Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What are some good fish to help clean up the debris on the bottome of my FT. I had two catfish that were aqaurium type. They didnt last. I think the water got too cold at night. I live in S. California and the temps go as low as 68(ish) and colder in the winter.

To clarify, I am looking for something to clean the plant debris from the bottom.

have you tried a slo drain? (solids lifting overflow)... what kind of plant debris? falling leaves? cover the ft!

I have not tried that but I will look into it. I have duckweed and water lettuce that has remnants fall off. I fashioned a vacumm using a utility pump which is "OK" at best. Just thinking some sorta junk-eating fish might keep it under control.

Can you put a 'T' off your pump line to swirl the water in the FT, then locate your pump in the middle. It helps to pick up the solids.

I think goldfish, Koi, carp and catfish are bottom feeders.

You could try to get hold of someone's suckermouth catfish that got too big for their aquarium.. another name for them is common pleco (plecostomus).. I think they're the ones they call janitor fish that they throw one into the tilapia tanks in thailand etc..

Daveg, if you add fish to clean up the vegetative detritus then you will have the issue of fish faecal matter on the bottom of your FT.
As far as I see it, either way you will need to continue with your vacuuming, or perhaps do as Charlie or Keith have suggested.
I have a similar issue with the sunken and decomposing remnants of Azolla pinnata but am much less concerned with that than I am with Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) solid waste. I have installed a solids drain pipe across the bottom but only wish I had made it more elaborate in order to directly drain a larger area since it is proving problematic to get a decent swirl action going.
I wish you luck.