Best Plec

[AncientMariner]

I've never had a Plec before but feel my tank could do with one. As my bogwood is covered in red/brown furry stuff. Which I think must be some form of algae.

I've heard Brittlenose's are one of the best algae eaters? But I really don't like the look of these with their odd looking noses

So which others do a same job? How much do Plec's differ in their job role of being clean up crew?

 

[pieman]

It all depends on the size of your tank, have a look around planetcatfish.com, and look for some ones that you like the looks of and then most likely someone on this forum will of had experience with that pleco.

 

[AncientMariner]

It all depends on the size of your tank, have a look around planetcatfish.com, and look for some ones that you like the looks of and then most likely someone on this forum will of had experience with that pleco.

Ok cheers Pieman.

But if anybody can answer the questions it would be appreciated.

 

[smithrc]

you'll find plecs wont eat the beard algae i'm affraid....
larger tetras and mollys should though

 

[Ginge]

Even though they wont eat the beard algea you said "I've heard Brittlenose's are one of the best algae eaters? But I really don't like the look of these with their odd looking noses" then why not get a female they dont get these "odd looking noses". And i might be wrong but a common plec could be OK in a 70G UK i think

 

[Wanda hornsey]

Bristlenose Females dont really look any different to any other pleco shape wise and have the advantage they do stay small B)

 

[AncientMariner]

you'll find plecs wont eat the beard algae i'm affraid....
larger tetras and mollys should though

Well I ended up getting a Sailfin Pleco & I must say I am totally amazed what a superb clean up job he has done in less than 2 weeks. I had 4 pieces of bogwood in my 320ltr which was completely covered in a red/brown fur hair & it has now completely gone. (So I'm not sure it was beard algae, or maybe Plecs do eat it?) Anyway I'm absolutely delighted with the results.

Sorry if this is the norm for Plecs, but just wanted to mention it.

 

[nmonks]

Be sure you understand that no plec "stops" algae. Adding a fish -- any fish -- improves the conditions for the algae, and even an algae-eating fish is going to produce the nitrates and phosphates algae like. If you want a fish (or shrimp, or snail) to put an end to algae, you're out of luck. As AncientMariner mentions, some species will eat a lot of algae, but you will still need to manually remove it from the front glass, from leaves, and anywhere else a plec can't reach. Really the only sure-fire way to stop algae is to grow plants. I wrote a pinned topic on plecs and algae in the beginners section.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=135919

Equally important is the fact that most algae-eating catfish actually need a mixed diet including things like bloodworms. Many also need wood, either as dietary fibre to keep them healthy or as an actual food source. But do keep in mind that they have needs and requirements of their own, and typecasting them as algae-eaters/scavengers isn't a good idea.

Plecs are great fish, and I can't imagine having a freshwater aquarium without one. I happen to like Rineloricaria spp. whiptail cats as all-round community tank oddballs; Panaque nigrolineatus as a fairly hardy, colourful jumbo plec; and Otocinclus spp. as all-purpose omnivores in tanks with other small fishes (but nothing big enough they might parasitize).

Cheers,

Neale

 

[AncientMariner]

Be sure you understand that no plec "stops" algae. Adding a fish -- any fish -- improves the conditions for the algae, and even an algae-eating fish is going to produce the nitrates and phosphates algae like. If you want a fish (or shrimp, or snail) to put an end to algae, you're out of luck. As AncientMariner mentions, some species will eat a lot of algae, but you will still need to manually remove it from the front glass, from leaves, and anywhere else a plec can't reach. Really the only sure-fire way to stop algae is to grow plants. I wrote a pinned topic on plecs and algae in the beginners section.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=135919

Equally important is the fact that most algae-eating catfish actually need a mixed diet including things like bloodworms. Many also need wood, either as dietary fibre to keep them healthy or as an actual food source. But do keep in mind that they have needs and requirements of their own, and typecasting them as algae-eaters/scavengers isn't a good idea.

Plecs are great fish, and I can't imagine having a freshwater aquarium without one. I happen to like Rineloricaria spp. whiptail cats as all-round community tank oddballs; Panaque nigrolineatus as a fairly hardy, colourful jumbo plec; and Otocinclus spp. as all-purpose omnivores in tanks with other small fishes (but nothing big enough they might parasitize).

Cheers,

Neale

I know Plecs don't stop algae. I just wanted a fish to do exactly what it has done (Eat what was on the bogwood). I do 25% water change each week & have an excellent filteration in a Eheim 2128 external. I feed a mixture of Pleco wafers & various Tetra pro high energy flakes, but I'll need to get some bloodworm (I used to have the ones in jelly)

Anyway thank you for the info Neale. Very good topic

 

[nmonks]

Do you know, you're the second person who's mentioned these jelly foods to me. I've never heard or seen them in 20+ years of fishkeeping. Are they any good? One thing I've found with frozen bloodworms is my fish don't like all the brands. Sometimes they don't like them at all... I bought 5 packs the other day from a local tropical fish shop instead of my preferred retailer, only to find my fish hardly eat them! Very annoying.

(I used to have the ones in jelly)

Anyway, thanks for the comments. I think you and I both understand what a plec can and can't do; it's just when you hear retailers say things like "oh, you'll need a plec to stop algae" that my hackles rise. I think plecs are fabulous fish, and I've kept all sorts of them, and loved them all. I just like to make sure people respect them for being worthwhile fish in their own right, rather than merely glorified algae scrapers.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[AncientMariner]

To be honest Neale the 'Bloodworm in jelly' wasn't that great. Although they came in a lovely 'School style tomato ketchup packet' (If you know what I mean) the fish tended to leave the jelly part of the meal & it is this I am almost sure started the algae type growth in some sort of way. The uneaten jelly was on a few pieces of the bogwood & within a few days had this red/brown fur growing on it, which then spead.

 

[AncientMariner]

Here is a picture of the little fella in question. He's currently around the 5 inch mark.

 

[KathyM]

Was that taken just after he went in? Bless him he looks really thin and stressed.

Heres my gibby of the same size:

What are you feeding yours?

Can I also be dead cheeky and ask what the dimensions of your tank are? Obviously De Niro (yes we named the gibby) is going to outgrow his tank massively and it'd be interesting to see what others think would be suitable. He's only in a 48" x 15" x 18" while he's small. Obviously we need to look into what he'll need when he reaches 15-18"+.

Thanks

Kathy
xx

 

[AncientMariner]

Hi there, my littla guy is 5 inches from nose to tail btw. (To be fair the picture doesn't really do him justice, but yes he'd only been in about 2 weeks when this pic was taken) I must say looking at your pic compared to mine they do look rather different. But I can assure you he is in tip top condition & extremely happy. He has cleaned up 4 pieces of bogwood in less than 2 weeks. (See my previous threads on this subject) I feed him on pleco wafers, Tetra energy flakes & veg at present.

Oh yer - check my sig at the bottom for tank dimensions.

 

[KathyM]

I'm really sorry - I didn't mean to imply in any way he wasn't looked after

We're in the same boat tank wise - looking into getting a 5ft x 2ft x 2ft in case De Niro reaches 18"+.