What type of fish will help me keep my tank clean?

Question

I have a 10 gallon tank with a betta fish. Just wondering what kind of fish can help me keep it clean as well as survive in my tank.

Also, besides eating the things to help me clean the tank, what kind of food could I buy for them to eat?

Answer 1

A tiny school (3+) of Corydoras will eat leftover food off of the bottom but there is no such thing as a fish that replaces the need for regular partial water changes and occasional algae removal.

Answer 2

I have a bottom feeder who eats the food the other fish let fall to the bottom of the tank, and an algae eater. My tank is sparkling clean. I also have a very good filter though. I use just regular Tetra brand fish flakes, and they say "clear water formula" on the bottle. And someone said algae eaters get too big for a 10 gallon tank, mine is only about 2 inches long and I've had it for a year. It takes many many years for one to get to big fo a 10 gallon. Oh and soemone said not to get the wardley or tetra brand foods, and that is what i have always used. it works wonderfully. Stay away from bettas. I have 2 angelfish, a swordtail, 2 sharks ( a rainbow shark and an albino shark) and my bottom feeder and my algae eater. All great choices and very compatible.

Answer 3

You never cycled your tank, leading to weekly bacteria and algae blooms. Cycle your tank first. Otherwise the ammonia will spike weekly and eventually kill all your fish. Get fine gravel, add live plants, lots of them will starve out the algae as well as provide oxygen for your fish and help keep the tank clean by absorbing fish waste, get a good filter, (only use it at light out). Get strong lighting. But first of all, cycle the tank. To do this, first keep all the fish you have in another tank that is cycled and established. Then add small amounts of fish foods daily into the tank. Check the ammonia levels. It will first spike, then subside, then nitrite will spike then subside, when the nitrate starts to spike, the tank is cycled. Make a 50 percent water change (use a syphon) and don't do anything else. Don't scrub anything except the glass. Use a sponge for this and do it when the water level is low. Don't ever thorougly clean anything or you will kill all the bacteria that keeps eats up the ammonia and nitrites and change it into nitrates.

Answer 4

Ok well bettas live well with ramshorn snails and java moss will help to clean the tank. Malaysian Trumphet snails also thrive with bettas. I suggest Hikari Fish Food for bettas, also plankton. Avoid the Wardley and tetra brand.

If you have fish larger than 3 in. I would suggest Apple snails.

Both of them breed rapidly and fish find their eggs absolutely delicious.

In a 10 Gallon tank, with only bettas I would suggest 6 snails every 2 gallons, but since you have larger fish I would just get Apple snails.

Answer 5

Don't get any kind of Algae Eaters, they get too large for a 10 gallon tank and very territorial! Also, Plecostomus get huge, Common Plecos get about 2 feet long and make a ton of crap! Your best bet would be Corries or Yo-yo Loaches, they stay about 4 inches and will constantly sift through your gravel... make sure to get 2. 3 will be too many for a 10 gallon and they get lonely if you only have one. Kuhli Loaches are coolie too! ; ) Get some sinking shrimp pellets or frozen blood worms if you don't mind keeping them in your freezer...

Nosoop4u

Answer 6

Otos (Otocinclus) are perfect for the smaller tanks, and even for the largest of tanks when kept in large groups. They are excellent community fish to keep, easy to feed when algae growth isn’t plentiful, and they clean unsightly algae from plants without rasping the plants away to nothing. They are also algae-eating machines!

Answer 7

Corydora catfish are probably the best fish for your case. They only grow to about 3 inches at the max, and they are very hardy and peaceful. You won't need more than two of them to keep the tank cleaned, and they're dirt cheap, only about three or four dollars.

Answer 8

Cory's would be your best choice. They are small and active and do any excellent job of cleaning up left over food. They are also very peaceful and won't harm your betta at all.

Since bettas are peaceful and make good community fish, you never really have to worry too much about a betta bothering other fish.

MM

Answer 9

I agree with MM cories are good but pleco's get LARGE!!!!! minimum of 55 g tank if not for the dwarf or bristle nose and the same will out grow the 10f , either the cories or 2 kuhli loaches they are fun to watch :D

heres a site about the kuhli loach

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Oddball,%20Kuhli%20Loaches.htm

Answer 10

Corydoras are excellent... if you have algae problems get a chinese algae eater. The small ones do a better job of cleaning and they grow slowly.