Which pleco to go with? - Aquarium Advice

SerLunchbox · 12-31-2004, 07:09 PM

So in the next week or so, i will have the funds to go out and get a new pleco. Currently i believe i have a common pleco (5 1/2") for my algae eating bottom feeders. As of now, he is starting to eat my plants and leave a small amount of Algae behind (my ameca splendins are cleaning up what he is leaving behind). So now i am going to give him to a friend who has a 120 [acronym:9b760d0046="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:9b760d0046] tank that will allow him to grow more and be a bit more happy. So here is what i am wondering. I am going to get a new pleco but i am not sure which one to really go with. I can't get one that is going to outgrow my 50 gallon aquarium so that is why i was thinking of going with either a gold nugget or bristlenose pleco. I am not sure which one i want to go with. If they both perform extremely well with algae then i know which one i would prefer to go with. Here are the other stuff to go with my tank:

pH 7.5-7.6
[acronym:9b760d0046="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:9b760d0046] 11.5
[acronym:9b760d0046="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:9b760d0046] 9.5
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 3ppm
Ehiem 2213 cannister Filter
Penguin 170 [acronym:9b760d0046="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:9b760d0046] bio-wheel filter

50 US gallon aquarium housing:
2 adult and 3 juvenile angels
1 common pleco 5 1/2" (soon to be going)
3 adult and 5 juvenive ameca plendins
1 striped rafael catfish
3 celebes rainbow
3 adult botia modesta (apx 4" long each)

I have lots of wood and plants for all the fish to hide out in. If there are any other plecos i should consider then please let me know ... any info would be awesome!

[acronym:9b760d0046="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:9b760d0046]

Cheers

Jchillin · 12-31-2004, 07:19 PM

I would recommend some otos (now why would I say that...hmmm). Otos are smaller than the common pleco and really tear into algae.

FishLover14 · 12-31-2004, 07:31 PM

I would go with Royal Pleco-10 inches long- great on algea, It should do ok in those water parameters...as far as i know...

Dan

FancyGuppyGuy · 12-31-2004, 08:17 PM

Ok

I have my favorite too.

BullDog Rubbernose Pleco!!

They are smaller and they are pretty darn cool too!

I have had one in my 29 gallon for 3 years and hes only 3 inches long basically hes grown about 1/4 of an inch or so. He watches me and is very active as far as mvoing around the tank and getting the algae up. I have not had any algae of any kind in 3 years.

**QTOFFER** · 12-31-2004, 08:35 PM

I would check out the profiles on Planet Catfish before you buy.

As for my favorites ...Any of the dwarf ancistrus - they are hardworking algae eaters. I also like bristle nosed plecs for their hideous looks!

FancyGuppyGuy · 12-31-2004, 08:59 PM

I looked up the striped rubbernose bulldog pleco.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...tost/318_f.php

They are not expensive like some of the other smaller plecos.

Maillis · 12-31-2004, 09:31 PM

Rubbernose can usually be found for $5-6 at your local petsmart so that makes them attractive and they don't look half bad. I have a clown pleco in one of my tanks but he has 0 activity during the day, he never moves and what he eats is a mystery because i've never seen him do that either but he's cute and is also pretty inexpensive.

**Fishyfanatic** · 12-31-2004, 09:33 PM

Depending on how much you want to spend on a pleco, you could try a Zebra (L-46) Pleco. They grow to be about 3 inches and they are very nice looking. Then again, he will run you about $200. The Gold Nugget will grow to be about 6 inches. For about the same price as the Gold Nugget you could get a Net Pleco and they only grow to about 4 1/2 inches. Try this website, they have several Pleco's to look at.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/s...7&TopCatId=837

**Fluff** · 12-31-2004, 10:38 PM

Your have so many options with a 50 [acronym:c55bed23a5="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c55bed23a5] tank. I have leopards, tigers, pitbulls, bulldogs, bristlenosed, clowns and orange spotted ancistrus. All of which will stay under 6inchs. I agree you should take time to browse planetcatfish.com. Find a few you like, then check with your [acronym:c55bed23a5="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:c55bed23a5] to see what they can get for you.

Jchillin · 12-31-2004, 10:44 PM

Not withstanding all the other members advice, which is very good indeed...GO WITH THE OTOS!

12-31-2004, 07:09 PM	#1
SerLunchbox Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,526 Images: 1	Which pleco to go with? So in the next week or so, i will have the funds to go out and get a new pleco. Currently i believe i have a common pleco (5 1/2") for my algae eating bottom feeders. As of now, he is starting to eat my plants and leave a small amount of Algae behind (my ameca splendins are cleaning up what he is leaving behind). So now i am going to give him to a friend who has a 120 [acronym:9b760d0046="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:9b760d0046] tank that will allow him to grow more and be a bit more happy. So here is what i am wondering. I am going to get a new pleco but i am not sure which one to really go with. I can't get one that is going to outgrow my 50 gallon aquarium so that is why i was thinking of going with either a gold nugget or bristlenose pleco. I am not sure which one i want to go with. If they both perform extremely well with algae then i know which one i would prefer to go with. Here are the other stuff to go with my tank: pH 7.5-7.6 [acronym:9b760d0046="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:9b760d0046] 11.5 [acronym:9b760d0046="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:9b760d0046] 9.5 Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0 Nitrate 3ppm Ehiem 2213 cannister Filter Penguin 170 [acronym:9b760d0046="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:9b760d0046] bio-wheel filter 50 US gallon aquarium housing: 2 adult and 3 juvenile angels 1 common pleco 5 1/2" (soon to be going) 3 adult and 5 juvenive ameca plendins 1 striped rafael catfish 3 celebes rainbow 3 adult botia modesta (apx 4" long each) I have lots of wood and plants for all the fish to hide out in. If there are any other plecos i should consider then please let me know ... any info would be awesome! [acronym:9b760d0046="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:9b760d0046] Cheers __________________ Lunchbox ... "i'm a man, but i can change, if i have to, i guess" Tankless ... for now ... until i find what i really want (and what the wife lets me get!)

12-31-2004, 07:19 PM	#2
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	I would recommend some otos (now why would I say that...hmmm). Otos are smaller than the common pleco and really tear into algae. __________________ _________________________________

12-31-2004, 07:31 PM	#3
FishLover14 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 879	I would go with Royal Pleco-10 inches long- great on algea, It should do ok in those water parameters...as far as i know... Dan __________________ Dan

12-31-2004, 08:17 PM	#4
FancyGuppyGuy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: TN USA Posts: 282	Ok I have my favorite too. BullDog Rubbernose Pleco!! They are smaller and they are pretty darn cool too! I have had one in my 29 gallon for 3 years and hes only 3 inches long basically hes grown about 1/4 of an inch or so. He watches me and is very active as far as mvoing around the tank and getting the algae up. I have not had any algae of any kind in 3 years. __________________ I Love GUPPIES!!!

12-31-2004, 08:59 PM	#6
FancyGuppyGuy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: TN USA Posts: 282	I looked up the striped rubbernose bulldog pleco. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...tost/318_f.php They are not expensive like some of the other smaller plecos. __________________ I Love GUPPIES!!!

12-31-2004, 08:35 PM	#5
QTOFFER Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kew Gardens, NY Posts: 3,701 Images: 30	I would check out the profiles on Planet Catfish before you buy. As for my favorites ...Any of the dwarf ancistrus - they are hardworking algae eaters. I also like bristle nosed plecs for their hideous looks!

12-31-2004, 09:31 PM	#7
Maillis Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 176 Images: 4	Rubbernose can usually be found for $5-6 at your local petsmart so that makes them attractive and they don't look half bad. I have a clown pleco in one of my tanks but he has 0 activity during the day, he never moves and what he eats is a mystery because i've never seen him do that either but he's cute and is also pretty inexpensive. __________________ 55 Gallon Community - 2 Bala Sharks - 1 Sailfin Pleco - 30-40 Zebra Danios - 7 Orange Von Rio Tetras - 3 Otos - 1 Bamboo Shrimp 20 Gallon Menagerie - 4 German Blue Rams (2 Males, 2 Females) - 1 Dwarf Puffer - 1 Clown Pleco - 1 Candy Stripe Goby 5 Gallon Eclipse - 1 Female Betta - 2 Otos - 1 Ghost Shrimp

12-31-2004, 09:33 PM	#8
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	Depending on how much you want to spend on a pleco, you could try a Zebra (L-46) Pleco. They grow to be about 3 inches and they are very nice looking. Then again, he will run you about $200. The Gold Nugget will grow to be about 6 inches. For about the same price as the Gold Nugget you could get a Net Pleco and they only grow to about 4 1/2 inches. Try this website, they have several Pleco's to look at. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/s...7&TopCatId=837 __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

12-31-2004, 10:38 PM	#9
Fluff The Keeper Community Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Virginia Posts: 10,170 Images: 29	Your have so many options with a 50 [acronym:c55bed23a5="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c55bed23a5] tank. I have leopards, tigers, pitbulls, bulldogs, bristlenosed, clowns and orange spotted ancistrus. All of which will stay under 6inchs. I agree you should take time to browse planetcatfish.com. Find a few you like, then check with your [acronym:c55bed23a5="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:c55bed23a5] to see what they can get for you. __________________ ~Cindy

12-31-2004, 10:44 PM	#10
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	Not withstanding all the other members advice, which is very good indeed...GO WITH THE OTOS! __________________ _________________________________

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