46 gallon bowfront stocking question

[jonatheber]

I have a livebearer tank with mostly guppies, a pair of mollies, a few random tetras ( i need more - a few have died), a single tuxedo raspora, an african dwarf frog, a golden algae eater and a single cory cat (one just died). I am looking for help on how to take care of the scavenger part (although I would welcome other recommendations as well). I see other threads have recommendations to put in 6 corys. Is that right? Will there be enough stuff in a tank this size for them to even eat? Are there other appropriate scavenger types that might be a better choice? I would like to stay away from anything likely to make meals of the livebearers or fry....

 

[Wills]

Hi when you say random tetras which types do you have? It would be good to get these stocked properly with a good number of each species, if this is not possible you would be best to choose one or two and stock them in proper numbers.

Bottom dwellers like cories dont really eat the detritus they simply swim through it to break it up and get it into the substrate or the water column so the filter can take care of it. Again Cories should be kept in sufficient numbers to make a school so the more the merrier.

Your Tuxedo Raspbora could do to be in a school too.

Wills

 

[jonatheber]

I have three painted glass tetras and one (yes one) cardinal tetra. I know I need a bunch more cardinals, but they seem to be in short supply right now at all the LFS options.

What is the best option to eat the stuff at the bottom if the cories don't do much damage to it? I regular catfish? One LFT suggested I buy some 4 inch long catfish (I didn't catch the names of the three suggestions, but all were in the $30 range and looked to be HUGE relative to the other fish I have).

 

[CassCats]

Nothing eats poop.

 

[FishBearer9845]

When you ask if there will be enough for the Corys to eat, I specifically feed mine something every day, I don't let them rely on the remnants as I have 6. I either feed dropping pellets, frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp or algae tablets (which they share two between the 6) They're not fat, they're not skinny, they're just lovely and healthy and active.

 

[CassCats]

Yeah cories and other bottom dwellers need to be fed specifically not left to fend on leftovers.

Fluval bug bites, shrimp pellets, and other meat based foods need to be the base of their diet.

 

[Wills]

I have three painted glass tetras and one (yes one) cardinal tetra. I know I need a bunch more cardinals, but they seem to be in short supply right now at all the LFS options.

What is the best option to eat the stuff at the bottom if the cories don't do much damage to it? I regular catfish? One LFT suggested I buy some 4 inch long catfish (I didn't catch the names of the three suggestions, but all were in the $30 range and looked to be HUGE relative to the other fish I have).

Ah ok so not too bad - I thought you were going to say loads of different species but only single fish. When you say painted do you mean glo fish or dyed fish?

All bottom dwellers do the same job its not that they eat it, its that in their swimming along the bottom that it gets distubed enough to be moved to the filter or get burried in the substrate which you remove in your maintenance routine.

I would get more cories first and then see how it goes after a few months if they have done what you expected them to do. Maybe rather than trying to add to your rasbora and cardinal tetra you could take them back to the store too? They would be able to join a bigger school in someone elses tank that way and free up space for you to have an extra cory or two.

Wills