What are some good Bottom Feeders

[Fantail_Lover]

So I've been cultivating bacteria in my tank for about two weeks now and I think its time to add some fish. I'm going to start very slow, one fish today, and maybe one next week. But the question I have is what are some good bottom feeders to get for my tank. Also, are bottom feeders snails and crabs too? Also, are there any crabs that live in freshwater (this is for fresh water tank). And what kind of bottom feeders get along with goldfish.
I know this sounds like a dumb question but what do bottom feeders eat? Just left over food or is it fish waste as well??

-Xan

 

[Seleya]

How have you been cultivating bacteria? Anything that feeds on the bottom is a bottomfeeder. I sure as heck wouldn't get any sort of crabs with goldies. I have snails in one of my goldie tanks. Bottomfeeders eat leftover food but also need to be 'purpose fed'. Very few bottomfeeders are appropriate for goldfish tanks of any size and a 12 gallon tank with two fantails doesn't leave any room for 'extras'.

You should really just start with your two fantails and feed lightly so there's no need for bottomfeeders. Goldfish are very good at taking care of any extras and love to rummage around on the bottom themselves. Be sure the gravel you have is not too large and is smooth because they'll often pick up some gravel then spit it back out as they sort through the bottom. Between the goldfish, proper feeding and vacuuming during your weekly water changes, there's really no need for a clean-up crew.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You could get a mystery snail. They won't reproduce by themselves and they're large enough not to get eaten by a goldfish. They eat leftovers and whatever else you feed them, they will not eat waste. All fishy bottomfeeders either require warm water and/or get too large for a 12g. There are freshwater crabs, but I think they all need access to the air to thrive in an aquarium.

 

[whodini]

Please!!! if you don't plan on eventually moving your goldfish to a pond don't get one!!! they grow large and may clean the bottom but the other end of them creates more waste!! Ask me about Kaily how big is your tank and what do you plan on having in it? also are you sure your tank has cycled yet? how have you cycled ? and what are your test results from today?

 

[Fantail_Lover]

Please!!! if you don't plan on eventually moving your goldfish to a pond don't get one!!! they grow large and may clean the bottom but the other end of them creates more waste!!

What are you talking about? My friends' had a fantail gold fish for 5 years in a 6 gallon tank. Maybe not the best amount of room but the thing looks great and its fins have grown beautiful colors. I don't think theres anything wrong with having gold fish in a 12 gallon tank. The tank by the way is an Eclipse which sports the Bio-Wheel. I have been cultivating my bacteria from a combination of gravel from an established tank, adding Biozyme (which is "good" bacteria on very small flakes of bran), and then I'm feeding the Bacteria with daily doses of pure or "clear" ammonia. For the first two weeks of the cycle the ammonia levels have been "set" to 0.5 ppm, which is a good level for bacteria trying to grow. As of right now, I have allowed the bacteria to catch up for two days and have just added my first fish with the following water status:
Ammonia: 0ppm
pH: 7.2
Alkalinity: 120ppm
Hardness: 130ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 15ppm (which is used as food for my plants)

With regular water changes and keeping an eye on the ammonia levels inside the tank there should be absolutely no problem with keeping a fantail in a 12 gal for years to come.

-Xan