20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help

RedLoach · 05-26-2011, 10:11 AM

I was wondering what people would recommend to help keep my 20 gallon clean. My Guppies aren't as thorough eaters as whats in my other tank, and a bunch of junk collects in the substrate. I have a Bushy Nose Pleco, but he doesn't scavenge the bottom. The loachs keep the bottom of my other tank spotless, but I'm kind of limited with the size of my 20 gallon. I picked up some nice shrimp the other day, I'm thinking about getting a lot more shrimp for cleanup and looks, but I want to make sure they will do a good job before I go crazy with them. I don't know if its the current from the filter, but even after I vacuumed, some food, specifically Hakari Fancy Guppy, collects rather quickly. Any recommendations out there would be appreciated.

plecosrawesome · 05-26-2011, 10:25 AM

cory catfish are very good at cleaning up the bottom and you could have like 6 if you wanted they get like 3 inches maximum... also ottos are good...i think there called octinulus or something like that but they are both common and will prob be at like a local petco or petrsmart

susankat · 05-26-2011, 10:31 AM

Otos, won't be good for keeping the bottom clean they only eat certain types of algae. Cories would make a good choice, but in a 20 gal just get three.

plecosrawesome · 05-26-2011, 10:32 AM

yeah ive never had ottos so i really didnt know i thought they did

RedLoach · 05-26-2011, 10:41 AM

Thanks, I'll look into the catfish for sure. I like their barbels, some of them look really neat. I just read up a little and I think they are good with shrimp too. Perfect, thanks for the replies

plecosrawesome · 05-26-2011, 10:43 AM

no problem good luck

ReStart · 05-28-2011, 01:53 PM

I like the Panda Corys or Emeralds although I have two albinos in my 10g. Really, you will just have to vacuum the bottom to keep it really clean. One thing might eat another's "output" shall we say, but that thing will have "output" also. At least that's my experience and opinion.

05-26-2011, 10:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
RedLoach Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Name: Patrick Appleton Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 18 Times Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help I was wondering what people would recommend to help keep my 20 gallon clean. My Guppies aren't as thorough eaters as whats in my other tank, and a bunch of junk collects in the substrate. I have a Bushy Nose Pleco, but he doesn't scavenge the bottom. The loachs keep the bottom of my other tank spotless, but I'm kind of limited with the size of my 20 gallon. I picked up some nice shrimp the other day, I'm thinking about getting a lot more shrimp for cleanup and looks, but I want to make sure they will do a good job before I go crazy with them. I don't know if its the current from the filter, but even after I vacuumed, some food, specifically Hakari Fancy Guppy, collects rather quickly. Any recommendations out there would be appreciated.

05-26-2011, 10:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
plecosrawesome plecosrawesome's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 248 Name: Anthony Location: Pittsburgh,PA Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 70 Times Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts	Re: 20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help cory catfish are very good at cleaning up the bottom and you could have like 6 if you wanted they get like 3 inches maximum... also ottos are good...i think there called octinulus or something like that but they are both common and will prob be at like a local petco or petrsmart __________________ Current Tanks: 90G,30G,10G,10G,5G,38G,20G

05-26-2011, 10:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,416 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,808 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: 20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help Otos, won't be good for keeping the bottom clean they only eat certain types of algae. Cories would make a good choice, but in a 20 gal just get three. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

05-26-2011, 10:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
plecosrawesome plecosrawesome's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 248 Name: Anthony Location: Pittsburgh,PA Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 70 Times Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts	Re: 20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help yeah ive never had ottos so i really didnt know i thought they did __________________ Current Tanks: 90G,30G,10G,10G,5G,38G,20G

05-26-2011, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
RedLoach Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Name: Patrick Appleton Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 18 Times Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: 20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help Thanks, I'll look into the catfish for sure. I like their barbels, some of them look really neat. I just read up a little and I think they are good with shrimp too. Perfect, thanks for the replies

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05-26-2011, 10:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
plecosrawesome plecosrawesome's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 248 Name: Anthony Location: Pittsburgh,PA Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 70 Times Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts	Re: 20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help no problem good luck __________________ Current Tanks: 90G,30G,10G,10G,5G,38G,20G

05-28-2011, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
ReStart ReStart's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 321 Name: SammyLee Location: Mid-South My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 37 Times Said "Thanks" 83 Times Was Thanked 63 Times in 55 Posts	Re: 20 Gallon substrate clean up crew help I like the Panda Corys or Emeralds although I have two albinos in my 10g. Really, you will just have to vacuum the bottom to keep it really clean. One thing might eat another's "output" shall we say, but that thing will have "output" also. At least that's my experience and opinion. __________________ 60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

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