Help with tank cleaners.

[Drewz12000]

Mods please move this if there is a more suitable area for this thread.

My current set up is a 200L tank(cant member measurements off top of my head). Use an Eheim cannister filter(rated for up to 600L), standard air blower to put some oxygen in the tank, heater etc.

My fish are 3x Clown Loaches, 3x Angel Fish, 6x Neons and 2x shark type things(not sure, there rather small though, 2inch maybe).

My water generally keeps very clean, filter does a great job. If i empty out little bit less than half water once a fortnight everything keeps very well. I dont know a heap about nitrates and ph levels etc, i am fairly new to all this. But from the tests I do and what the little knowledge i know everthing seems to be pretty well. And my fish always seem happy.

However, I have 8 or so plants that I have along the sides and back of the tank. These grow quite rapidly and I end up cutting them back at every water change. Behind and next to where these plants are I get a pretty big build up of what I assume is algae. The litlte sharks, and sometimes clown loach go along and feed off of it, but they dont really clean up much of it.

Im basically wondering what some of you experts would reccommend in the way of adding some bottom dwellers, or inveterbrates etc etc to help with minimising this build up. Something that really likes to feed off this kinda stuff.

Im in australia, not sure what is easily available. But any reccommendation would be great.

Not sure if it really matters, but tank has been running strongly for nearly 6months now.

Thanks a heap.

 

[Drewz12000]

Oops, should also add I have very good lighting. Will get the details of it when i get home.

 

[redm18]

The best solution to algae problems is to find out what is causing the algae and fix it. In your case it maybe you have your light on to long. It could be you have a build up of nitrates and or phosphates in your tank. You also could just let the algae go. It does not sound like its really obstructing the view of your tank, it won't hurt anyone in your tank and in fact gives your fish something to graze on. Your third option is to clean the algae of your self either with one of those floating magnet cleaners or just plain scrubbing. If you want an animal to clean it you could go with a bushy nose pleco though I think it hard to get most kinds of plecos in you area. The problem with the pleco is though it does clean algae they have there own problems mostly they are poop machines. You will have to clean that up instead of the algae. The fourth option and maybe the best is to buy a uv sterilizer. They are kind of expensive but I hear they work great at controlling algae blooms and also kill a lot of common diseases.

 

[Drewz12000]

The best solution to algae problems is to find out what is causing the algae and fix it. In your case it maybe you have your light on to long. It could be you have a build up of nitrates and or phosphates in your tank. You also could just let the algae go. It does not sound like its really obstructing the view of your tank, it won't hurt anyone in your tank and in fact gives your fish something to graze on. Your third option is to clean the algae of your self either with one of those floating magnet cleaners or just plain scrubbing. If you want an animal to clean it you could go with a bushy nose pleco though I think it hard to get most kinds of plecos in you area. The problem with the pleco is though it does clean algae they have there own problems mostly they are poop machines. You will have to clean that up instead of the algae. The fourth option and maybe the best is to buy a uv sterilizer. They are kind of expensive but I hear they work great at controlling algae blooms and also kill a lot of common diseases.

Thanks will look into the Pleco. I am fairly sure ive seen a range of plecos at the aquarium store I go to.

No, the algae is not obstructing my view or anything, and I dont mind running along it with the magnet thing(which I have). But I thought maybe I could find an interesting fish or crab or snail etc etc that could clean most of it up. I would be adding something new and interesting to my tank, and as a plus cleaning the tank up a little. Not to mention free food for the cleaner.

 

[suki_koko]

you would probably find that the clown loaches will eat the snails. I wouldn't add anymore bottow dwellers, and i would suggest you read up on clown loaches before you introduce anything to you tank, they are very sensitive fish and if they catch disease you have to be careful of the medications, they are scaleless. I found out the hard way. clown loaches also grow quite large, over a foot in length, so be prepared to re-house them in the not so distant future, you'd be looking at a 6foot tank easy. I dont mean to harp on, just want to let you know. I only found out about them after I got them, now I make sure I read up on the fish im interested in before i buy them.

 

[Drewz12000]

you would probably find that the clown loaches will eat the snails. I wouldn't add anymore bottow dwellers, and i would suggest you read up on clown loaches before you introduce anything to you tank, they are very sensitive fish and if they catch disease you have to be careful of the medications, they are scaleless. I found out the hard way. clown loaches also grow quite large, over a foot in length, so be prepared to re-house them in the not so distant future, you'd be looking at a 6foot tank easy. I dont mean to harp on, just want to let you know. I only found out about them after I got them, now I make sure I read up on the fish im interested in before i buy them.

Yeah I found out most the info on them after i got them aswell. They have grown a bit since I got them, not heaps. Once they get too big for the tank I will probably take them back to my LFS and get smaller ones again. Current tank is a 4ft im pretty sure. So should be safe for a while longer lol. I hope

Atm, i am thinking the best thing to get would be a bristle nosed catfish. have heard very good things about them being good cleaners.