in quarantine. My water input was swishing them to the other side of the tank and they were keeping huddled in top corner so I covered my outflow with a sponge which brought the current way down. About a week ago I also put 8 pothos plant in the tank to lower my nitrates. Nitrates went from 40ppm to 20ppm in a week without water change. (II am still doing 30% weekly water changes)
Yesterday night I found all of the 7 ottos out and about searching for food. I dropped some algae wafers in and they munched on it. So did all the other fish and snails.
After almost 3 months of them hiding I would like to ask if you think that lowering my current had something to do with them coming out OR if the lowered nitrates impacted algae production and they were hungry? Thoughts? Thanks

 

I introduced 7 Otocinculus fish 3 months ago along with 10 Cardinal Tetras. I have since then added 10 more Cardinal and 7 Rummy Nose. Since the very first day I have only seen 1 otto (briefly) and thought that all others had died. Over the weekend I finally introduced 8 male fancy guppies that were in quarantine. My water input was swishing them to the other side of the tank and they were keeping huddled in top corner so I covered my outflow with a sponge which brought the current way down. About a week ago I also put 8 pothos plant in the tank to lower my nitrates. Nitrates went from 40ppm to 20ppm in a week without water change. (II am still doing 30% weekly water changes)
Yesterday night I found all of the 7 ottos out and about searching for food. I dropped some algae wafers in and they munched on it. So did all the other fish and snails.
After almost 3 months of them hiding I would like to ask if you think that lowering my current had something to do with them coming out OR if the lowered nitrates impacted algae production and they were hungry? Thoughts? Thanks

I would believe it to be food, my Otos come out a lot more when they sense food. I agree with what you did on the flow, it could be helping but my guess is the food

 

Well they went ahead and disappeared again.
At least I was able verify they were still alive.
thanks

 

How big is you tank? And how heavily planted is it? When you see the otos are there belly nice and round? If they look slim, they are hungry, and would highly suggest feeding algae wafers and some greens. Otos are ferocious algae eaters and definetly need a lot of greens to eat!

 

75 gallon, lightly planted. I cannot see their bellies because as soon as I get close to the tank, the only one brave enough to come out, shoots under a driftwood. I put algae wafers and even zuchinnI and squash but have to see any of them get close to them. My fish devour the algae wafers and the only ones eating the veggies are the snails.

 

Otos are usually live caught fish. they lived with extreme cation, and in much larger groups. They might always act like this, but you can try =
Getting 5-20 more otos
adding more places for them to hide. when shy fish have places to hide, they often feel safer to come out in the open.