Laticeps Stingray

[blindsides]

Hi I have a nice sized stingray and he is doing well in the big tank I have him in by himself. I have it decorated with live plants and some smooth stones at the rear of the tank. I have heard that it is not a good idea to put a pleco in with the ray because they like the slime coating on the rays body. Is this true? Or can you put a pleco in with him to control the algae? Or is there another way of controling the algae in the tank?

Thanks!

[OrionGirl]

Controlling the nutrients that feed the algae is your best bet. Regular water changes, removing uneaten food, and encouraging the existing plants (adding more, look into floating plants especially) will work better than any fish. Keep in mind that many plecos eat algae only as juveniles, but need a meatier diet as they mature.

[blindsides]

Thanks, I will dry that......would you recommend RO water?

[OrionGirl]

Only if you think the excess nutrients are being imported with your water changes. If you existing water source is low in nitrates and phosphates, I would not worry much. The change to RO would require some sort of supplementation for buffering, and not worth the trouble, IMO. Ofen, with rays, they tend not to clean up the smaller chunks of food, which then contribute to other problems. Additional plants, especially those that won't take away from the bottom area, will likely do more to help out. What kind of algae are you experiencing? Diatoms (so called brown algae) often blooms in new tanks, and fades out eventually. Cyano bacteria are a bigger pain to deal with, and few fish will eat them anyway.

[blindsides]

I think the nutrients are fine, I will try the floating plants. I just have the ole standard green algae. Thank you.