My tank had developed a "smell". After doing research I found it is
Probably caused by left over food and/or a dead fish or two that has been laying around. The problem is I have to take out the ordaments and clean under them, I have a huge rock pile in the middle of my tank (it consists of 10-12 rocks the size of my fist, and on that is about a foot long. My algea eater lives in there and NEVER comes out, I always think he's dead, but then one day I see his tail sticking out... How can I
Move the rocks without one squishing him? Or is there a way I can coax him out? The rock pile is definantly not going back in!

Also, I've siphoned the sand and areas I can get to, but I know under the rocks is discusting!

So you have a siphon similar to this?

http://www.aquarticles.com/images/Coleman/Coleman2_image005.jpg


Mine works like a charm

Yes I have one like that but it won't get under or behind the rocks, I have a small one as well, but it is still to large..

Is this the same tank you put the angelfish in??

Yes, but I've gotten it all clean now... Now by your question marks I'm assuming there is something wrong with this situation?

If your algae eater is a plecostomus, or some other sucker cat, he is most likely the culprit who ate the fins off the angel fish. You will see him come out in the dark and try to go after healthy fish. Usually, they can't get to faster fish. However, larger angels aren't to quick.
The smell, of sulfur/rotten egg/swamp, is from decomposing waste. This will kill everything in the tank when it is stirred up. Clean it more often and feed less amounts of food at feeding. Feed once a day, instructions tell you more but they sell the product.

No, the angel was attacked by the goldfish, and was then moved into this tank.

Also, the more fish, the more overcrowding, the more waste and the more it will smell.

You did state in your other thread that your fish are overcrowded.

From what I've been told, it's one inch of fish per gallon.

So, if you have a 10 gallon tank and a five inch Angel fish with a five in goldfish, you can only have those two fish in the tank. If you want more fish, you need a bigger tank.

If your algae eater is a plecostomus, or some other sucker cat, he is most likely the culprit who ate the fins off the angel fish. You will see him come out in the dark and try to go after healthy fish. Usually, they can't get to faster fish. However, larger angels aren't to quick.
The smell, of sulfur/rotten egg/swamp, is from decomposing waste. This will kill everything in the tank when it is stirred up. Clean it more often and feed less amounts of food at feeding. Feed once a day, instructions tell you more but they sell the product.

Wow, I didn't know this about the pleco's. I have two tanks one 10 gallon with the pleco about 3 inches long, and he doesn't ever seem to eat the algae, I feed him those pleco logs though because he looked so skinny, a molly and 3 platy's and a 21 gal high with a pearl dwarf guarmi some cherry barbs, rummy nose, a few red eye tetras and some king blue tetras. I had a rainbow guarmi in with the 10 gallon tank and after living a seemingly healthy life for a few months just up and died. I bought all new filters and rocks and more plants. No deaths as of yet. Thanks for the info!

Sorry to hijack Emily :o

Guys,
The rule of thumb is 1" per gal under normal circumstances. Meaning, normally you won't put in the high maintenance and time that overcrowding calls for(more cleanings/water changes/larger filter with more gph). It is best advised not to overcrowd, one small mishap and it could be a disaster. More water takes more time to foul, as simple as that.
P.S.The waste from a 1" tetra is not equal to a 1" goldfish. Goldfish need more room due to their girth.
Plecos will not eat your algae if there is enough food on the gravel. I always found them to love algae wafers. You will enjoy watching them eat.