Detritus Cleanup

[AntmanMike]

Hello,

I have a heavily planted 29 gallon freshwater tank, with the following in it (yes, -slightly- overstocked):

2 Otocinclus
1 Flying Fox
4 Rosey Barbs
2 Pakistani (Yoyo) Loaches
2 Clown Loaches

Now, when I feed the fish, they are ravenous. They rip apart the flakes. When they are done, there are many small flakes that land on the surface. Is there anything I can get that will eat that? I had Ghost shrimp for a time, but the Pakistanis ate them up in about 2 weeks.

 

[snakeskinner]

are you sure the scraps are remaining? I would think between all the fish you have, they would be cleaned up. all those fish you have in there will pick off the bottom except maybe the oto. if those aren't, cories will for sure or add some type of plant friendly snails maybe. Kyle

 

[geoffgarcia]

since its heavily planted it might be to much for the fish to find all the scraps...
perhaps its time to move away from flake food? and go to pellets or small bits that wont break apart so much?

 

[Sponge Bob]

That's what I would do. Pellets are less messy anyway... as long as you don't overfeed.

SB

 

[AntmanMike]

The Clowns don't like the pellets. They only go after algae wafers and flakes (they prefer flakes). I only have one snail in the tank, he only survived because of his size... anything smaller and one of the loaches would get him.

Are there any shrimp that the Loaches won't eat?

Note: I won't get Cories, since I decided early on to go with Loaches instead.

Might it be OK to add some sand to the tank, something for the scraps to land on? I know Loaches like sand for digging into...