View Full Version : What bottom feeder to get????
josh_69
10-13-2003, 4:59 AM
hey i want to know wat type of bottom fedder i should get and it would be goin wit
2x oscars
2x severums
2x firemouths
2x blue acaras
i wouldn't mind sumtin to clean the algae but i could just do that myself with the magnet cleaner except for the rocks. I was lookin at gettin 2x chinese algae eaters but wasn't 2 sure also i was thinkin of a clown loach would it go well coz i hav one in another tank and was wonderin if i should move it over.
Thanx
PumaWard
10-13-2003, 7:12 AM
From everything I have read... stay away from a chinese algae eater... they seem to be rather evil... (killing machines).
For bottom feeders, I would look into some larger catfish varieties. I'm not sure of species though.
Dangerdoll
10-13-2003, 8:56 AM
what size tank are you talking about?
josh_69
10-14-2003, 5:08 AM
im talkin about a fairly large tank
How about plecos? There're so many species to choose from that you can slowly take your pick! :D
valerie
10-14-2003, 12:45 PM
What exactly is a fairly large tank?
josh_69
10-15-2003, 6:05 AM
a 100 gallon tank but i dont want overly big bottom feeders
clayt101
10-15-2003, 7:32 PM
I really don't know about the fish that you have, but I do know that clown loaches really need to be kept in groups of at least 3. They really like to stay together and be next to each other while sleeping. Although they don't eat algae, I would go ahead and get 2 more of them. I must admit, though, I don't know if they mix well with your other fish.
josh_69
10-16-2003, 5:25 AM
so do u guyz think that the pleco would be the way to go or would it get too harassed by the other fish and still just get the chinese algae eater instead because it can stick up for itself????????????
Thanx
valerie
10-16-2003, 12:04 PM
anythign you get that is small enough to fit into the oscars mouth will be eaten. If you want a pleco you would have to get an already large common. But i don't think that is such a good idea since you already have IMO too many fish for that tank and adding another fish that big enough not to get eaten will not help things.
Buy an algae magnet or a razor blade to clean the algae.
I agree with valerie. You have too many fish in your tank, and if they aren't big already, they will be.
But, if you're looking for a bottom feeder, I would go with a pleco. they can put up with quite a bit. And it would have to be a larger one.
Lynsey
10-26-2003, 1:35 AM
Yeah, I agree. You already have quiet a few fish in your tank. I think that the best bottom feeder would be a gravel vac. I use some stuff called "Phosguard" by Seachem in my tank. I put some in a filter bag and stick it in one of the compartments of my Fluval. It lasts for like 3 months. It absorbs the phosphates in the water (which is what algae feeds on) so there is a significantly less amount of algae growth. And with thoes fish, you won't be able to have live plants, so you won't need to have strong lighting. I have virtually no algae growth in my Oscar tank. My Oscar lives with 5 giant danios in his 75 gallon tank. I never really found a bottom feeder that worked (or any other tankmate, so I gave up). My Oscar picked on everything. You would have to get something rather large so it wouldn't get picked on, and then you are really going to be overcrowding you tank.
This is just what I have learned from my Oscar experience, hope it helps.
You could possibly go with a large snail... couldn't you?