LFS Mentioned these to me, what are your opinions

[Hardy85]

Ok, I'll reword my question

I plan to feed algae waffers and veggies, what is a fish that will stay small, and also occasionally be a window cleaner for me? I do plan to prevent any major algae issues (if I can't prevent it, I'll fix whatever is causing it).

And just to clarify, even female dwarf gourami's would be an issue with only 1 male in the tank? I have only ever seen that multiple males cause problems

Ok, good to know about the driftwood, I pictured beaver like munching on driftwood when I saw some eat it lol

[Goes to 11!]

+ 1 to andrea

Aquadvisor is fine to sketch with, But it's NOT a final draft if you know what I mean.

[imma24]

Although others here have their own favorite bottom dwellers, I still think corydoras are fun - I have some myself - they will eat what you mentioned but they wont' clean tank walls - they will eat some algae off my decorations but then again so do my shrimp.

[Hardy85]

I agree with Andrea about aquadvisor, I don't use it either, you realy need to reasearch the different fish youself.

I really only use it to get a rough idea on % stocked, does give decent info on pwc % and how often, tells me 30% per week. I try to research any fish before I add it to the list, loved the pitbull pleco from my research, but just not economically feasible to get them

** Edit +1 to 850R, exactly, I use it kinda like a spell checker while putting together my rough draft

[Hardy85]

Otos are a consideration, but looking for options, the whiptails seem interesting (haven't seen much info on them)

[mizzoutank]

Sorry to break it to you, but even with pleco's sucking on glass (on occasion) they don't "clean it"
my rubberlip will take a lap or two around the glass. but you can't even tell if he was there or not. they just don't "clean" like people would like to believe.

They make credit cards/magna float/scrubbers for that purpose.


To your Gourami question-telling the sexes of fish can and will be very difficult. unless you know specifically from a breeder-or the fish is an adult with clear markings-you'll near always mess up when the fish are juvenile.

Just like looking at a 3month old baby-if you don't know the name (or assume clothing color=gender) you'd never know if it was a boy or girl.

[imma24]

From what I've read about otos, they can be difficult to keep alive for the first month you bring them home - once they make it and are being fed adequately, they are supposed to be quite cute but they also need a group.

[Northerly]

In response to LH. I'd like to add that I have seen my rubber lip eating algae off of the leaves of my false plants in my OB colony, did you mean live plants or plants in general?

[Hardy85]

I dwarf gouramis are fairly easy to sex, the males are colorful, females are typically silver with tint of color (based on pictures from google)

I do understand that any "algae eater" is not meant as a cleaning crew, didn't mean to originally word it that way, only looking to see what people have in there tanks that do eat some algae and are small.

I don't want a mini->

[Hardy85]

In response to LH. I'd like to add that I have seen my rubber lip eating algae off of the leaves of my false plants in my OB colony, did you mean live plants or plants in general?

I have 1 java fern, 3 fake plants, piece of driftwood, rock cave, and large plastic cave

Pics below - I have put the driftwood behind large plant in left corner (removed java moss), rock / pvc tunnel is in middle, and large cave is in right corner with 1 plant in far right corner

*i understand this DQ's me from TOtM, but felt pics are necessary lol

Otherwise I could get