Bullhead Minnows = Cleanup Crew?

I have been putting out traps to try to catch some crayfish to use in my new tank as a cleanup crew. However, the more I watch my tank, it seems the bullhead minnows are doing a pretty good job of getting the detritus on their own. I'm probably going to get some snails because the minnows don't appear to be particularly fond of the algae buildup on the substrate, but the more I thought about it, the more concerned I was about possible predation from crayfish in the tank. The smallest sunfish I have are in the 1" range, and the largest is only about 2 1/2 ". Do you think I can make do with just the bullhead minnows functioning as detritivores?

My only thought on this is that depending on what species of bullhead you have they can reach lengths well over a foot.

I think Ben means Pimephales vigilax, Dafrimpster. Crayfish are generally not very fish-compatible, Ben, and I wouldn't put them in that tank. Pimephales are pretty good at finding uneaten food, and will at least nibble at algae. Adding snails would be a good complement. Of course, 'clean-up crew' is kind of a misleading term; they're only converting the waste, not removing it.

Yes, I agree with Nathan. There are a lot of native and non-native species that a good job at eating uneaten food, pick at some algae, etc.... However like Nathan said all they are doing is converting this to waste, so no matter what kind of 'clean up crew' you have this does not take away from the importance of water changes and overall routine aquarium maintenance. However, I feel as though I am derailing from you original question, a lot of you micro and macroinvertebrates will act as your detrivores. So, you should not have to worry about that as much, but like said previously gravel vacs, water changes, etc.... is the ultimate way to maintain a healthy, well-balanced aquarium.

Blake

I feel so silly

I thought he meant bullhead minnows not bullhead minnows

nevermind...

I think Ben means Pimephales vigilax, Dafrimpster. Crayfish are generally not very fish-compatible, Ben, and I wouldn't put them in that tank. Pimephales are pretty good at finding uneaten food, and will at least nibble at algae. Adding snails would be a good complement. Of course, 'clean-up crew' is kind of a misleading term; they're only converting the waste, not removing it.

Hmm... I wanted to have an invert or two in the tank, but I think I'm just going to have to go with the snails.

The other thing... man, juvenile sunfish are hard to identify.

Now, dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus species) get along well with fish. They're readily available; I know Zimmerman's carries them. However, your sunfish may eventually grow large enough to eat them. Same goes for grass shrimp, which you should be able to collect easily in your area.

If you're having trouble ID'ing your sunnies, post up some photos! There are plenty of knowledgeable folks here who can give you a better idea of what they are.

Now, dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus species) get along well with fish. They're readily available; I know Zimmerman's carries them. However, your sunfish may eventually grow large enough to eat them. Same goes for grass shrimp, which you should be able to collect easily in your area.

If you're having trouble ID'ing your sunnies, post up some photos! There are plenty of knowledgeable folks here who can give you a better idea of what they are.

Yeah, I've tried taking some pictures for that purpose, but the fish don't want to cooperate. I'll give it a try again tonight and see if I can't get some usable pictures for ID.

Now, dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus species) get along well with fish. They're readily available; I know Zimmerman's carries them. However, your sunfish may eventually grow large enough to eat them. Same goes for grass shrimp, which you should be able to collect easily in your area.

If you're having trouble ID'ing your sunnies, post up some photos! There are plenty of knowledgeable folks here who can give you a better idea of what they are.

BTW, do you have any suggestions for collecting grass shrimp? I'm guessing that you're going to suggest swishing around in vegetation with a net, but are there any passive techniques?

That's pretty much it. You can try minnow traps in vegetated areas, but don't expect huge success with that. Shrimp usually occur in numbers where they occur at all, so netting may well produce more shrimp per minute of actual effort (not even counting the time the traps are out unattended) than trapping would.

P. vigilax is a neat fish - I envy anybody who can get them in any numbers.

P. vigilax is a neat fish - I envy anybody who can get them in any numbers.

They've been fun to watch. I suspect you might be being sarcastic, but it's been fun messing around with them.

They've been fun to watch. I suspect you might be being sarcastic, but it's been fun messing around with them.

Nope - dead serious. I love these guys.

I agree, one really cool fish. My personal favorite among the Pimephales genus.

Blake