Bottom feeders for 20 gallon tank?

[oscarbuffalo]

I have a 20 gallon tank with 2 German rams and 6 Furcata rainbows. I am wondering what are possible bottom feeders. I am especially interested in Plecos.I hear the smallest pleco was the pitbull pleco but, I cannot find them because of new laws in Brazil. I was wondering about clown plecos and Rubbernose plecos. Also how are Whip tail catfish at cleaning algae?

 

[scotty1301]

Oto catfish, bulldog plec or some Cory's

 

[NYgiantsRP]

I wouldn't get a Pleco. They have high bioloads and would really limit the rest of your stocking. You could go with smaller cory cat spices like panda, skunk, and Pygmy or kuhli loaches.

 

[scotty1301]

A dwarf britslenose pleco maybe fine

 

[oscarbuffalo]

How are Kuli loaches at cleaning algae and leftover food?

 

[scotty1301]

Kuli loaches will eat almost anything they will eat the left over food. The will eat the food trapped in the small little gaps where other fish can't get to.

 

[oscarbuffalo]

I read they do not eat algae though. I need a bottom feeder that eats algae.

 

[scotty1301]

Oto catfish

 

[NYgiantsRP]

No fish is going to completely remove algae. If you are having problems with algae you need to find the root of the problem. Too much light, over feeding, overstocked, not enough water changes ect ect.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

If it is a 20 long, I would suggest kuhli loaches, awesome little critters!
The only thing that truly eats algae is a nerite snail

 

[NYgiantsRP]

Loaches and cories eat all of the stuff that get to the bottom of the tank. That helps a lot with keeping up the water quality.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Yea they do, they are like mini vacuums for your tak

 

[twiddlemuffin]

I agree with oto's. They won't kick your algae completely but they'll help.

 

[oscarbuffalo]

I have a gravel substrate would khuli loaches be ok?



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[Goldfish loach boy]

Tip, that's fine, San would be better but that's ok

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Is it a 20 normal, because I think a 20 high Is too small

 

[oscarbuffalo]

It's a 20g normal

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[Dnoel5787]

I agree with oto's. They won't kick your algae completely but they'll help.

I like the idea of otos (if your tank is well established) and snails. If you have lots of algae, Nerites would be best, but they starve if there isn't much algae. Mystery snails from your LFS or big chain eat detritus (like leftover food) and algae, so I keep them in all of my tanks. They're fun to watch, too, and they don't seem to breed in freshwater.