Need Your Opinion

[bugsy66]

Hi, I have a 10 gal tank. In the past years I have always had a pleco in there to keep things clean. As you all know they grow to quite a size. I am lucky that I can trade mine in when ever I need to. But this time around I thought an Otocinclas would keep this tank nice and clean.

For the most part it does, the fat belly of the Oto says it all but my gravle inbetween water changes does not look so nice compared to when I had a pleco.

So I guess I need to ask, should I get a pleco like I use to have to keep the bottom clean or would a couple cory cats do better??

 

[KathyM]

I'm surprised you've found that the tank is not cleaner without a plec to be honest. It's generally a myth that they keep a tank clean, as they produce so much waste for their size. Some people also think that plecs will live off the waste food and algae in their tank, but this is another myth - plecs need a good variety of food, preferably of their own (courgette, melon, potato, plec tablets, etc). Otocinclus are best kept in groups - it might be because you only have one that the tank doesn't seem as clean? I haven't kept them personally, so someone on here might be able to advse you better on that.