The most efficient bottom-feeder

[Rbishop]

Cory.....

 

[Reddog80p]

Cories if you want to actually see some action. A Bristlenose pleco, clown pleco would also fit in there although they wouldn't be nearly as active as the cories. The clown pleco requires driftwood for his diet.

 

[tony7914]

Cory cats are a good choice, they don't get very large and they do a good job of getting what the others might miss and you tend to see them out and about a lot more than a common pleco.

 

[jaylin]

Corries are just cool little fish. I'd say go with the corries.

 

[gmh]

An SAE would be a good scavenger as well as a prolific algae eater. Cories are more fun though.

 

[NorCalAl]

Bristlenose plecs are great for bottom duty. Rarely bug other fish and you'll even see them occasionally - like running for cover when you turn the lights on!

 

[johnpeezy]

L204 and a stick(bogwood)

 

[sandsea]

in answer to your actual question, i have 1 or 2 shrimp or 1 or 2 spixi snails (or even one ram snail in every tank.) I NEVER FEED THEM EXTRA, THEY EAT THE TINY BITS THAT SEEM TO FLY OUT OF EVERYONE ELSES MOUTH i was told that my Jack Dempsey would kill my large fancy snails, so i added the smaller spixi (just one) in the jack tank. it buries itself too, hahha. anyway the snail and a few shrimp have been living with the jack for a longgggg time and they eat any algae or mouth spew. plus they are small
or I love one guppy in a tank. they pick pick pick at algae and leftovers, if there are any, or one Molly does the same thing. a Molly will pick ALL DAYYYYYY at algae that you can barely see, they are CUTE and they love algae

 

[petluvr]

An SAE would be a good scavenger as well as a prolific algae eater. Cories are more fun though.

And let me know if you find one or three