bottom feeder suggestions?

[RWaltman]

hey, new to the site....I have a baby bichir in my 30 gal tank...he's about 4" there are also 3 baby angelfish and 2 mollies in the same tank...I'm looking for a scavenger fish to eat uneaten food, plant matter and algae...does anyone have any advice? i want something that will not bother my bichir....snails, clams, etc. are fine I'm looking for any and all advice! HELP! thanks!

[jackson17]

Well judging by your tank size/stocking, your tank is over stocked right now, or will soon be. My first suggestion would be probably get a bigger tank, at least 55 gallons, bigger if you can (if I'm wrong someone else will correct me). As for bottom feeders, I think corry cats pretty much school around the bottom and eat there (once again, may be wrong) But for now, your tank is going to get over stocked pretty fast.

[smaug]

Ditto the above,you are overstocked and the angels will be seriously crowded when they mature.A 55 gal would be your next choice of purchase.

[RWaltman]

Yes I'm funny aware of the adult size these fish will get....the angelfish are small now (under 1/4" in body) and the bichir is still young (under 4") like I stated...this is not a permenant home for them, until the get bigger and mature they are staying in this tank...so any suggestions?

[Red]

nothing, until you get a bigger tank..

[jackson17]

Cory Cats I think would be good, they school so about 6. But you really do need to get bigger tank and pretty soon to. Your bio-load is pretty big for a small tank. Theres gotta be .25ppm of ammonia in there with that bio load for that tank. What else do you have (clams and snail wise)?

[RWaltman]

ok...the tank is 30 gallon...have a oversized filter (50 - 60 gallon)...some live plants...the bichir...3 baby angels...2 gold mollies...I have been checkin' my levels everything is good so far...planning on a 55 to 75 tank by the end of this year to move them so I can use this tank for other purposes, I was considering freshwater clams? but my LPS doesn't ever have any...I'm using a sand substrate decorated with rocks...my ammonia and nitrite levels are fine, but I'm going to check them now? where did I go wrong? is it the angels inevitable size thats the problem?

[RWaltman]

I've kept aquariums before but haven't for probably two years...I'm just starting back up...the tank cycled for a bit before I added anything to it other than the plants

[jackson17]

Angels and that bichir I think is the problem. I asked about getting two angels in my 30 gallon, everyone said it was a bad idea, upgraded to a 55 gallon.

[tropfish]

Don't add to a problem or it'll just be more of a mess down the road. don't add anything until you get a larger tank.