A Dream Ground/algae Crew For 60 Gallon Tank.

[karin]

Getting close to the end of my cycle on a 60 US gallon tank. ( 48inch x 12 inch (width) x 24 inch height) I want to get 3 dwarf cichlids (m,2f) and 8 congo tetras for certain.

I want an interesting ground crew so to speak. Given the rather significant natural light around this tank, I may need some great algae eating type.

Options:

1. I could move my albino and bronze cories (4 total) over from another tank and build their numbers and combine them with others?

2. I could leave the corys at the office (other tank) and go for something new.... really like pictus cats, get 2 and combine with?

3. Are a school of ottos the best I could do? Can't seem to find them at the stores however.

4. What about a wild combination like shrimp, snails, and cats? Recommendations?

Numbers would be helpful too as my other tank, 29 gallons (surface area 12 inch x 30 inch) , seems crowded on the ground floor with 2 bolivian rams, four corys (one is over 2 inches long- grandpa).

Thanks everyone.

 

[bricko]

Depending on the cichlids you are getting a good few amano shrimp and nerite snails will help keep algae at bay.

Also bristlenose plecs are a good addition but can get a little territorial, especially amongst themselves.

 

[kaivalagi]

Also bristlenose plecs are a good addition but can get a little territorial, especially amongst themselves.

+1 for a Bristlenose Plec, I have 4 medium sized CA/SA cichlids co-existing just fine with my Bristlenose. He can stand up for himself and is around the tank all the time...gotta love the whiskers on him too...he's still a juvi and has a serious tash

I have also heard good things about Malaysian Trumpet Snails (MTS) when it comes to algae cleaning, might be worth taking a look at those?

I also have 3 Oto which are doing fine (4 months in the tank now) but they don't seem to tackle much in the way of algae, my solitary big Amano shrimp doesn't do much either from what I've seen...maybe with some moonlight LEDs I'll be able to see what he gets up to late in the night, if anything.

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

I have three BN plecs in a 165 Litre They get on okay - as long as they have places to hide away from each other. May have gone a bit overboard as a newbie but they was buy two get one free How could I resist? They don't half poop alot though. My blue apple snails sometimes eat the poop (which is just gross!) The snails shift a lot of algae and don't eat the plants - but they do dislodge them sometimes

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

[
I also have 3 Oto which are doing fine (4 months in the tank now) but they don't seem to tackle much in the way of algae, my solitary big Amano shrimp doesn't do much either from what I've seen...maybe with some moonlight LEDs I'll be able to see what he gets up to late in the night, if anything.

Like the sound of the moonlights... I often watch with just the UV light on at night - the cherry shrimp glow like they are radioactive!

 

[kaivalagi]

[
I also have 3 Oto which are doing fine (4 months in the tank now) but they don't seem to tackle much in the way of algae, my solitary big Amano shrimp doesn't do much either from what I've seen...maybe with some moonlight LEDs I'll be able to see what he gets up to late in the night, if anything.

Like the sound of the moonlights... I often watch with just the UV light on at night - the cherry shrimp glow like they are radioactive!

I must get some UV LEDs

I have a project on the go right now to handle nice fading for LED lighting, to supplement the main tubes and for night time too. It's still very much early days and anything could change: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/324189-secondary-led-lighting-circuit-project/