I love my pleco,s they are the EVS of my tanks, scrubbing algae every week or so from a 180 tall is problematic to say the least, vacuuming out the poopies is allot easer. its a fair exchange in my book.
for example this is homers tank, I use as an example as it sits in the window and has for years, I have never cleaned the glass on the inside or any decore, he does that, I change the water and vacuum aggressively every week,
thats my small tank, there is an Oscar and a little F1 jag, mom and dad are in the 145, 180 has 2 large tiger Oscars. along with a sun cat, and BKG, all of them get along with the Plecos, seems just because they really not know what to make of them, they will try and nip at them, but pleco really not care, they are a armored fish, and display no aggression, they will move away when nipped, then go about there bussness,.
I am not trying to sell you on pleco,s. just saying to not underestimate there worth.