Best cleaning fish...

[enrique4jc]

Okay, so I recently got rid of the 3 CAE's from my 29-gallon tank, as they were getting too agressive and I was warned it would only get worse. I would like to replace them with something else to help keep the tank nice and clean. I've thought about finding some SAE's, Oto Cats, or just a good school of Cories. What would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[Brett]

I would go with a bristle nose pleco, or a group of otos. Also, your cory would be alot happier and more interesting with a couple of companions. That's my 2 cents.

Just remember! Only YOU can keep your tank "nice and clean"! :joke:

 

[Atomix-MFK]

ottos are the best. But you'll need to throw a plant in the tank for them to graze on once they get done cleaning the tank. Get one or two ottos and then gut a buddy or three for your cory cat. They really do much better in groups.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

Otocinclus

 

[liv2padl]

the absolute best cleaning fish is a scrubee held in a hand which is connected to an arm. far better when used weekly, then any fish. see, you feed the hand but it doesn't deposit any poop in your tank and thus it doesn't add to the bioload in your tank.

 

[J double R]

yeah but when the hand comes out of hiding, it terrifies all the other fish....:dance2:

 

[Squawkbert]

My pond & MT snails are doing a better job than my Otos, but the Otos are seriously out numbered.

 

[Twill]

My pond & MT snails are doing a better job than my Otos, but the Otos are seriously out numbered.

My MTS and pond snails are wonderful at keeping my tank clean. I try to keep a healthy level of nitrates in my tank for my plants to absorb, so it's a balancing act between feeding the right amount and having it cleaned up too quickly, 'overfeeding' just the right amount, and overfeeding too much.

I have a trio of emerald cories and 5 ghost shrimp that also do a wonderful job of cleaning up. I keep them well-fed with shrimp pellets.

Be aware of what kind of clean-up you need. I have never kept otos, but I have read that they eat only algae, not detritus (poop, uneaten food, etc.). I should think that a mix of cories and otos would be a well-rounded clean-up crew.

 

[Brett]

Be aware of what kind of clean-up you need. I have never kept otos, but I have read that they eat only algae, not detritus (poop, uneaten food, etc.). I should think that a mix of cories and otos would be a well-rounded clean-up crew.

enrique4jc,

Please understand that you will not find any fish that eats poop. Only the gravel vac will "eat" poop.

Good luck!
Brett

 

[enrique4jc]

I would go with a bristle nose pleco, or a group of otos. Also, your cory would be alot happier and more interesting with a couple of companions. That's my 2 cents.

Just remember! Only YOU can keep your tank "nice and clean"!

the absolute best cleaning fish is a scrubee held in a hand which is connected to an arm. far better when used weekly, then any fish. see, you feed the hand but it doesn't deposit any poop in your tank and thus it doesn't add to the bioload in your tank.

enrique4jc,

Please understand that you will not find any fish that eats poop. Only the gravel vac will "eat" poop.

Good luck!
Brett

Just to clarify, I clean my tank with my own non-pooping, non-bioload producing hand, have a mag float for the glass, and gravel vac on a regular basis. I do a 50% water change every week with a Python and vacuum all the gravel in the process. I'm just looking for something to help keep it cleaned up a little bit between vacuumings, and specifically to keep algae off the plastic plants and other decor in the tank. Having cories to clean up excess food from the bottom, and otos to clean the algae off the stuff will, to the best of my knowledge, lead to a much better water quality overall and so a much healtier and happier aquarium environment. Am I wrong?

I'm not looking for an excuse not to do anything. I enjoy taking care of things. I'm just looking for some input about what pretty much everybody else in aquaria does! Can't blame a guy for trying to learn a little something can you?