What A Good "clean Up" Fish?

[Milezone]

Hi Gang,

Currently working on setting up our new 28 gallon tank and will be adding lots of plants and rocks (fake plants for now). I would like to know what is a good fish to help keep the bottom of tank clean, and plants clean?

Stock that will go to new tank (from our 20 gallon) is....

3 - Fancy Guppies (2 Female/1 Male)
6 - Neon Tetra
6 - Zebra Danio
1 - Chinese Algae Eater
1 - Marble Molly (Not sure the name on that one)

Thanks

Milezone

 

[zaman]

well hi,
for me Apple snails are ok.

 

[lozronz]

Shrimp?

 

[QuotheRaven]

Loaches are always rumaging around for food which might help with the bottom of the tank

 

[Lynz781]

Cories are always rumaging the tank floor or any surface for that matter, for left over food.

 

[postmanpaul]

Shrimp
they will also clean up dead fish

 

[sylvia]

There is no such thing as a 'clean up fish'. All fish produce waste and all fish need extra feeding - you cannot simply expect them to scavenge leftovers (of which there shouldn't realy be any anyway ).

BTW, your tank is (or soon will be) over-stocked. I appreciate you are moving these fish - but even then, you will be fully stocked. That's mainly because of the chinese algae eater (not chinese, and don't algae beyond a certain age - whereupon they become carnivorous and will eat small fish and suck on slime coats). They grow to 10" and are highly territorial once mature. This is obviously a concern if you are considering adding mroe fish (and, of course, a problem for your existing fish!).

I would go for cories or dwarf chained loaches as bottom-feeders (though not 'cleaner-uppers' ). Shrimp, also, are lovely little things - shockingly active - and will eat dead/rotting leaves as well as leftovers. they aren't too bad when it comes to waste production either. Take a look here: http/www.petshrimp.com for some of the common varieties (amano/ghost and cherry are probably the most well-known) and for info on caring for them.

 

[Milezone]

Thanks guys for the tips. BTW I just added my last fish for awhile in the tanks......


3 - Guppies
6 - Neon Tetra
6 - Black Widow Tetra
6 - Zebra Danios
1 - Marble Molly
1 - Chinese Algae Eater

All very small and if they start to grow will add new tank in future.

Milezone