Adopted a common pleco- need some help!

[Wyvlen]

The owners were keeping this guy in a 20 gallon (i dont know if it was long or tall), but he would've been almost half the length of the tank! He's in my 40 gallon temporarily until I can get my 'fish room' as I have dubbed it, set up. Going to get some giant tanks and all that.

But anyway, my question is... How can I make the current (and future) tank best for him? What kind of substrate, and does the brightness of the light during the day matter, or should have lots of shady places with plants to dim the tank up a bit?

 

[Coryloach]

Common plecos are detritus eaters and spend a lot of time on the substrate but also on the glass munching on biofilm. A thin layer of sand would be a good option. Large plants are fine with them. They go around them. Smaller ones may take a hit from being flattened all the time. They're not light sensitive and a happy pleco would be out all day but they do like "dancing" at night when they have the tank to themselves. They like veggies and fruit a lot.

 

[Wyvlen]

Common plecos are detritus eaters and spend a lot of time on the substrate but also on the glass munching on biofilm. A thin layer of sand would be a good option. Large plants are fine with them. They go around them. Smaller ones may take a hit from being flattened all the time. They're not light sensitive and a happy pleco would be out all day but they do like "dancing" at night when they have the tank to themselves. They like veggies and fruit a lot.

Thanks so much! I've definitely got some work set up for me, haha. I'm going to have lots of fun feeding him though xD

 

[Jexnell]

Thing big, in the long run will need something 2 foot wide at least cause commons get big fast.