are koi's good at keeping tanks clean?

[fishpro]

wondering if swtiching out my pleco's for koi would be a good idea or not

 

[dmopar74]

no, koi are filthy as all hell.

 

[jcardona1]

that would be a terrible idea. you're supposed to keep the tank clean, not your fish.

 

[knifegill]

Fish make tanks messy. We clean them. There are no reliable poop-eating fish, and even the few known to do so need more food so survive anyway. A koi would need a good 500 gallon tank to get by, bigger is better.

 

[philfreenode]

koi grow too big so they have to go in ponds

 

[fishpro]

thanks i just got a gravel vaccum i worked great i knew i had to clean the tank but i was jw if there i was a fish that could help but no worries thanks guys

 

[fisher12889]

thanks i just got a gravel vaccum i worked great i knew i had to clean the tank but i was jw if there i was a fish that could help but no worries thanks guys

ANY fish you add to the tank will add waste. I don't think any fish eats poop, although some people have the misconception that catfish and carp do.

 

[knifegill]

My raphael catfish eat my oscar's poop, and a recent thread discusses many other fish engaging in coprophagy. However, those fish in turn cannot live solely on predigested material and will need a balanced diet outside of their peculiar snacking habits, thus adding to the bioload.

Is you tank cycled, fish pro? Have you tested for ammonia?

 

[studd muffin]

no, koi are filthy as all hell.