OK, my thoughts have been pretty spastic on this area over the past week or so, but Im trying to decide what kind of bottom feeders to get for my tank. it's 46 gallons and has 11 tiger barbs in it. my original choices were cories or yo-yo loaches, and I thought i wanted cories but then realized my substrate isnt really right for them, and ill probably start up another tank later on to put cories in (something a little more peaceful than the tigers...). is this the right move? what else can go in there with the tiger barbs? are there any particular catfish species that would do well in a tank that size with its current stocking level? argh, this is driving me NUTS!
suggestions for bottom feeders...
- Thread starter NowherMan6
- Start date
oh oh!!! Go with the Yo Yo's! I have a couple and I LOVE them. They are active almost all the time and do a bang up job of cleaning! They get rather playful with each other too. During feeding time when they all get bloodworms, the Yo Yo's will rarely stay at the bottom; they swim to midwater and compete with the raspboras.
Some of the dwarf plecos would be okay, like bristlenose. Loaches should be fine as long as they are the smaller ones like yoyo's. Perhaps a smaller pictus. Some of those get to be about 4 inches so the tigers shouldn't be a problem there.
hehe, yeah see... last week I was on my big yo-yo kick. how many would be ok in the tank, 3-4 or less? and would it be ok to add a few ottos, my algae is starting to go nuts, especially on my anubias
NowherMan6 said:
3-4 should be fine, they don't get that big. As I said though, mine are rather active and the two of them do a fine job between them, so if you get that many just be sure there is enough to eat. I haven't had much of an algae bloom (knock knock) but I don't believe they would have a taste for it anyway. Mine pretty well ignore sinking pellets and such, much preferring fresh or frozen worms and brine. I might recommend 3 Yo Yo's and a couple of ottos if you like.
Again, I have to say these little boogers are fun to watch!
Seaman
Shrimp gumbo, shrimp salad etc...
depending on the type of algae the ottos may or may not work well, if its brown algae they love it, if its green or bba then try and get some SAE's, or a bristlenose pleco <--they are GREAT, but sometimes like a little munch on a plant. Also if the tank is peaceful enough then you could do a bunch of amano shrimp.
it looks pretty brown to me, but im really no expert. as for my tank being peaceful, I have 11 tiger barbs.. not exactly the most tranquil bunch, but will they attack shrimp, i dont know...
This is "brown algae"
The rock in the corner is supposed to be an off white color. It is completely covered with algae. If you look closely, you will also notice some of the rocks on the bottom has a lil of it as well. My lil Otto Cat has alot of the white showing again. He's a trooper.
BROWN ALGAE PIC
The rock in the corner is supposed to be an off white color. It is completely covered with algae. If you look closely, you will also notice some of the rocks on the bottom has a lil of it as well. My lil Otto Cat has alot of the white showing again. He's a trooper.
BROWN ALGAE PIC
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yes, that's exactly the color! i guess that settles that then... i dont mind it so much on the rocks in my tank, but it's quite ugly on the anubias leaves and the crypts...
as for bottom feeders, im going to go with 3 yo-yo loaches and 3 ottos. i know, with the 11 tiger barbs i run the risk of over stocking, but i plan on moving them eventually anyway, and i figure i'll have a year or so until they fully grow, so they'll be alright for now.
but before i get a bigger tank for them, im already planning a smaller tank - 10 gallons - that will be just for a little school of cories...
they're just too hard to resist! thanks for the advice everyone!
as for bottom feeders, im going to go with 3 yo-yo loaches and 3 ottos. i know, with the 11 tiger barbs i run the risk of over stocking, but i plan on moving them eventually anyway, and i figure i'll have a year or so until they fully grow, so they'll be alright for now.
but before i get a bigger tank for them, im already planning a smaller tank - 10 gallons - that will be just for a little school of cories...
they're just too hard to resist! thanks for the advice everyone!