Which Bottom Feeder ?

[jv24]

I have a 90 litre tank, i am looking for a bottom feeder.My local fish stockists says there isn't much choice as i have course gravel in my tank and they prefer sand bottoms or fine gravel bottoms. Is there anything i could add? i don't want something that will get too big either. I currently only have 3 platys and 6 harlequins in the tank.
Thanks

 

[kizno1]

If its course theres not going to be many that will work i cant think of any that sharp gravel wont damage. Could you change to sand or smooth gravel because if you can theres quite a few that will work.

 

[jv24]

hi, i suppose i could consider changing the gravel for sand, its just that its a newly cycled set up and i would want to really disturb the tank so soon.

 

[kizno1]

hi, i suppose i could consider changing the gravel for sand, its just that its a newly cycled set up and i would want to really disturb the tank so soon.

I wouldnt worry to much the gravel wont have much bacteria or anything in that would mess it up by removing it.
In a 90l you could have
most types of corys
Bristlnose Plec
Clown Plec
Upside Down Catfish
Banjo Catfish
Bumblebee Catfish
Obviously not all of them but you could have a few

In a 90l i would go for something like
3 Platies
8 Harlequin Rasbora
3 (1 male 1 female) Steel Blue Killis or Golden Panchax
2 Bolivian Rams or 3 (1Male 2Females)Apistogramma theres loads of types that will work but i would go for Agassizii
1 BN or Clown Plec or Banjo Catfish or Bumblebee Catfish
6 Corys or 4 Upsidedown catfish

 

[jv24]

thanks for the fast reply. will have a think about it. thanks for the tips on the fish to stock.I will do some research on them. thanks

 

[Biulu]

Are you looking for bottom feeders or fish that stay in the lower half of the tank? In the latter case you could have a pair of rams or apistos, 'friendly' southamerican cichlids.

For changing to sand, you can also decide to have only the front part of your tank substrate changed. E.g. if you have some rocks or wood in a kind of 'bay' form, you can only remove the substrate there and replace it with sand. You can be sure then that you get to see your bottom fish a lot!

 

[jv24]

Not a bad idea will definitely think about it.
thanks for the ideas

 

[bassbonediva]

If you go with the bumblebee catfish, make sure you get the SOUTH AMERICAN bumblebee catfish. They are extremely peaceful and stay less than 3". Their counterpart, the ASIAN bumblebee catfish, gets much bigger (close to 5") and is aggressive with any other fish that stray near the bottom. I have a SA bumblebee cat and I love him!

 

[karin]

You could do shrimp on coarse gravel if you have some plants and wood.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I have had good luck with lace catfish. They stay under 5 inches.

-FHM

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

With some fine sand, there are many options that open up for you. Something a little leftfield, which I am beginning to get a reputation for suggesting, is a small group of Burmese Mini Bee Catfish, Akysis vespa...
http/shop.sweetknowleaquatics.co.uk/epages/246260.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/246260/Products/%22Burmese%20Orange%20Mini%20Bee%20Catfish%22

These small (4cm) catfish like cooler temps, but Harlequins are quite happy at anything from 21C to the very average tropical temp of ~25C, so a cooler setup would suit them both. "Kizno1" has a group of their close relatives, so he could help persuade you

Other things like my recently acquired Golden Kuhli Loaches (Pangio doriae) would also work well as a bottom feeder, I have 10 youngsters in my Korall60 with my skittish Filament Glassfish and they are great entertainment, doing asynchronous "loop-the-loops" at the end of the tank closest the sofa!

 

[kizno1]

These small (4cm) catfish like cooler temps, but Harlequins are quite happy at anything from 21C to the very average tropical temp of ~25C, so a cooler setup would suit them both. "Kizno1" has a group of their close relatives, so he could help persuade you

from what ive heard there fine at higher temps for a while but long term it doesnt do they any good at all.

I have 4 Akysis prashadi and 1 Akysis longifilis and hopefully getting more soon. They really are great catfish and well worth setting a coldwater tank up around.