choosing the right bottomfeeder

malken

malken

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Aug 31, 2003
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I have a heavily planted 30 gal tank with a 5" senegal bichir.

I can't gravel vac very effectively because i'm using TMS as substrate and I have alot of plants that tend to get in the way.

I'm looking for a bottomfeeder to help maintain the floor of my tank. I was thinking of maby a small squad of full sized corys but I'm concerned that they might get eaten when my bichir is big enough. I'm currently using ghost shrimp. they do a good job and helikes having them around but the only place I can get them for a reasonable price is about thirty miles away and I don't like having to restock every couple of weeks.

Ay suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
How about Loaches?? Some get big enough (clown, ect).
 
no matter what you're still going to have to vaccum to get rid of the fish poo. i don't think there are any fish that will help you out there, they'll only eat the leftover food that settles on the bottom. i don't think it's a good idea to use fish to clean, simply because
1. they won't
2. you will have to feed them their own food because leftovers won't be enough and
3. they're just going to add to the bioload and make more waste that you will have to clean.
 
I don't object to cleaning, I just want something to sift through the stuff at the bottom. Bioload isn't a concern for me. My nitrates are at zero since I stopped supplementing it.
 
i didn't think of that, letting the fish stir it up into the water so the filter can catch it.

proceed. . .
 
one of my friends has a pond sans fish so I decided to go with a small white tipped catfish and when it gets too big I can give him a suitable home.
 
I'm a little concerned because he's kinda going out of his way to bother my senegal. The senegal doesn't see him as prey at all. I'm basing that on the fact that he's still alive.

I've only seen him near the bottom once sicne I got him yesterday. I plan on supplementing him with algae wafers. Is that ok, I've never had a catfish before.
 
I would have liked to go with clown loaches but I wasn't so sure about being able to find them a good home when they get too big.
 
malken said:
I would have liked to go with clown loaches but I wasn't so sure about being able to find them a good home when they get too big.
Click to expand...

There are other not so big Botias.
 
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