Pleco for Planted?

Dirty Old Man

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 9, 2006
332
0
0
Arizona
I have a 40 gal planted breeder tank that I now have algae growing in. Any ideas on a type of pleco (or other fish) that will eat the algae but not eat my plants?
 

davo

Aimara
MFK Member
Jan 9, 2006
17,529
39
132
England
any ancistrus sp. (bristlenose plecs) (only one male, however many females) would be best. personally if you dont have particularly big fish i'd go with a group of oto's say 6-8. theres a zebra variety too. (Otocinclus vittatus)
 

softturtle

Piranha
MFK Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,296
56
81
38
N.W. Indiana
yup, oto's are your best bet. I'd put like a dozen in there if it is heavily planted.
 

WyldFya

Baryancistrus demantoides
MFK Member
Dec 23, 2005
20,791
67
132
Moscow, ID
The best for algae in a planted tank is to just dose with ferts and let the plants start taking all the nutrients. Bright lights also are a major help, as well as CO2 injections.
 

davo

Aimara
MFK Member
Jan 9, 2006
17,529
39
132
England
ottos are great, but they only get to 1.3"ish so you'll need a few. the zebra oto is a quite a bit more expensive.
 
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