Do Platies clean the tank?

, More than 45 years experience keeping aquariums and fish. While plecos will eat algae, they will not polish the glass and keep it spotless. No animal will do that. No matter what fish you add, you will still occasionally need to clean the glass.

What is the best tank cleaning fish?

What Are The Best Algae-Eating Fish?

• Bristlenose Plecostomus (Bristlenose plecos) Bristlenose plecos are a great addition to most aquariums.
• Siamese Algae Eater.
• Chinese Algae Eater.
• Otocinclus Catfish.
• Twig Catfish.
• Nerite Snail.
• Cherry Shrimp.
• Amano Shrimp.

Do Platies like gravel?

Substrate. Platies don’t really have particular substrate needs. They will swim along the bottom sometimes, but they really don’t interact with the substrate. So gravel, sand, bare bottom, go with whatever you prefer.

What do platys like in their tank?

Platies can live in a 10- to 20-gallon aquarium or larger. Most livebearers prefer higher pH, but platies can tolerate a very wide range from 6.8-8.5 in our experience. They also enjoy harder water, so if your tap water is especially soft, consider adding more minerals using Seachem Equilibrium or Wonder Shell.

How often do platys breed?

every 4 to 6 weeks
Breeding the red wagtail platy is more than easy—it’s not a question of if but when. Females can warehouse sperm for up to six months; they are almost always pregnant with fertilized eggs and can give live birth to 10 to 40 fry every 4 to 6 weeks.

Are Planted Tanks hard to maintain?

Planted tanks are less work to maintain than conventional aquariums, but they require proper planning. Special attention should be paid to tank dimensions, lighting, substrate, fertilizers and choice of plant and fish species.

Do I really need CO2 in my planted tank?

CO2 is arguably the most important element in the planted aquarium. It is required for respiration and growth by all aquatic plants, used in a process called photosynthesis. Plants require a constant supply of CO2 during the light hours, otherwise they can suffer. In low light aquariums, CO2 is not always necessary.

What’s the sucker fish?

sucker, (family Catostomidae), any of the freshwater fishes constituting the family Catostomidae, similar to and closely related to the carp and minnows (Cyprinidae). There are about 80 to 100 species of suckers. Except for a few species in Asia, all are North American.

Do catfish clean aquariums?

Catfish are special — they’re not just a fun and interesting pet but also a cleaner! Unlike most of the fish in your aquarium, catfish are bottom-feeders, which means they eat what falls to the tank floor. This can help remove excess food and algae from your fish home, which will keep your tank cleaner.

What pH level do platys like?

How do you make platys happy?

Platy fish are not considered shoaling fish, however, they are happier when kept in a small group. Once they settle in your aquarium, it won’t be long before your aquarium population increases. Always keep more females than males. This prevents the females from becoming exhausted from being chased.

How to clean a planted fish tank?

Before we’re able to really get in there we need to lower the water level. The best way to do this is by using a gravel vacuum, as this allows you to utilize the flow of the siphon to remove some fish poop or other detritus. If your planted tank is still new you’ve got to be easy on them.

Are platy fish good clean-ups?

Not many people think of the colorful platy fish as potential clean-up crew members, but many livebearers are known for their insatiable appetites that cause them to constantly pick at the ground, plants, and décor for edible snacks.

What to do with overgrown plants in a planted tank?

Other plants that propagate through runners, like vallisneria or small echinodorus varieties, can overgrow your tank if you let them. While cleaning your planted tank, check whether some plants are spreading to places where you do not want them to go. If this is the case, chop off the runner and either replant it or throw/give it away.

How often should you change the water in a planted tank?

Many algae problems are quickly resolved by simply increasing water change frequency. For a high tech planted tank with fish, you should do at least two 30\% water changes each week. For a sparsely stocked planted low tech tank, you can get away with once a week. I personally do a 25-30\% water change three times a week.