Plant safe Bottom Dwellers

[William Lynch]

Hi All,

I have a newly planted tank a couple of weeks old now with some small carpeting up in the foreground. Does anybody have any recommendations for some bottom dwellers that I can add that wont dig up all of the little plants as they get settled? I've heard that even corys can be a menace to this but any feedback and experience is very much welcomed. Thanks!

[Tihshho]

Pygmy Cory's are going to be ok. I'd stay away from loaches and some plecos as loaches will dig and pleco's can shuffle across the bottom. 

[Brandon p]

What is your substrate?

[William Lynch]

Hi Brandon, the substrate is Seachem fluorite black 

[Brandon p]

I would wait on adding any bottom dwellers if you can. Here why, if you didn’t have the carpeting plants the Corys would be fine. I have never had any luck with any cories with carpet plants that are not well established and spreading on there own. Do you want something functional or something to be seen or both

[Kathy F]

They really dwell on the glass in my aquarium but borneo spotted loaches have been great in my 40 breeder.  I haven't had any issues with my Julii Corydoras either but my planted aquarium is well established and I made sure there is a large bare area of sand for them btbh they tend to hang out in the planted section.   Probably the best solution is just to allow your tank and plants to mature and then add a bottom dweller;  It will give you something to look forward to later. 

 

[William Lynch]

Good to know. I think I would want something to be seen but I suppose that function should follow form. 

Thanks Kathy, when would you determine that the plants are solid enough to not be dug up. The chain sword that I have is currently growing vertically and some side shoots have appeared as well 

[Brandon p]

I think the pygmy Cory will work. The chain sword sure be fine.  You should consider the Dwarf Chain Loach. It’s an exception to the other loaches an does great in planted tanks. They do best in a small school 3 on up. They will well with corys. The loaches grow to about 2 inches or a little more. They are very active. They should work well together 

[William Lynch]

Interesting, I'll definitely have to give them some more research. Thanks!

[Kathy F]

Honestly, they will be more established when they start sending out more baby plants to multiple areas and it won't easily uproot when doing tank maintenance.    Definitely take a few months or more though.   Micros chain sword is incredibly easy to uproot.  American vallisenria is my preference because it holds down better and you can trim it to the length you want kind of like you would your lawn.    

[Brandon p]

I didn’t mention those just because I can not get them to stay alive. I have tried them several times. They are pretty thin when I get them but I have a tank were there is always algae. I talked to several LFS owners and most are not happy about the condition they get them. One stopped ordering them. He said until I can get better quality i just won’t sell them. He said that lots of people want them but  a lot of the time people come back because they died. Some also said that were we are it has to go to Tampa or Miami, then to one of 2 local 1 is an international airport but has limited access and most international fights go to Europe. So it can take extra time getting to the store.

[Brandon p]

I have not yet. I will.