is there a tank mate that will clean sand??

[itsuki]

is there a tank mate that will clean sand enough where i dont have to use a gravel cleaner/vacuum or is it a neccessary evil to vacuum sand??

i already own 3 otos and a mystery snail along with my betta in my 10g tank.

[acitydweller]

i suppose it largely depends on what is needing tobe cleaned. excess foods? try cory cats...

[itsuki]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

i suppose it largely depends on what is needing tobe cleaned. excess foods? try cory cats...

no not food because i only feed my betta and i never overfeed him. so i would say cleaning waste/bioload (is that the right word) from the betta and the otos.

would going down to 2 otos lessen the waste in the tank greatly, i heard otos crap :P alot??

btw i have 5 or 6 live background plants in the tank, swords and vals.

[tekkguy]

Nothing eats poop except plants. Shrimp and snails might process the poop of veggie eaters, but they won't eat any actual waste. No matter what you do, you'll have to continue vacuuming (or get live plants!)

[acitydweller]

You might consider malaysian trumpet snails which help churn the substrate to aerate and help with the detris breakdown in a tank cycle. They are mostly unseen as they burrow beneath the gravel.

[itsuki]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

You might consider malaysian trumpet snails which help churn the substrate to aerate and help with the detris breakdown in a tank cycle. They are mostly unseen as they burrow beneath the gravel.

yes!! i needed to help aerate too because i have soil underneath the sand, but wont i suck up the snails if i vacuum??