New Sand Cichlid tank

[Tballgame87]

So I just introduced my new cichlids to my new sand setup yesterday...already the bottom is a mess...what type of fish can I get to keep the bottom free of poo and missed food but also won't be bothered by the cichlid?

 

[Seleya]

What sort of cichlids do you have? Size of tank?

You will need to keep the bottom free of poo yourself. As for the missed food, it would be better to tailor your feeding so as to minimize it before choosing a fish whose sole purpose is to be the tank janitor. Bottom feeders typically require more than incidental feedings.

 

[Tballgame87]

its a melanochromis auratus cichlid...one adult two babies and another african cichlid.

if a bottom feeder isn't the best route, then how do I go about cleaning the sand without kicking up alot of cloudiness?

 

[Tballgame87]

anybody have advice on this one?

 

[Purple]

I've always used sand in my tanks - and had pl*cos as bottom feeders - never had a problem (or had to clean the sand)

I think you need to go for a combination of bottom feeder and a strong filter flow to achieve the best results. The fish gets the food - the filter gets the poop.

As for which bottom feeder to go for - depends on your tank size. Doesn't have to be a huge fish - just big enough for the Cichlids to leave alone (though they seldom bother pl*cs in my experience). Cichlids are weird like that - if it's a catfish they just aren't interested in it - they only see fish of a similar shape and size as competition.

See what your LFS has - no point in recommending fish you can't get hold of .....

 

[SANND]

You can vacumm the debris, it just takes a little practice.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Melanochromis auratus are really mean nasty fish, not sure i'd put any bottem feeder in with them.

I wouldn't use a bottem feeder anyway. I personally find them a waste. They produce even more poo then the cichlids. So you will have triple that piling up. Not to mention the way i've seen Mbuna eat...they don't miss much at all.

The debris could be from the sand being new. I'd do some water changes and let it settle out.

 

[Tballgame87]

The debris comes partially from the poo and partially from the remains of the feeder fish that my Cichlids enjoy toying with. I may get a small pleco or a cory or two. I can get my hands on most types of fish.

 

[FishGeek]

Cories would die very quickly in your tank, and so will a small pleco. And the reason your tank is a mess is cause you feed feeder fish, there is no need. And if you wish to feed feeders then dont make it the main diet. They dont provide much nutrition ecspecially if you dont feed them first. I reccomend feeding worms, emerald entre, krill and cichlid sticks/granules.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I think you should focus more on Water changes then rely on other fish to clean up your tank. Dead fish should not just sit in your tank, feeders or not.

Oh and the feeders are not a real good idea for some of the fish you have. Mbuna from Malawi enjoy a more veggie diet then meaty.

 

[Hamburgler]

Definetly be carefull of overfeeding...cichlids in general (especially mbuna) tend to not miss anything floating around the tank, especially when it comes from being dropped on the surface. So you shouldnt see any uneaten food on the bottom.

Like others have said...gravel vac is the only way to clean the waste off the sand. It is not like gravel and the waste will pile up on top.