Large common pleco's in a planted tank

[aquaholic]

why are these common pleco's not recommended in planted tanks? are they just big and clumpsy and very messy or will they actualy eat out holes in plant leaves?

 

[Eupterus]

Both.

 

[jmhart]

Yes, both. They'll destory your scape, and eat holes in any leaf big enough for them to sit on.

 

[Riiz]

If well fed, then you just have to worry about their clumsiness. Which means, you will be replanting every morning, hehe.

 

[aquaholic]

Ok, what do you guys recommend from plecos? I already have 2 albino BN, and I think I need 1 or 2 more, I just dont want to pay $50+ on a pleco that I will barely ever see anyways. I am considering a golden nuget, $36 at local lfs, he looks awsome I just dont know yet if they get big and messy. I say a rubberlip for $3.99 ) good price and they say he stays in the 5" range but I looked up on the internet that they get past 7"

 

[Virtuoso2K12]

all of the above, my pleco removed all my plants.

 

[jmhart]

So....why do you say you "need 1 or 2 more"?

 

[aquaholic]

For one to help clean algea and just to have some veriaty I think I have plenty of room for 1 or 2 more in the 210G

 

[jmhart]

If you just want them because you like them, go for it. Golden Nugget is one of my favorites.

However, if you're looking for something to munch on algae, you can also consider:

Otocinclus Catish
Siamese Algae Eater
Florida Flag Fish
Garra Pinigi
Nerite Snails
Amano Shrimp

All of which are great algae eaters, and can really provide some nice variety to a tank, in case you want options other than plecos. BN and Rubberlip are good algae eaters, but other than that most pleco's aren't that great.

 

[aquaholic]

No I dont want snails or amano shrimp, I will get a siames algae eater in a little bit though, but i want a pleco, cause they are plain cool in their own way, maybey I will get 1 g.nuget and one rubberlip.

Thanks jmhart for the info