Having An Fish Tank – Keep Fish Who Clean The Aquarium

January 17, 2011 in Home by petlovers

If you are starting an aquarium then keeping it clean is an essential task that you are going to be spending plenty of time on. So, is filling it with fish that will keep it clean for you a viable proposition? Done properly and the maintenance will be minimal. Done badly and it makes no difference!

If you want the inhabitants of your aquarium to keep your tank clean for you, then you need to consider what aspects of your tank will need cleaning for you. These will include:

* cleaning algae from glass, ornaments, equipment and plants
* removal of dead plants (and dead fish!)
* removal of extra food
* cleaning out of the snails that manage to invade your tank

But it is not just fish that you could use to do the job for you. Shrimps and snails might also be added to a community fish tank, and certain specialist tanks, to assist with the job. Not merely do they act as wonderful cleaners, but they can be very interesting. And by using the correct snails (as for instance, Apple Snails), you will not be introducing a species that will in excess of run your fish tank. In fact with Apple Snails it is very easy to stop them breeding as they lay their eggs out of the water. You only remove them when you see them.

So, what fish are you going to be looking at? There are a whole variety of species that might help, but if you look at algae eaters (look for fish with their mouths on the undersides of their heads) then straight away you know they will be eating the algae. They will also enjoy a snack on a dead leaf or animal, when they could. However, they wil usually not attack tank mates!

Corydoras, Bristlenose Catfish and other similar fish are all exceptional for this role. I really enjoy watching my fish of both of these groups doing their jobs and the Bristlenose are particularly good at cleaning the glass (along with the Apple Snails). If you are inundated with small snails then there are various loaches that will be your friend here. Clown Loaches are good snail eaters, but they grow quite large and need to live in a group, meaning that they are only suitable for larger tanks. For smaller tanks, a loach that is small and happy in pairs is better, or get an Assassin snail!

It is possible to help your aquarium stay lots cleaner by selecting specialist fish and feeding properly. But ultimately, you must remember that there is no replacement to proper maintenance.

By Keith Lunt. If you want to learn more about online pets pharmacy, just call over to the website!

For those who are searching for more information about the topic of house training dogs, then please make sure to visit the web site that is mentioned right in this line.

DeliciousFriendFeedFarkDiigoGoogle BuzzDiggMixxOrkutStumbleUponRedditGoogle GmailLinkedInPingShare