Cleanup Crew for group of 3 pea puffers

[ogelthorpe]

Hello - I have a 10g with 3 pea puffers. Heavily planted and doing really well but have only had the fish in for about a week. Have some algae and biofilm growth and wondering if there are any good suggestions for bottom dwellers or other cleanup crew? I’m mindful that the puffers may go after shrimp. Gravel substrate too. Any suggestions?

 

[Byron]

Biofilm is healthy, so too is algae actually. Controlling the algae with light/nutrients in balance for the plants (assume there are plants here) will prevent "problem" algae. For common green algae, Otocinclus are mentioned as probable tankmates; they are less likely to be fin nipped than most other fishes.

 

[ogelthorpe]

Thanks for this. No live plants at this point. Just fake ones.

 

[Slaphppy7]

How long has the tank been set up? Is it cycled?

 

[Byron]

Thanks for this. No live plants at this point. Just fake ones.

In this case, algae is beneficial.

 

[ogelthorpe]

It’s been setup for about 6wks and fully cycled. Just added the puffers a week ago.

 

[ogelthorpe]

In this case, algae is beneficial.

Good point. It’s keeping my nitrate levels way down!