Going Acrylic/Have Plecos

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C

Chromobotia

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 12, 2008
1,136
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68
Southeastern PA
All,

I know this has been debated before. I've done a search and read all the posts. It seems that there is a lot of opinions out there and little real life experience with having Plecos in an acrylic tank.

I will be upgrading to a 500 gallon acrylic soon and I would like to hear from those that have actually kept Plecos in their acrylic tank. I know about the Panques and their teeth. I will not be going there, no Royals for me.

I currently have (2) 8 inch Gold Spot Commons and (1) 6 inch Rhino Pleco. As far as I can tell from observation and pictures from Planetcafish.com, these two species have little or no teeth. I am debating about moving them to the new tank when it is set up.

I would like to hear from MFKers that have kept Plecos in an acrylic tank for a least 1 year. What was your experience? Did you do more damage to the tank than the Plecos?

Thanks.
 
I have heard that big plecos have the potential to leave craters in your tank. I have a bunch of plecos in an older acrylic tank that I haven't seen any major damage. However, I personally don't think I'd take a brand new perfect tank and throw in a pleco. I'd probably let it get broken in a bit and then throw in some plecos that aren't huge. :) Hopefully, someone can give a little better info.
 
Plecos will ruin the tank. I had a 90 with a 6 inch scarlet and a 10 inch common and they ruined my acrylic 90. So say nothing of what the watermelon did to it. Don't do it!
 
I thank Wet Whiskers and Allan01230 for their response. Although I don't believe that my Plecos have teeth and may possible not damage the interior of an acrylic tank, I'm not going to risk it. I'm not sure what I going to do with them in the long run. I'm not please at the thought of getting rid of them. I thought about keeping the Plecos current tank running but unlike other MFKers, I don't think I could possible maintain more than one tank.
 
I have a 12inch gold spot in a 180 acrylic with various ca cichlids. he has lived in there for atleast 4 yrs. no damage to tank as far as i can tell.
 
I have had huge (15") plecos in my acrylic tank with no problems. I currently have 3 in my acrylic now. Common (7"), watermelon (8") and a goldie (5").

I have 2 common plecos (15" & 8") in my pond armor sealed 1500 and again no issues.

I am 99% sure this is an urban legend.

And, you're right the people "who hear" or "know of a friend who said" are not a good source for any information.
 
I had a huge Royal in my 8Fter and never had a problem. It busted a seam :(, but when it was up and running i neversaw even the slightest scratch. The only fish I ever heard of messing up an acrylic is a trigger.
 
You guys are making this a hard decision if I should throw the Plecos in the new tank or not. I find it interesting that one person said their Watermelon destroyed the tank while someone eles had no damage done from theirs.

Perhaps it comes down to not knowing if the damage is done by the owner while cleaning or the Plecos.
 
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