Should I Buy A Pleco

[joshjames]

im going to the lfs tomorrow and am wandering if i should get a smallish pleco
my 75 gallon tank has been set up about a month now but already has algae growing due to high nitrate levels
i am doing waterchanges and thought i should get some sort of pleco to help clear it up
i have currently 4 platys 2 clownloaches 15 tetra so it isnt massively overstocked
do you reccomend i buy a pleco and if so which ones
i am also going to pick up a few gouramis
thanks for your help guys

 

[OldMan47]

You don't buy fish to cure algae problems. If you like plecos, one of the smaller varieties would work in a tank that small. I know the tank feels big but it would be too small for a common plec. Once I have a tank producing enough algae to feed them, I like otocinclus, but to each his own.

 

[joshjames]

im not going to get a common pleco there are other varieties which are smaller
also i already planned to get a pleco but now the algae problem has arisen i thought now would be a good time
my question was is it reccomendable to get one even though the tank isnt very mature and if so which type of pleco

 

[smegforbrains]

You could opt for a BN Plec or Clown Plec. Just beware that the Clowns can get aggressive at feeding time.

 

[MHunt]

Bristlenoses are great fish, and 2 or 3 would probably help to clear the algae as well as a single common pleco, and you've not got to worry about having a fish that gets over a foot long!!! Just remember that they will need green veg or algae tabs to suppliment their diet when the algae runs out.

 

[joshjames]

yes about the vegetable mannor how much would you feed say 3 BN pleco how often and what vegtable

 

[MHunt]

I feed mine an algae tab each every other day or so. You can also use shelled peas, they also appreciate cucumber too. Don't overfeed as they won't want to eat the algae then!

Edit - That said, A tank your size would happily accomodate a common pleco, just make sure your other tank mates would.

 

[Inchworm]

BNs are a good choice. I feed mine blanched lettuce, kale, zucchini, cucumber, and yellow summer squash and butternut squash. They also eat some flake food and some frozen bloodworms when I feed the other fish in the tank.

Here are some youngsters eating butternut squash: