Good sand mover?

[alex.walkerrrrr]

I have a 125 wit sand and 3 oscars, two tinfoil barbs, two red hook silver dollars, 1 common pleco, and 1 shovel nose cat

I need something to move the sand around a lot and get it stirred and really roughed around with, I would put cory's in there but I obviously can't with oscars, what would be a good option, maybe some loaches?

 

[IanEHeCook]

Malaysian trumpet snails might work.

 

[SherLar]

You could try one of the S. American Geophagus species; Eartheaters. They're from the same general area as oscars, and do quite well with them, although they're quite a bit smaller. And, as the name implies, they're substrate sifters. Geophagus steindachneri is my personal favorite. They reach about 5", are non aggressive, and fun to watch as they go about their business.

 

[alex.walkerrrrr]

Yeah but I know they can reproduce like crazy and I don't want to have to give them a calcium diet and put calcium in he water, any other suggestions

 

[alex.walkerrrrr]

You could try one of the S. American Geophagus species; Eartheaters. They're from the same general area as oscars, and do quite well with them, although they're quite a bit smaller. And, as the name implies, they're substrate sifters. Geophagus steindachneri is my personal favorite. They reach about 5", are non aggressive, and fun to watch as they go about their business.

Ok thank you I will look into the earth eaters, my oscars drop so much excess food that they chew up and I have these worms that are a symptom of uneaten food so I'll get 5 of those and they should do a good job of getting the uneaten food.

 

[OsciTheOscar]

When i do water changes i stick the tube down into the sand and move it around a lot to get the crap out. Then when the water gets sucked out, its mostly all gunk instead of the fresher water

 

[flchamp89]

Mts arent too picky I doubt you would need calcium. Best option imo.

 

[alex.walkerrrrr]

When i do water changes i stick the tube down into the sand and move it around a lot to get the crap out. Then when the water gets sucked out, its mostly all gunk instead of the fresher water

My siphon ends up being too strong but I'll try to link the hose

 

[OsciTheOscar]

Hmm i dont have issues... i mean i dip it in there and move it around. The sand gets about half way up the tube and i pull the tube out and let it fall, and repeat

 

[coralbandit]

Mts arent too picky I doubt you would need calcium. Best option imo.

^^I can't agree more!^^

The rest of you some how see adding fish to help clean the tank ? Really?
Look one more time that stock list!
I own a 6 foot tank....
You know what the best cleaner fish is?
the FISH keeper.....Everything else is adding crap to the show !

Good luck!

 

[OsciTheOscar]

I do agree its way too much for that tank but my direction was a solution without criticizing...

 

[alex.walkerrrrr]

Btw I have an fx6 on it should I look into maybe fx4 to help it out

 

[OsciTheOscar]

Canisters are great but you still need to maintain. I have 2 HOBs and a canister on my 60tall and i do a WC 2x a week

 

[coralbandit]

I do agree its way too much for that tank but my direction was a solution without criticizing...

Thank you!
I only seem critical because this is a solution for this,
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f17/little-white-worms-354210.html
I am either full of it or it only hurts if it is true and are unwilling to accept help ?
I could not in good conscious recommend adding one fish even if the tank was running smoothly by someone who knew the filter is not a fix.
Like you said yourself ,you have to maintain the tank also?

I only try to offer good advice.
This tank is going to only become harder to maintain as the stock already in it grows...

 

[OsciTheOscar]

Im 100% with you. Just different approach thats all...