Pleco for a 26gal....

[bcarlos]

Komodo if it was your tank: what Pleco is good at algea would you put in it then? Ottos aren't out of the question either. The tank is bowfront, def. not 3' long.

Ancistrus are by far the best algae eaters. If you want to stay small and you can find them, ancistrus claro (LDA08) AKA marbled bristlenose is an awesome, active little pleco. Any of the smaller bristlenose will do the trick, they're readily available and they're great in comm. tanks.

 

[Kaosu]

i wouldn't do ottos unless you have plants ore plan on feeding them greens when your tank is not covered in algae.. they eat almost continually..and need lots of soft algae or blanched veggies.

 

[komodo182]

Komodo if it was your tank: what Pleco is good at algea would you put in it then? Ottos aren't out of the question either. The tank is bowfront, def. not 3' long.

Selection where I live is limited. But from what I just read, Ancistrus seems like a good option

 

[lefty31]

The Ancistrus seems to be the one I'm going to go with. I never really wanted a Plec. always thought they were bleh but after seeing more of them they've grown on me. Also supplementing their diet. Zuccini and roman lettuce for treats with Algae wafers? I feed my other fish Flakes and a brine shrimp/blood worm frozen cube combo every once in a while. Plus they eat my anachris like none other. Anything else food wise for a bristlenose?

 

[Reptilesfishbirdsmammals]

if you wanted a pleco get something you like and thatll fit and not to mention thats a myth that all plecos clean the tank cause they can do more harm then anything else like the common pleco poops more then cleans..i mean mine is a little devil to but a bristlenose is known to clean and stay small..but get more clown loachs they need to shoal like the tiger barbs to

 

[lefty31]

I've debated on getting the loach 2 buddies so there are 3. When I got him I was just starting and the personality was just too much to pass up. If I could go back he would have stayed and I would have went elsewhere. Nothing like buying before research right........

 

[Kalen]

Bristlenose are great algae eaters but like someone else said they do poop a lot. If you do decide to get one then be sure to include driftwood in your set up as it is part of their diet and they have to have it.

 

[Sab_Fan]

I've debated on getting the loach 2 buddies so there are 3. When I got him I was just starting and the personality was just too much to pass up. If I could go back he would have stayed and I would have went elsewhere. Nothing like buying before research right........

3 or more clown loaches would be great, but not in a 26G tank . . . too small even for one

as to the smaller plecos, I'd go with a clown pleco or a bulldog pleco, they stay quite small . . . a bristlenose is smaller than a common, but can still get to 5" or so, and they don't spend much time eating algae

for algae-eating purposes, I'd lean towards the bulldog pleco (chaetostoma sp.)

 

[Kalen]

3 or more clown loaches would be great, but not in a 26G tank . . . too small even for one

as to the smaller plecos, I'd go with a clown pleco or a bulldog pleco, they stay quite small . . . a bristlenose is smaller than a common, but can still get to 5" or so, and they don't spend much time eating algae

for algae-eating purposes, I'd lean towards the bulldog pleco (chaetostoma sp.)

I know each individual fish is different, but I have albino bristlenose in three of my aquariums and all of them are very efficient algae eaters.

 

[Sab_Fan]

I know each individual fish is different, but I have albino bristlenose in three of my aquariums and all of them are very efficient algae eaters.

yeah, I keep them too, and they aren't bad algae eaters . . . I've just noted how much more the bulldogs are eating algae on the plants and on the glass, while the bristlenoses spend more time on the driftwood

do you have driftwood? if you don't, that might explain why you see them eating more algae . . .