Stocking?

[mattbond]

i have a juwel rekord 800 (110 litres approx) and i have a sand substrate
although i like the look of the sand, i find it has a major drawback, fish waste just seems to sit there and not go away
i also have to scrape the front and sides because algae tends to build up because of high lighting

can i get/should i get some more fish to naturally help with this problem, i currently have:
4 sunset platies
11 small neon tetras
1 ancistrus
3 peppered cories
5 bentosi tetras
2 kribensis (ask me for info on these if necessary)
3 clown loaches

i was thinking about 2 adolf cories and some ottocinclus, but sugestions are welcome?

 

[Truck]

well for starters, 3 CLOWN LOACHES! they need a massive tank they can grow to about a foot

 

[Declan]

i have a juwel rekord 800 (110 litres approx) and i have a sand substrate
although i like the look of the sand, i find it has a major drawback, fish waste just seems to sit there and not go away
i also have to scrape the front and sides because algae tends to build up because of high lighting

can i get/should i get some more fish to naturally help with this problem, i currently have:
4 sunset platies
11 small neon tetras
1 ancistrus
3 peppered cories
5 bentosi tetras
2 kribensis (ask me for info on these if necessary)
3 clown loaches

i was thinking about 2 adolf cories and some ottocinclus, but sugestions are welcome?

To be honest mate, I cant really help you with the stocking, however, I would rehome those Clown Loaches pretty soon. They grow very, very big, especially in a small tank like yours.

HTH.

D.

[Didn't realise truck was posting at the same time]

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I use a gravel syphon cleaner and swirl it above the sand about half inch or so. Once the undesirable begins to float it gets picked up by the gravel cleaner. It's tricky but worth it,i wouldnt go back to gravel myself. Trucks right about the loaches -they will get very big.

Adolpho cories will be fine, i have 2 in a colony of cories-see my profile for other cory friends.

 

[mattbond]

clown loaches are a temporary thing, iv heard they get big and they dont like my strong lighting either, so they are being rehomed to a 5 foot soon

what fish would you reccomend to alleviate the problems? i dont want to overstock

p.s. the kribensis are more placid than what i hve heard, and they appear to be breeding

 

[Truck]

personally id say your fully stocked and i wouldnt add anything else

 

[mattbond]

personally id say your fully stocked and i wouldnt add anything else

iv heard that ottos and kuhlis would add a significant amount to the bioload? i literally want some cleaners?

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Its best to treat the source of the algae and then use fish or shrimps to tidy up whats left. Excessive sunlight on your tank can increase algae rapidly. Cutting that down will help as will the time your aquarium lights are on. You could stagger the time that the lights are on -maybe 9 until 2,then off and back on again at 4 unitl later in the evening. This can help. Also waste food not eaten will promote algae growth by decomposing, so try feeding slightly less. I would avoid chemicals to rid your tank of algae . Amano shrimps will munch through lots of algae and will not load up your bio load . They can clear lots in one evening. I would say though do not buy the chinese algae eater. They are only interested in algae whilst small and get territorial when older except in very large tanks. They will bully your other fish too.

 

[Truck]

ottos dont add much bio wise, but think of the space the fish will apreciate, you may be better of with an apple snail to eat detrius

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Khulis will not each much.

 

[mattbond]

Khulis will not each much.

i would get shrimp or snails to help clean, but i worry about the clown loaches, any snails that i have had before were promtly eaten and shells arrange in a neat little stack in the corner
would the shrimps be able to avoid the clowns, there is plenty of plants in there:
amazon swords
twisted and regular vallis
java moss
riccia,
and some other stuff i cant identify

 

[Truck]

chances are the loaches will have the shrimps aswell

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Cant answer that guy,i've never had clown loaches. The shrimp are very quick though and they will bully small fish out of the way to get the food they want. My cherry shrimps dart really quick when you try to touch them .

 

[mattbond]

how long do they live and do they breed well, id like to have a self sustaining population

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Shrimps?