algae eaters...recommendations?

adblair, how much more maintenance do your live plants cause you?
I mean what more do you have to do? More frequent water tests?? Trimming dying leaves of course. I would really like some leafy (not moss) ground cover over about 1/3 of my tank but I'm not sure how difficult it would make cleaning. Also need some advice about floating plants (as dwarf gouramis and neon tetras apparently love them). However I'm most interested in the difficulties surrounding the acquisition of plants?
 
I have 3 Oto's in my planted 40 gallon. They are thriving and keep the plants clean. The only area they have trouble keeping clean is the around the top of the tank on the glass. It appears that it's because the current is too strong for them to hang on for very long.

They don't hide and aren't scared when we walk in the room like all of my Cory's.

But to answer your question, yes they are sucking all time, but are active and jump from place to place.

I am told you want to get at least 3, because they are more comfortable in the company of other Oto's, but don't "school" all the time like Tetras.

I also have a SAE, who has gotten quite large, and he doesn't do as good a job on algae anymore because he's spoiled by prepared food. he's also become a bit of a bully, as where the Oto's keep to themselves and no one really bothers them.

my $.02
chris
 
Originally posted by jb_lyndon
I can't seem to find the adult size for a rubber nosed pleco.
ANy Idea?
Click to expand...
As far as i can tell i think around 4-6 inches(pretty similar to bristlenosed)...i had one a few years ago in a 100 gallon that never got over 5 inches.
 
I think a razor blade is the best algea eater yet! I just razor the glass and do a water change. I have a few CAE and ottos and plecs ad they clean the plants fine! If a leaf gets beard algae I just cut it off.....
I have one tank in a North window and the glass gets a lot of aglae. the razor is great and the plants love the natural light!
 
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