Pleco for 10 gallon tank?

[OSCARLOVER]

I gave my girlfriends oldest sister a 10 gallon tank that I had not being used. She has always loved fish. She has 3 young daughters that keep the 10g in their bedroom. I hooked them up with a filter that is meant for a 20-30g tank.
My g/f sister does not do any maintenance on the tank other than doing a w/c every now and then. Anyways last night I was over at her house and noticed that the tank had so much algae you could not see in the tank. So I cleaned off the glass and behold the 3 goldfish are all still alive.
Her tank really needs a small pleco. It does not have to be pretty just has to kick butt at cleaning the tank and gravel.
Are their any suggestions as to a cheap pleco that will get the job done?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[nuth88]

I gave my girlfriends oldest sister a 10 gallon tank that I had not being used. She has always loved fish. She has 3 young daughters that keep the 10g in their bedroom. I hooked them up with a filter that is ment for a 20-30g tank.
My g/f sister does not do any maintence on the tank other than doing a w/c every now and then. Anyways last night I was over at her house and noticed that the tank had so much algy you could not see in the tank. So I cleaned off the glass and behold the 3 goldfish are all still alive.
Her tank really needs a small pleco. It does not have to be pretty just has to kick butt at cleaning the tank and gravel.
Are their any suggestions as to a cheap pleco that will get the job done?

Thanks for all the help!

Try a Rubber Lip or a Bristlenose, They tend to stay on the smaller side and do a great job of cleaning.

IMHO.....

 

[100GAL]

JUST A REGULAR PLECO SHOULD DO THE JOB.

 

[amesbien]

a regular "common" if that what your talking about will not only outgrow that tank in like 2 months but wont do anything, common plecos just poop and thats it. Infact a lot of plecos don't eat a lot of algae how bout doing the maintenance for her since u did give her the tank and if u really want something try an oto or smaller algae eater.

 

[abpositive]

JUST A REGULAR PLECO SHOULD DO THE JOB.

For a 10 gallon?

Hmmm...

NOT a good idea.

EXTREMELY bad idea.

otos are the best choice for a tank that small.

If you MUST have a plec, then really the rubberlip is the only one that might work, but the bioload might be too much for a tank that small.

 

[BIGgourami]

i think they're called flying foxes. they're silver with a black stripe from head to tail. they eat algea pretty good and stay pretty small.

 

[pophead]

quite a few small plecos will get about 4 inches in length max, but it may take some searching to get them if you don't have a really good lfs close to you.

but yea, don't think 'regular' when it comes to plecos, since there are so many different sizes. I had a common who was 10", and that's not even big for these guys!

 

[fishcatch22]

I had a BN pleco for my tank, and she outgrew it to eventually get about 6" long, and she was a female whcih are supposed to be smaller than males. most do stay small, but keep in mind BN plecos are very unpredictable as to what size they grow. it may also be because she had lots of driftwood and fresh leafy vegtables to eat instead of just algae and algae wafers.

you might try a clown or a bulldog pleco, i'm planning a clown for mine.

 

[sandtiger]

If she does not change the water often leave the algae in there, it's the only thing hopefully keeping her nitrates down. Algae does a lot less damage then added fish bio-load.

 

[Pagan]

If she does not change the water often leave the algae in there, it's the only thing hopefully keeping her nitrates down. Algae does a lot less damage then added fish bio-load.

I agree, just show her how to scape the front glass, and let it at that.