Advice needed for a small Plec

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 25, 2006
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Uk
I have a 155 litre tank which had a common plec in when I got it, I have now given this Pleco to the pet shop to display as it was to big for our tank. Since it has gone the tank is becoming dirty so I would like to get another to clean it up abit for me. I have at present
15 neons
3 guppys
5 danios
5 rainbows
1 clown loach (soon to be removed)
1 Silver gourami (soon to be removed)
2 Otocinclus cats.

Which type of pleco is best to go in this tank that will not grow too big?
 
Well what are you looking to have it for? Do you have green algae problems, brush algae, beard algae, cyanobacteria? Do you just want something that will help with the algae clean up? Do you want something that had specific features (color, pattern, bristles, activitiy)? Answer these, and then I can point you in a better direction.
 
Well as im new to this I would like one that is not to expensive and one that will eat alot of algae. Since I gave away my last pleco the tank now has a fine dust, almost like sand build up on plants and the heater which before was not there.
 
Sounds like you have a detritus problem, this can be fixed by putting a powerhead into the tank. As to a cheap pleco that stays small and eats a lot of algae, you can look at bristle nose plecos. One thing to keep in mind, the otos you have (also of the loricariidae family) are also algae eaters. You may want to look at a small group of them.
 
Add another, there isn't enough movement in your tank to stir up the detritus so that the filter can pick up the mess.
 
Im not sure if I can add anymore in the way of Powerheads and lighting or anything else.
 
Is this the same tank as the one with the plants??? If it is, you should still have room for adding a powerhead. Adding another pleco isn't going to fix your detritus problem, unless you get another large one that stays out in the open, and swims often. How is the powerhead in the tank?
 
The powerhead is fixed to the bottom of the filter tray if that is what you mean, it was also replaced not so long ago by the last owner so it should be pretty good. I think it moves 1000 litres an hour.
 
I'd be going after a powerhead that did at least 350 gph in a 40 gallon tank. It needs to be near the bottom pointing downwards or diverted downwards if possible. This will keep movement on the bottom, and enable the detritus to move toward a filter intake.
 
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