Best Pleco for Acrylic Planted Aquarium?

[Twiz]

Hi all,

Looking for some input on what type of Pleco I might be able to use in a 75g acrylic that will be fully planted. I have read that some large plecos will scratch the acrylic, but does this mean smaller ones won't? For example, one of the species that get to about 5"?

Also, I have read that plecos will destroy all plants and I have also read that plecos prefer a planted aquarium...does anyone have any positive experiences with a pleco and live plants?

Thanks in a advance for any answers. I am moving toward fully live planted and either Discus/Angels and found out my golden algae eater will harass the fish...so looking for an algae eating alternative!

 

[Dangerdoll]

Hi all,

Looking for some input on what type of Pleco I might be able to use in a 75g acrylic that will be fully planted. I have read that some large plecos will scratch the acrylic, but does this mean smaller ones won't? For example, one of the species that get to about 5"?

Also, I have read that plecos will destroy all plants and I have also read that plecos prefer a planted aquarium...does anyone have any positive experiences with a pleco and live plants?

Thanks in a advance for any answers. I am moving toward fully live planted and either Discus/Angels and found out my golden algae eater will harass the fish...so looking for an algae eating alternative!

For algae eating fish, you may want to choose a school of otocinclus. They are effecient and will keep the plants clean as well. As far as the pleco goes, I would definitely look into your smaller plecos as the larger ones will most definitely uproot a lot of your plants given time and growth. As far as the plecos scratching the tanks, not sure of that though I've never gone acrylic. Some will say that plecos like to attach to the sides of Angels and Discus for their tasty slime coat but this is in cases of starvation on the pleco's end. They need to be supplimented in order to thrive.

 

[247Plants]

You will be fine with some of the smaller plecos in your tank. I have 3 rubberlips in my 60 gallon and they seeem to do great!

 

[Aislinn]

Some will say that plecos like to attach to the sides of Angels and Discus for their tasty slime coat but this is in cases of starvation on the pleco's end. They need to be supplimented in order to thrive.

This is also true of the otocinclus. They're little and cute, but they have voracious appetites, and in almost all cases their diet needs to be supplemented because the average tank can't manufacture the amount of algae they need. Any fish, when starving, will resort to drastic measures. If you don't provide the food & nutrients they need, they'll get them any way they can - usually by eating each other. If that doesn't work, they waste away and die.

 

[Marinemom]

It may be that plecos will go after other fish if they are starving but I have also seen perfectly healthy and well fed plecos go after the flat sided fish for thier slime coat even if they are well fed. It seems that it is just too tempting for them since these are slower moving fish and easier to attach to and attack.

Marinemom

 

[BrkD]

i have 3 albino bristlenose plecos in my 55g. from what i heard they get up to only 4-5". mine are only abour 2-3". they are clumsy and very curious creatures, gotta love their personalities. like most plecos, they are nocturnal and hide most of the day but i see mine swimming around very often.

from my experience its better to put the plecos in the tank after the plants ahve rooted into the substrate well. i few a few clumps of loose glosso and uprooted stem plants from time to time. but for the most part they wont dig up anything.

heres the tank that they are in.

still an immature tank.

 

[fishcatch22]

I would also reccomend a school of otos, anywhere between 5 and 25 should do depending on your algae level and current stock. if you run out of algae, I reccomend feeding veggie wafers. go for hbh, it has the lowest amount of animal matter of the algae wafers i've seen and they are strict herbivores. zuchhini and sometimes blanched green vegtables are also eaten. SAEs would also be a good alternative or in additon to the otos. they get about 5-6" and you could have 3-5 in there.

IME most plecos will scratch up acrylic.

 

[Pagan]

Fishcatch22:

I wish someone would tell my otos that they're strict herbivores. They gladly eat shimp pellets, zucchini, green beans, plus whatever else they can find on the bottom of the tank, and they are the healthiest looking/acting otos I've seen in a long time.