Help me with a 55 gallon pleco please

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
pinkertd;3287540; said:
A 9" pleco is too large for a 55G tank. Plus it will add a lot to the bioload. Clown plecos are cute and stay small, but are very shy. The snowball pleco comes from black water area of the Rio Negro river in Venezuela. It really should be kept in a black water tank for success , even if tank raised. I would suggest one of the bristlenose varieties. You could actually easily keep 2 bristlenose plecos in that tank. They grow to a length of 3.5"-4", and some to 5" with the long fins. They are excellent tank cleaners and can tolerate a wider range of tank temperatures. I raise L144-long finned blue eyed yellow bristlenose and they are a gorgeous, non-plant eating peaceful pleco. I have lots of pictures over on aquariacentral same user name.
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I have to disagree that a 9" pleco is always too big for a standard 55. I'm successfully doing it and keeping top notch water quality. But I dont have a planted tank for it to destroy either(that's the problem I foresee in the OP's tank). But if you keep up on tank maintenance a 9" pleco is fine for a 55 IMO. you just have to be concious of leaving enough space between decor for them to move and have good filtration.
 
And also keep in mind that PlanetCatfish measurement include the tail. So a supposed 9" fish is going to be about 7" in reality.
 
Actually TwistedPenguin, PlanetCatfish goes by standard length(SL) and I believe that is without the tail. I could be backwards with my thinking though.
 
I agree Wingate, if you keep up with top notch water quality it can be done. Some people's idea of top notch water quality is not really top notch water quality. I've seen it too many times where hobbyists say they do "regular" maintenance and their parameters are all within "acceptable" limits, only to hear from them later that they have fish health issues directly related to declining water quality and dirty substrate. For someone that has never kept a pleco before, the amount of waste produced can be quite a surprise. So I tend to recommend conservatively for the sake of the fish. An experienced hobbyist can successfully stock bigger and more fish, no doubt about it! ;)

If algae eating isn't a requirement, the L134 is a beautiful small pleco (actually a peckoltia sp.). Omnivore, temp range 75-82F, peaceful in a community tank, about 4". Just not sure how they are with plants, but worth looking into!
 
pinkertd;3290785; said:
So I tend to recommend conservatively for the sake of the fish.
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Whew!! After your first post I did'nt want to push it and mention the 5"er that is in the 55 with the 9"er.:grinno: You are right about the waste being a surprise for many though, and are probably right in suggesting conservatively.
 
My biggest concern is room for it to move and turn around.
I know they are big-time waste producers. I am pretty fastidious about tank maintenance. I actually got lectured by a lady at my LFS for doing WC 1-2 x weekly instead of 2x a month before- my nitrates wouldn't build up enough for my plants before lol.

My last tank was an intentionally overstocked Mbuna tank- it was packed to the BRIM because of an extremely agressive Msobo male. he only stopped killing tankmates after I filled it full of fish. I had to do 50 percent changes weekly (love the python btw). Had no problems, only tank problems ended up being from a fungal infection precipitated by bad husbandry by my ex-mother-in-law.

I hate seeing poo on the bottom, so I can't let it slip by a week- drives me nuts!
 
zerojquan85;3281807; said:
your fish selection are the more peaceful non aggression type..

So i would say get a pleco that aren't aggressive..

Try L-190 Royal L-200 Green Phantom, L-081 Gold Nugget, Mango Pleco...
You might be able to find the 1st two in your LFS..

Or even try snowball pleco or other fancy.. None of the meat eating plecos.
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Agreed with a L-200 green phantomdue to their availablity and can actually do decent job of keeping a tank alage free n the price's reasonable- 20 bucks to 40 bucks per fish
 
I think I may go with the bristlenose for now. My son likes em. If I set up a tank for him *cough* I can move it if I want something else.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
 
That's a good choice too. :) I personally love my golden nugget, even though he hides most of the time. I also have a royal pleco. I'm not sure which one is doing it, but I find a LOT of pleco poop when I do wc. I know what you mean about the poop, I can't stand looking at it too. xD
 
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