Best large sized cleaner

[MonsterScot]

The glass on my six footer is getting dirty with algae quite regularly now and I was wondering other than scraping it off which is really awkward to do what else can I do i.e. what loaches could be added for cleaning. I've already got a leopard spotted plec which does nothing but sit under the log all day long. What would be best? Preferably something large as anything under 3-4 inches will no dounbt fall victim to the aro and the other inhabitants.

 

[SteveR]

Hate to break it to you but no fish "clean", in fact anything you add, will increase your waste, not decrease it. Just scrub the glass, we all have to do it. There are certain fish that really graze on algae, some small plecs, and I emphasize small, but they create ALOT of poo themselves which in turn increases the nitrates and therefore the algae growth. Food for thought.

 

[redinfinity]

Use a magnet scraper buddy

 

[phillydog1958]

Use a magnet scraper buddy

If you're just trying to get algae off of your glass, magnets are the way to go. If you have it growing on the fixtures in your tank, then you might need fish assistance.

 

[WyldFya]

Depending on what you have, snails are a very good cleaner.

 

[Lupin]

What other fish do you have aside from the pleco?
How big is the tank?

Ramshorns in particular can clean up algae in my experience. So do nerites but the additional nerites may strain your bioload. They eat solely algae although on rare occasions, they will take pea flavored gel foods and even veggies particularly cucumbers. Algae remains their primary diet so you need to make sure there is algae supply constantly for them to eat. They are much better protected from predation than most snail species although the horned ones have spines that could injure your fish if they accidentally graze themselves on them.

 

[vaine111]

Get a flagtail and you won't regret it

 

[WyldFya]

Columbian ramshorns are one of the best cleanup crews you can get.

 

[Smitty0044]

Columbian ramshorns are one of the best cleanup crews you can get.

Been looking for something along this guys lines as well just lost my corry cat do to its size literally just watched my arrow get him

and does the magnet actually work i thought it was a gimmick lol

 

[FSM]

Magnet cleaners work great on some types of algae. If you can clean it off by hand without a razor blade, a mag float will work. Algaes like green spot or black brush won't come off with it though.