View Full Version : Looking for a cleaning fish
Random13
02-12-2004, 4:20 PM
Any suggestions on a fish to cleanup a 10gal tank? I currently have mollys and some cherry barbs.
OrionGirl
02-12-2004, 4:33 PM
What are you looking to have cleaned up?
Random13
02-12-2004, 4:39 PM
I'm just looking for a bottom feeder to help keep the tank clean. I'm not targeting anything special.
Wippit Guud
02-12-2004, 4:44 PM
A trio of cories, perhaps. The smaller ones.
OrionGirl
02-12-2004, 4:44 PM
Ghost shrimp would probably be your best choice, then. They add little to the bio load unlike many common cleaners, can get food particles out of the substrate easily, are cheap, and will eat a variety of foods--clean up from the other fish, undigested foods, and even a bit of algae. A herd or 8 or 9 will be fine, just make sure they have some nice hidey-holes to escape from the fish during their molt. Your fish may be a little attentive at first, but shouldn't cause any problems.
Random13
02-12-2004, 5:00 PM
That's fantastic. I'll give the ghost shrimp a try.
Thanks much!
Pardon me for butting in, but had a followup question in regards to bioload. You mentioned, OrionGirl, that the ghost shrimp add little to the bioload. What about small cory's like Albino's or Panda's? Would you count them as "regular" fish?
I am considering 3 of one of these cory's as well as either Platy's or Serpae Tetra's (5 total of one of these). What do you think?
Chad
I USE ALBINO CATFISH AND PLECOS IN ALL OF MY TANKS. THEYRE GREAT!
lostris
02-14-2004, 8:21 AM
I have 2 pakistan (yo yo) loaches in my 11 gal @ d moment, I had a snail infestation they cleared it up in 2 days.
What I am asking though is whether the Cory's add to the bioload of the tank? If I put in 5 Serpae Tetra's, 3 Panda Cory's, and several Oto's into a 10g tank, will it be too much?
Chad
Aquarius0015
02-15-2004, 1:41 PM
Yes, cories do "count" as regular fish and will add to the bioload.
As to the question of overstocking, that depends on a lot of things: surface area, filtration, frequency of water changes, etc. But most likey the answer will be yes, you probably will be overstocked.
1tankneverenuff
02-15-2004, 1:56 PM
My Featherfin Synodontis is an excellent bottom feeder for me...
Aquarius,
Thank you for answering that question. I'm glad I asked because I have been told that bottom feeders do NOT count in the bioload. My tank is a standard 10g. I haven't bought the rest of the gear or fish so maybe will lessen the amount of tetra's to 4 or be very diligent in changing the water. 25-30% weekly should do it, yes??
Chad
daveedka
02-15-2004, 6:50 PM
Chad,
I have also been told at times that Bottom feeders don't add to the bio load, This of course is an incorrect statement, and as near as I can tell this is where the confusion comes from. There are many aspects of bio-load, one of which is Oxygen level in the water. This is where the surface area calculations for stocking come into play. The greater the surface area, the better the gas exchange, of course there are many other factors that play in as well but surface area is significant. Bottom feeders are often considered exemt when figureing stocking based on surface area, this may be at least in part accurate, because they tend to live in the less oxygenated areas of most tanks and are less demanding of high oxygen levels. They still contribute waste which adds to the ammonia cycle, therefore they do ahve a true effect on the total bio-load. In the case of ghost shrimp, they truly do have an effect as well, but they produce smaller amounts of waste than a fish so you can stock many more of them and have equal or less effect. As far as the bottom feeders, My recommendation is pick out two or three that you like the looks of and then see which one fits your tank specs the best. I like Pictus cats, but I've been told they like to eat Tetra's
That totally makes sense to me. I was going ask just what determines bioload! If they (Panda Cory's) do not overcrowd anything really, and do not take up extra oxygen, then the other effect will be ammonia which can be taken care of easily with water changes.
Think what I will do is just keep a closer eye on the ammonia levels after I get the tank cycled and put fish in, and see what kind of difference it makes and adjust the water changes.
I think I'll go with:
5 Serpae Tetra
3 Panda Cory's
4 Oto's
handful of shrimp
ibanez1689
02-16-2004, 12:05 AM
I use Plecos in my 10 gal. They keep it pretty clean. there pretty cheap too.
Aquarius0015
02-16-2004, 9:02 AM
Except common plecos get to be 18". Try again.
Ghost shrimp or 3 cories is about the best "bottom feeder" for a 10 gallon. Of course Cories are fish and you do need to feed them more than left over fish flakes that drift to the bottom. Get them some sinking pellets to help them along.
And plecos make more waste then they could ever make up for. They are poop machines.
Captain Hook
02-16-2004, 11:36 AM
Chad I would cut the number of ottos in half at least. For a 10 gallon you don't need more than 1 or 2.
Cap'n, thanks for the advice! That's good to know! How many shrimp do you think? Will the Serpae's eat them? Will they eat the algae off fake plants? I plan on using fake for now until I have a handle on the fish stuff and can spend the money on C02, fertilizer, and so on to do it right.
TKOS, thanks to you too. I had already planned on buying some. How many at one time (pellets) would I need to drop for 3 cory's?
Thanks!
Chad
Must4ng s4lly
02-16-2004, 12:25 PM
Chad you should be OK with what you have planned.... If you are really worried, get some plants. They help with the bioload amazingly! I have four cories, 2 swords (about 20 half grown fry that need a home), shrimp.
This tank is overloaded, but is heavily planted and gets water changes of 50% every two weeks....
I would stick with what you got and watch the fish everyday. That is the key so you can nip any developing problems in the bud!
Good Luck!
PS! I forgot! I have four otos and a small rubber mouth plec. Took back the common pleco that was 6 inches....
Thanks Sally for your help, and everybody else too! Now, if that dang IRS check would get here.... :D
I generally drop in 1 tablet for every three cories. They still get some extra flakes as well. This seems to keep them healthy and happy. Occasionally I also get some frozen treats and drop that in for the guys. They love it.