plants and plecos

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
wingate2581

wingate2581

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 24, 2007
1,000
0
0
horseheads, ny
:confused:ok so i want to put alot of plant life in my tank i have a bristlenose and a chocolate zebra also looking at putting a common albino in the tank as well.
SO
#1 first off will these three get along the bristlenosed is about 2 1/2 inches cholocat zebra is about 2 inches however the albino is about 6 to 7 inches will this be a problem.

#2 will there be any problems at dinner time with these three as far as size and agression.

#3 will the common albino and bristlenose eat my plant life i know the chocolate zebra wont eat or hardly any. but whats stopping the other two?
__________________
 
Shouldn't be to many problems given enough hiding spots. Given proper food, the plants will not have a problem with the plecos.
 
What size tank?

Bristlenoses are plant safe, I have one in my planted tank.

I've not found the commons to eat plants, but as they get big and clumsy, they tend to uproot / destroy them as the pass by them.
 
my common is about 6 inches and the tanks is going to be about a 45 or a 90 lol i haven't dicide but if my husband gets his way next week it will be a 90 :)
 
Big plecs will sometimes accidentily uproot and damage stem plants from a little scare or fright. But they should be fine with the plants. Oh, what plants do you wish to keep?
 
i don't know yet we are drawing up a plane and budget this isn't a project that will get started until after the first of the year i order a plant book which like list every species so i can firgure that out along with what lighting i should go with.

what do you suggest whats your favorite?? i will have a 45 gallon Hex tank to mess with or just a plain 55 gallon i haven't picked which one to use yet. hey can you answer this for me this might be silly but do you have to clean the substrate or does it like clean itself and do you have to do water changes for the plants or just your fish that you have in it
 
As others have said, the large common may uproot plants by accident, it should be fine with the smaller plecos, however it may bully them off their food- it depends on the individual personality of the pleco.
Also take into consideration that common plecos grow to 11-16inches long on average, and have been known to exceed that length, there are even examples of commons that have grown to 20inches long+, the eventual size of the pleco depends on many factors like its genetics, diet it is raised on, conditions in the aquarium etc.
 
If you are keeping plecs you want a tank with a large surface area compared to depth. Plecos live mostly on the bottom, so a deeper tank gives them no more space than a shallow tank. Plants generally like a shallower tank as well, more light gets to them than in a deep tank.

Not a hard and fast rule, but many tanks are a lot deeper than they are wide. Mostly because they look bigger from the outside, and this is fine for Angelfish, Discus etc. But if you are specifically looking for a pleco tank, get a wider tank rather than deeper. More surface area for air and more tank bottom for the plecos to live on.

Planting the tank wont affect the built up of gunge on the bottom of the tank, you will still need to clean the gravel. But the plants will absorb some nitrate and other nutrients from the water and generally improve the water quality. You may be able to do less water changes, or change the water normally and just let your fish enjoy the better water ;)

Cheers

Ian
 
thanks so much guys :) yes my commom will get big right now i have him a normal 55 gallon but he gets teased by my mubna cichlids they don't really hurt him but give him a hard time with food as they like the zucc and the cuc too lol there not so happy about the apples lol i want to best for them so maybe i will put the cichlids in the 45 hex and build a great big wall in the tank they should love that and then move everybody else in the 55 gallon more bottom space. however my 6 inch common albino is super active hes always out doing his thing hes not much of a hider hes all over all the time thats why i love him so much and want to best !!! thanks for all the advice and as for the planted tank that wont happen for awhile as we are on a buddget and we can't fit it in until after new years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom