Advice on fish to clean gravel

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emmaS

AC Members
Nov 6, 2006
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Hi. My pleco is very good about eating the algae--he/she is always sucking away at the glass, but that leaves the leftover flakes and debris from the gravel. Is there a fish (friendly fish) who can live peacefully w/ tetras, not grow too large, live by itself and who will eat up the fallen fish food and help clean the tank?

Thanks!
 
a spotted rapheal , they are cool just need a hiding place . the drawback is they hide all the time
 
Corydoras cats are an all-around favorite for this.

Just remember not to fall for the local fish-store line where they tell you that they can do just fine on scavenged food from the gravel. None of these "cleanup" fish can thrive on leftovers. Just before lights out, drop in some food, like Hikari Tropical Sinking Wafers.

I've got some False Siamensis that do the same job, but they are getting as fat as small vienna sausages, and they are way too active. I'd rather have some real SAE's for algae, and Cory's to do the cleanup. As it is, these False SAE's tend to do both.

v/r, N-A
 
^^^^^ I don't like the idea of cories, because emma says that she only wants to keep one... and cories, of course, do best in small groups. But I don't have any suggestions as to what would work.
 
If there's plenty of uneaten food on the gravel then you're probably overfeeding your fish. The best way to take them out is a good gravel vac.
 
gravel vacs are the best way to get rid of detirius on the bottom of the tank, and bottom feeders should have a supplemented diet just like the rest of the fish. they should not have to eat leftovers or fish crud their whole lives.

if there is lots of excess food on the bottom of the tank you are probably overfeeding your fish, so try feeding a little less and do a good gravel vac.
 
Look into adding shrimp to the tank like ghost shrimp. They will pick through detritus and left over food.

Fish should be given a healthy diet as has been mentioned. Non will do well long term on left overs.
 
Sucking loach, best in 2s or more, will clean the glass and plants and will go down to the gravel.

the other option is a Berdemore's loach but can be a fin nipper and quite large and mine only calmed down once it was nipped at by my african knife fish
 
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