If you have a freshwater tank, it is important to clean the inside of the tank regularly. The best way to do this is with live plants and algae eaters like Platy fish. But are Platy fish good for cleaning tanks? Do Platy Fish Clean Your Tank?
Well, the answer is yes and no. Platy fish consume some algae and other organic debris in their tank, but they cannot clean everything.
Platys can be an effective method for removing algae from your tank, but they won’t remove other types of debris that accumulate in the water, which means that you will still need to maintain a regular clean-up schedule.
This blog post will cover all aspects of how to maintain your saltwater or freshwater aquarium while using plats, as well as some precautions about relying too heavily on them for cleaning purposes.
Do Platy Fish Clean The Tank?
Do Platy fish clean your tank? This isn’t a question that everyone has asked, but it is still something that people often wonder about. They might have heard Platy fish can clean the tank, but they’re not entirely sure.
The answer is simple: yes and no. In the end, it depends on what you want to see happen in your tank. For example, if you want algae removed from the walls of your tank or gravel cleaned up, then Platy fish might be the perfect option for this kind of work, but if you want to keep your tank clean and clear, it’s not the best idea.
Platy fish are great for doing some of these tasks but they don’t do them all. So, if you have other options available in your home, like a filter or an aquarium vacuum cleaner, then use those instead. Your platy fishes will be happier because they will have more to do.
How Can You Clean Platy Fish Tank?
If you decide to get Platy fish for your tank, keep an eye on them and clean their tanks every week. If you don’t do this, Algae will cover all the tanks or have dirty water that can make them sick.
Clear The Algae:
This is the most important task when it comes down to keeping a clear and clean tank. If you don’t have any other options than using the Platy fish to clear off algae, then do this every couple of weeks or so but make sure that they are not overworked if you want them around for a long time.
Clean Aquarium Decorations:
Try to avoid putting anything in their tanks that will be difficult for them to clean and can become a big mess. This means that you should avoid putting anything that has sharp edges or is too heavy in their tank, like rocks from the beach, for example.
Clean Gravel:
Gravel will be covered with algae. So, it needs to be vacuumed regularly if you want your tank to have a clean and healthy appearance.
Replace Water Every Week:
You should change the water in your tank every week for two reasons: this will keep it fresh and nice to look at. Secondly, you don’t want any ammonia build-up, which can be harmful if allowed to stay untreated. Do not overdo it, as too much water change is harmful to your aquarium fish as well.
Dechlorinator:
When you change the water, make sure to get a dechlorinator because if not, your fish will start dying. Chlorine is used in tap water when treated with chlorine, which can be harmful to platy fishes. Hence, if you don’t want any fatalities, use one of these products designed especially for aquariums.
Live Bacteria:
Another product that you should use if you have a tank with live plants is live bacteria. These will keep the water clean and clear, but they also create more oxygen in your fish’s environment, making for a happier home.
Keep Plants:
If you want to avoid making your platy fishes as stressed as possible, then make sure to keep some plants in their tank. They will help it stay cleaner and give the fish a place of comfort to rest when they get tired from all this work.
Check Water Chemistry:
You should know about water chemistry before you fill your aquarium with platy fishes because if not, there is a chance that it won’t be perfect for your fish to live in, and they will die.
Use Filter:
You should know about water chemistry before you fill your aquarium with platy fishes because if not, there is a chance that it won’t be perfect for your fish to live in, and they will die.
Clean Exterior With Vinegar:
If you want to keep your tank clean and have a good-looking exterior, then all it takes is cleaning with vinegar once in a while. This will help remove any hard water spots on the glass or plastic of the tank, so make sure you do this before putting them away for winter.
Can You Use Platy Fish To Remove Algae In Your Tank?
No, these fish are not a natural algae remover and will end up covered in it. You want them to clean up algae and other things in your tank, that’s great, but don’t rely on them too much or depend on them completely as the only thing cleaning it all up. You need at least one filter going in your tank and a way to vacuum the gravel.
If you want them as an algae remover, you should consider buying a Siamese Algae Eater or another type of fish known for this task while also making sure they have the proper tank conditions to live in. You have to get rid of algae naturally from the tank or take algae from artificial methods.
Why Shouldn’t You Depend On Your Platy Fish For Cleaning The Tank?
If you depend too much on your platies, that will probably overwhelm them with the work to do. This will make them stressed out or even die.
If you want to use your Platy fish for this task, you should know that they are too small and exhausting work. Furthermore, it is not the best idea to depend on them for cleaning because if anything goes wrong, then all of those little fishes will die, which makes it very risky to put them in.
If you want your platy fishes as a helper, then make sure that they are not overworked and their water is clean for them to thrive in. In addition, it would help if you took care of all other possible tasks like taking out decorations, cleaning with vinegar, vacuuming gravel, etc.
Some Fish Who Clean The Tank:
If you want your tank to be clean and don’t care about the platy fish, other fish can do this for you, like the Siamese algae eater. These will eat any algae growing on plants or rocks and won’t die from it, which is positive.
Some fish can be counted on for cleaning the tank, like stingrays or catfish, but these are too big and should not be added to your home because they won’t fit in the tank.
FAQs:
Mmm, I’m sure you have some questions about these little fish that live in tanks with us, so don’t worry, we will answer them for you!
Are Platy Fish Dirty?
No, these fish are not dirty and will do just fine with one water change per week which is what you should be doing anyway to keep the tank clean.
What Do Platies Like In Their Tank?
These fish are easy to please, and they don’t need a lot of things. They prefer to have some decor, water plants like Java Moss or Cabomba, and they love it when you give them some live food every once in a while.
Conclusion:
We can learn from this blog post that platy fishes are not the best at cleaning the tank and are a “nice to have” but not a necessity. They can be great companions for your aquarium, though!
If you want a clean tank, then make sure to do these things every week; one, change the water, and two, use a dechlorinator that will help protect your fish from ammonia buildup or chlorine in tap water. You can use other methods like live bacteria, but only a sponge filter or bio-wheel.