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Is there a good, somewhat small in size, bottom feeder that can do good in a community tank, but does not have to be in a school? I have a 20 gal tank, and am just starting out. So I want the biggest bang for my buck. I am not going to overstock, and I am going to follow what each fish needs, but I want to maximize the variety in my tank, while keeping them all happy.

Also, if I get a bottom feeder do I still need an algae eater fish? Or do I ever need an algae eater? And what is a small one of those?

Thanks AGAIN for the advice everyone

Tank Placement is really what will answer your question regarding Algae...If it will be near direct sunlight you will soon have algae depending on the amount of sunlight it will get a day......Also, how long you plan to keep your tank lights on will become a factor, if you have real plants they will be left on during the day, for fake plants not on long at all..etc.....Also, tank maintenance will become another issue.....You will get plenty of advice on this and on what type of fishes to get for your tank....Good Luck.....I would go for a Smaller Plec which would be both, bottom feeder and algae eater....but preferably I would still go for a school of Cory's

You may not need an algae eater, I haven't really had a need for one in my 20 gallon, although I do scrub algae from the glass on ocassion...I also have malasyian trumpet snails that do a great job of cleaning up leftover bits, algae and generally being cute. They don't eat plants, burrow in the soil and can reproduce on their own.

IMO the best "small" bottom feeder.

^_^

I have no algae eater in my tank, and i dont have algea either. there are other ways to control it eg through live plants. you could always go with 3 ottos for algae purposes, at 6" for the three they're not taking up as much space as a small plec which, althogh small, are very wide. or if do you want a larger algae eating plec, how about a bristlenose?