Best Pleco For Ponds? - Aquarium Advice

Jaxom_Ruatha · 10-10-2004, 08:50 PM

Okay heres the situation:
I have a 540 gallon pond planted with anacharis, water lettuce, java moss, and java ferns. The fish currently in it are 4 weather loaches, 6 bronze cory cats, around 30 mosquito fish, about 30 assorted goldfish not including koi. So what would the best pleco or algea eating fish be for this kind of environment that would be compatible atleast with the goldfish, cory cats, and weather loaches?

RogerMcAllen · 10-10-2004, 08:55 PM

Can you describe the pond better? Is it indoor or outdoor? What are the dimensions? What is the pond temp?

Cafe Jeff · 10-10-2004, 09:54 PM

If the water's usually above 70, throw in a six pack of common and wait 6 months. Pleco heaven!

Jaxom_Ruatha · 10-11-2004, 08:22 PM

Well the pond is outdoor (I didn't know they had indoor ponds). The temperature is usually in the 70's, the deepest part is about 3.5 feet. It is 540 gallons. I would prefer reccomendations of algea eating fish or plecos other than the common pleco as I have heard they can harm and commonly kill goldies.

SquishyFish · 10-18-2004, 09:13 PM

I wouldnt suggest pleco's in a pond. They dont over-winter very well. Now, apple snails would be perfect. You can get them at your [acronym:e662aab77e="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:e662aab77e] and they usually run about 1.50 each. They are about the size of a golfball. They breed like teenagers at a frat party, so they will handle the algae load pretty easily. They will not make it through the winter though. Personally, I fell a little better about killing snails than a fish.

frog girl · 02-01-2005, 01:52 AM

So if my pond water temperature got in the 80's in some places would the plecos be unhappy??

RogerMcAllen · 02-01-2005, 02:24 AM

Depending on what kind, it shouldn't be that big of a problem as long as there arn't quick swings in temp. Cold is more the issue than hot.

10-10-2004, 08:50 PM	#1
Jaxom_Ruatha Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 115	Best Pleco For Ponds? Okay heres the situation: I have a 540 gallon pond planted with anacharis, water lettuce, java moss, and java ferns. The fish currently in it are 4 weather loaches, 6 bronze cory cats, around 30 mosquito fish, about 30 assorted goldfish not including koi. So what would the best pleco or algea eating fish be for this kind of environment that would be compatible atleast with the goldfish, cory cats, and weather loaches?

10-10-2004, 08:55 PM	#2
RogerMcAllen Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 2,361 Images: 16	Can you describe the pond better? Is it indoor or outdoor? What are the dimensions? What is the pond temp? __________________ Have your reviewed your aquarium products yet?

10-10-2004, 09:54 PM	#3
Cafe Jeff Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 511	If the water's usually above 70, throw in a six pack of common and wait 6 months. Pleco heaven! __________________ In theory there should be no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.

10-11-2004, 08:22 PM	#4
Jaxom_Ruatha Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 115	Well the pond is outdoor (I didn't know they had indoor ponds). The temperature is usually in the 70's, the deepest part is about 3.5 feet. It is 540 gallons. I would prefer reccomendations of algea eating fish or plecos other than the common pleco as I have heard they can harm and commonly kill goldies. __________________ 540 gallon outdoor pond with: 4 weather loaches 18 commons/comets 5 orandas 5-20 mosquito fish

10-18-2004, 09:13 PM	#5
SquishyFish Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 1,116 Images: 5	I wouldnt suggest pleco's in a pond. They dont over-winter very well. Now, apple snails would be perfect. You can get them at your [acronym:e662aab77e="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:e662aab77e] and they usually run about 1.50 each. They are about the size of a golfball. They breed like teenagers at a frat party, so they will handle the algae load pretty easily. They will not make it through the winter though. Personally, I fell a little better about killing snails than a fish. __________________ http://www.reef-aquarium.net 175gallon reef 5,100 [acronym:0d8cf742af="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:0d8cf742af] pond Fish are people too!

02-01-2005, 01:52 AM	#6
frog girl Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 395	So if my pond water temperature got in the 80's in some places would the plecos be unhappy?? __________________ "great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" - Albert Einstein

02-01-2005, 02:24 AM	#7
RogerMcAllen Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 2,361 Images: 16	Depending on what kind, it shouldn't be that big of a problem as long as there arn't quick swings in temp. Cold is more the issue than hot. __________________ Have your reviewed your aquarium products yet?

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