flash_oesc Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 (edited) Hello, I have a 10G tank right now with 5 Demasoni (3 weeks old) and 8 Labs (1 week old). I have a heater, small HoB filter, and an air driven sponge filter. I have a couple small decorations and small cichlid stones in the tank for everyone to hide under. The tank has no substrate. I'm doing water changes everyday/every other depending on what the bottom looks like. My question is, I'm getting some algae growth in the tank, and I'm getting a 'slime' build up on the bottom, which I assume is the NLS I'm crushing up for the fish. The demasoni catch it while is falls, while the labs scavenge it from the bottom. I'd like to add a pleco, or a hillstream loach, or something to the tank, that wont harass or eat my babies. Anyone have any suggestions? Thoughts? Edited February 6, 2013 by flash_oesc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 A young BN pleco or some Cherry shrimp will do fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince0 Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 Have you tried snails? Even though they can considered pests, Malaysian trumpet snails will eat algeas and left over foods while not adding to the overall bioload Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 I've used smaller BN plecos, shrimp, otos, and zebra snails before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 yes, throw in mts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash_oesc Posted February 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 A young BN pleco or some Cherry shrimp will do fine. I really wish we had a bigger pet store up here. The only shrimp they have here are labeled Ghost Shrimp, and they are pretty big. I was thinking about a young BN or Rubberlip, but was nervous that it might think the fry are yummy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash_oesc Posted February 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Have you tried snails? Even though they can considered pests, Malaysian trumpet snails will eat algeas and left over foods while not adding to the overall bioload I believe the only snails I can get are Mystery Snails.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash_oesc Posted February 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 yes, throw in mts. MTS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cgy_Betta_Guy Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) Malaysian trumpet snails... depending on context, MTS can also refer to multiple tanks syndrome which most of the members on this forum have... Edited February 5, 2013 by Cgy_Betta_Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Yes, Malaysian Trumpet Snails would survive being mailed easily during warmer weather since you might not have access. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash_oesc Posted February 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Malaysian trumpet snails... depending on context, MTS can also refer to multiple tanks syndrome which most of the members on this forum have... I found out my LFS has MTS (snails) so I'll likely grab 2 (I assume 2 would suffice?) tomorrow afternoon. I desperately want to suffer from the other MTS, but I live with an angry vaccination that is currently preventing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash_oesc Posted February 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 grrrr...no MTS at LFS. Sold out of mystery as well. Apparently they have zebra nerite snails, assassin and bumble bee? So, the Zebra Nerite is the best bet? 1,2,3? Any experience with these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Get mts as they will eat the left over garbage quite well but since you have no substrate most likely almost any snail will help. Skip the assassin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash_oesc Posted February 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Get mts as they will eat the left over garbage quite well but since you have no substrate most likely almost any snail will help. Skip the assassin. Will do! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash_oesc Posted February 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2013 Well, I got 4 snails, all Zebra Nerite. I put 2 in my 29G and 2 in my fry tank. They are worth 10X their weight in gold for cleaning, but they also poop 10X their weight...oh well, poop is easy to get rid of in a bare bottom tank anyways. Thank you for all the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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