Need Clean -up crew for Cichlid tank

[jagarundi]

Hello all, so what's a good, sturdy, can-hold-it's-own against aggressive Oscars and Black sharks, kind of catfish I can add as a clean up crew for my tank? All of my fish are fully grown, with the exception to the Jaguar, which is now at half of his adult size.

[Psuedofire]

Need Clean -up crew for Cichlid tank

Q: "Hello all, so what's a good, sturdy, can-hold-it's-own against aggressive Oscars and Black sharks" - jagarundi-

A: A python gravel vac

[Garbage]

Chinese Algie eaters would do great. AND, they are not poop machines like common plecs:) By the way, are you sure you have a black shark and not a red tailed black shark? Black sharks get 2 feet long and would not fit in 55g tank.

[ct-death]

Psuedofire, You forgot sponge brush for sides ;)

Jag - Do you wish for some additions to your tank, or do you ahve an issue you are trying to deal with?

There are a lot of answers, but what Psuedofire was saying is that they are not a 'cleanup crew'. Maintenance is still required, but I assume you know this from your sig and join date :)

Anyways, Otos are great for Diatoms and Bristlenose are very good for algae as well. As to their compatibility w/ your aggressive cichlids - I would suspect that they would be okay - but I really dunno sorry

EDIT: Oh nice suggestion Garbage -- BTW if your Avatar is you, can't call you "garbage" ;)

[Garbage]

Psuedofire, You forgot sponge brush for sides ;)

Jag - Do you wish for some additions to your tank, or do you ahve an issue you are trying to deal with?

There are a lot of answers, but what Psuedofire was saying is that they are not a 'cleanup crew'. Maintenance is still required, but I assume you know this from your sig and join date :)

Anyways, Otos are great for Diatoms and Bristlenose are very good for algae as well. As to their compatibility w/ your aggressive cichlids - I would suspect that they would be okay - but I really dunno sorry

EDIT: Oh nice suggestion Garbage -- BTW if your Avatar is you, can't call you "garbage" ;)


:dance2: My avatar is Shirley Manson, lead singer of the rock band Garbage:) I agree, she is a looker:rolleyes:

[jagarundi]

Chinese Algie eaters would do great. AND, they are not poop machines like common plecs:) By the way, are you sure you have a black shark and not a red tailed black shark? Black sharks get 2 feet long and would not fit in 55g tank.


Garbage, I can't update my signature for some reason, but I added a 300 gallon to my collection since I moved into my new home. Yes, the Black shark is a Black shark and he's almost 2 feet long now, along with my Albino Channel cat, who is inching towards 3 feet now.

[Garbage]

a 225 and a 300 gallon tank... Im jealous:)

[jagarundi]

a 225 and a 300 gallon tank... Im jealous:)

Don't be. If I add another tank to this house, my wife threatened to donate my fish to Seaworld!

[Mr.Firemouth]

I use snails of the species Malaysian Live bearers and Ramshorn. Snails are excellent indicators of over feeding. Too much food=hundreds of snails and tells us to increase gravel vacuuming or decrease feedings. The Malaysian snails turn the substrate constantly and are detrivores.

[Garbage]

Don't be. If I add another tank to this house, my wife threatened to donate my fish to Seaworld!

lol yeah, my better half wont let me get a bigger tank either:) If I were single, id get a 300G in a heartbeat!

[Rbishop]

Even if the "clean up crew" ate the uneaten food, the waste produced by the fish you keep would dictate very regular vac jobs. I'd save the bio load for a more active tankmate.

[Garbage]

Even if the "clean up crew" ate the uneaten food, the waste produced by the fish you keep would dictate very regular vac jobs. I'd save the bio load for a more active tankmate.

rbishop is right, there isnt an algie eater in the world that can make up for necessary weekly vac jobs:)!

[jagarundi]

rbishop is right, there isnt an algie eater in the world that can make up for necessary weekly vac jobs:)!

Well, I'm to the point where I vacum every other Sunday when I do my water changes.