Need Clean Up Crew

[ARXC08]

I really need a clean up crew to clean off my sand. What i have in my tank now are 2 angels, 7 cardinal tetras, 3 golden wonder killis, a pair of rams, and a red tailed black shark in a heavily planted 40 gallon. So what are my option for a good clean up crew?

 

[Sunny.C]

Put in a bristle nose, what do you need to clean up?

 

[IovaykInD]

Did you try gravel vaccing? All you have to do is hold it a little off and the leftover food/poop will be picked up but not the sand.

 

[ARXC08]

Did you try gravel vaccing? All you have to do is hold it a little off and the leftover food/poop will be picked up but not the sand.

I do use a gravel vaccum but its hard to get around all of my plants and bogwood to do a good job. I would like a bristlenose but they don't seem to sell any by me. I wish i could just get a normal pleco but it would definetly out grow my tank.

 

[Vegan Peaches]

I have quite a few cories, and they eat all the food that my other fish miss. They wont eat rotting food, though, so they will only be a good "clean up crew" for messes after they are introduced to your tank, if that made any sense.

 

[ARXC08]

I was think about cories but i wasn't sure cuz my red tailed black shark is terriorial about the bottom part of the tank, so i was kinda worried they would get killed. Any other suggestions?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ARXC08

Corys are not the fish for that tank. They have their own dietary requirements and will not thrive on leftovers from other fish's meals. Also, they need very clean living conditions on the bottom or they are prone to come down with bacterial infections.

 

[Mr.September15]

I had the same problem, but luckly inchworm taught me how to use a siphon. It works great and it feels so rewarding after you done. )

-Arrowhead

 

[Teelie]

Also, Bristlenoses like most plecs, can produce a lot of waste on their own as they're big time vegetable eaters and need a lot of roughage in their diet.

 

[osteoporoosi]

How about Malaysian trumpet snails, if you have fine sand? they seem to stirr my sand up and eat all the leftovers.

 

[Teelie]

Only one down side to trumpets: They are live bearing, fast reproducing snails.

 

[sylvia]

Feed less and keep up with the gravel vacs. You shouldn't need a 'clean-up crew' if you are careful. The shark should also scavenge a few of the leftovers off the bottom. I would suggest a small group of loaches, especialy as you have sand, but the shark may not appreciate them - though some kuhlies could work.

edit: spelling as usual