Planted Tank And Poop.

[iceprizm]

I have a 55g planted tank. I just added fish and am amazed at the amount of poop the fish drop on the substrate. I tried vacuuming but between the eco-complete and the closeness of plants i couldnt get it all. 8 hours later and it was like i never vacuumed at all.

-how does everyone else deal with fish poop?

i read you can just leave it but it sticks out and is an eye sore against the black eco-complete.

-If left how long does it take to break down?
I am so disappointed my tank looks like crap now.

Stocking:
11 platy
12 c. pygmaeus
2 oto

 

[aaronnorth]

when vacumming next time, wave your hand and bring the crap up while siohoning. I am not sure how long it takes to break down but it isn't quick! It will fall into the substrate and provide nutrients.

 

[lljdma06]

11 platy
12 c. pygmaeus
2 oto

With this stocking I'm not surprised you actually see poop! Even in a tank as large as yours. Imagine my 8g! Platies are terrible poopers. I keep them as well and not a day goes by when I don't see something dangling from all of them. Even the fry can make some poop that would make a grown man cry. Otos and pygmaeus aren't so delicate either when fed well, especially the big females.

I usually just leave it (very easy to do with natural-colored substrate) and let the plants do their work, or like aaronnorth says, wave your hand and suck it up when you vacumn.



Think of it as free fertiliser.

 

[iceprizm]

maybe the platys were a bad decision on that front. funny the ones i have now dont eat like the others ive had in the past. they would go into a feeding frenzy, and those never pooped that much. now i have ones that dont eat much and they poop constantly. go figure.