Stocking Question

So just before this I spent a half hour (ish) typing a nice, polite background story/autobiography explaining this question, tried to download the spell check option (I am not that great of a speller) and it erased everything. So due to lack of time I am just going to hit the highlights

- I really like this forum, it has really helped my tank, my fish, and me in the last three weeks I have used it.
- I am relatively new to the hobby (a year) and have had a real rough intro, lost allot of fish, but have learned allot in the process
- I really like Marble Sailfin Plecos. I had one as my first real; non-Miejers (North-west's Wal-mart) fish in my first ten-gallon tank and love its look ALOT! However, during a move it was injured and I had to put it down (could spell the past tense word for euthanasia.
- I am having minor algae problems in my hardy, planted tank (I just added tank details to my profile so I hope they show up) and don't like the look and the snail can't do the job alone.
- I want another Marble Sailfin Pleco, BUT it grows to 12 inches, and as a good hobbyist (or at least the one I inspire to be) I can't put it in a 29 gallon tank, and don't think the option of upgrading will be a realistic option in the time the fish will need it. (I'm a full time college student living in apartments and moving on a yearly/bi-yearly basis.
- THE POINT: Does anyone know of a good substitute for a Marble Sailfin Pleco that has the fin structure, minor shade changing, algae/dead plant eating power, and temperament of a Marble Sailfin, but not the size?

Thank you in advance for the help anyone gives me! This forum and its members are great!

Cool thank you very much for all the suggestions. I will look them over, research them a bit and let you know what I decide! By the way, Great site Krytan!

Oh yeah, Mustang boy, I am in the process of adding those extra tetra's. I was nervous about over stocking originally, but no more. Now I just need to find a pet store that has a good/non-diseased stock of fish. Also, I am a little nervous about the silver tipped tertas. The one I have really bullies the female guppy to the point where I have had him quaritined in a betta/breeder intank cage for about 2 weeks now. I am headed to the pet store this weekend to get more of those tetra's

I was thinking about a butterfly or pretty pleco. It is very similar to the clown pleco. Anyone have any advice/warnings about this decision? Also if I can't find a butterfly pleco I was looking at a tiger pleco which one website said was the same as a clown. The markings on both are really cool and the size is perfect.

Also this is my tank.


Do you think that little rock stack/cave will be enough cover? Also, when I had the Marble, he would hide out inside the conk shell. Will that work or is it to small. It is getting pretty crowded in there and I am very OCD about my tanks look (hence the reason this is a problem.) I don't really was some stupid hollow shark cave, or anything like that.

Thanks again everyone for all the help! : D!