Waste Settling On Substrate

[karawr]

I have a 75g tank with sand substrate and a lot of waste is settling on the sand and accumulating really disgustingly in the corners. Is this normal, or is there something wrong with my filters?

75g w/ eheim 2217 and rena xp2
x15 Pristella Tetra
x7 Black Phantom Tetra
x4 Congo Tetra
x6 Angels
x5 Kuhli Loach
x1 Bristlenose Plec
x1 Bulldog Plec

I'm not really sure if this is overstocked but everyone is still young and small, and I do have plans to get a 6ft tank once a roomate moves out and then I'll have more room for tanks. Also the bpt will be going to another tank all together.

I have one intake on each side of the tank, and I use spray bars for both. Eheim points up for surface movement and the rena points down across the tank.

 

[fishprotector]

It will definately be the Plecs. I have two in my 300l and it is constantly covered in poop, even after a water change. My Nitrates are always below 10 though so it only seems to cause a visual problem, nothing more.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

you need to sort your stockin IMO congos and Kuhli need large groups

 

[Poseidons_daughter]

Yes I have also heard that plecos tend to produce a good amount of waste(poop). Once you move them into a bigger aquarium, then maybe you can look into some stronger filters.. also, have you considered adding some clown loaches? they're scavengers and do great with cleaning up a lot of the waste that settles on the bottom of the tank. good luck!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Yes I have also heard that plecos tend to produce a good amount of waste(poop). Once you move them into a bigger aquarium, then maybe you can look into some stronger filters.. also, have you considered adding some clown loaches? they're scavengers and do great with cleaning up a lot of the waste that settles on the bottom of the tank. good luck!

Agreed that it's probably the plecs, but clown loaches won't clean up any poo. Nothing will, except you and/or a good filter system.

 

[Proxo]

Yes I have also heard that plecos tend to produce a good amount of waste(poop). Once you move them into a bigger aquarium, then maybe you can look into some stronger filters.. also, have you considered adding some clown loaches? they're scavengers and do great with cleaning up a lot of the waste that settles on the bottom of the tank. good luck!

Agreed that it's probably the plecs, but clown loaches won't clean up any poo. Nothing will, except you and/or a good filter system.

+1 the only thing clown loaches could do is knock it back into the water flow maybe so that the filter could possibly get it?
I find my corys do it for me anyway, a little anyway.

 

[karawr]

I'm actually waiting on the lfs to get some more kuhlis and congos. They have a few congos there atm but I'm 99% sure they're all female and I think the ones I have are female too. Any pointers for spotting males vs females when they are still young?

And yeah plecs are probably a big culprit. I'm going to try feeding less, too.

 

[CrazyAirborne]

i prefer my waste to always hang out in the same spot, so when i do weekly cleaning, its easy for me to suck it all out.

that sounds weird, but u get my drift

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I'm actually waiting on the lfs to get some more kuhlis and congos. They have a few congos there atm but I'm 99% sure they're all female and I think the ones I have are female too. Any pointers for spotting males vs females when they are still young?

And yeah plecs are probably a big culprit. I'm going to try feeding less, too.

To sex them is easy even when young the anal of the male is convex and the females is concave, but when they get bigger the male has the colour and long flowing fins.

 

[Tizer]

add a powerhead or two to get rid ofthe dead spots maybe..

 

[karawr]

Sorry to bump up my old topic...

I'm looking into powerheads and don't know a lot about them. But have heard of the brand koralia around here on the forum...?
What one should I get since there seems to be a lot of options? The dead spots are in the corners near the intakes... I think the waste just needs a small push to float up into it. Like maybe koralia nano 425?

 

[Tizer]

i use those mate, as do a few others, i got one either end of my tank. nice quiet little pumps, i have 2 x 900's though.

 

[Proxo]

Using a APS 2500 (I think) in my 55g, does the job apart from 1 major dead spot but that's down to my filters lame flow lately.

 

[karawr]

Okay. Hmmm I think I will get a koralia evolution 750. Thanks for the replies.