Pleco for a planted 55g?

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Pomatomus

Piranha
MFK Member
Jul 7, 2009
1,691
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Sarasota, FL
With the recent disappearance of my old Chinese algae eater, I am looking for a new algae eater for my planted 55g community tank. I have only owned common plecos before, and I am thinking that I want to go with something fancier. My price range is up to $25 wholesale, which is about $50 retail.

Any suggestions?
 
Are you looking for one to keep the algae under control?

If you are then you will also end up with one that will eat your plants.

If not and you don't want one that grows too big 3-4" look into some hypancistrus. You can get fry 1-1.5" for like 10 each from some breeders.
 
Or any of the Baryancistrus. Like L200, L018, or L047. They get around 7-10" but are slow growers. But if you are mostly concerned about algea i'd say get some bn's and enjoy the show. What they lack in appearence they more than make up for in personality...
 
Yes go with a bristlenose. A 55 will be childs play for him to keep clean. Don't forget to supplement his food with pellets and wafers.
 
Jackson;4802334; said:
What about the plants? From my experience with BN they eat them.
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Were you feeding them???

I have 6 bristlnoses. 5 albino, 1 normal. The normal one is in a fully planted 55 and never touches the plants.
 
geronimo69;4802350; said:
Were you feeding them???

I have 6 bristlnoses. 5 albino, 1 normal. The normal one is in a fully planted 55 and never touches the plants.
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LOL no I was starving them. What a question.

Good to know your one BN in a fully planted tank does not eat your plants. I have had the opposite happen. Not all fish act the same.
 
Have you thought about a group of Otocinclus? Those little guys do a great job with algae and don't seem to harm plants.
 
Jackson;4802368; said:
LOL no I was starving them. What a question.

Good to know your one BN in a fully planted tank does not eat your plants. I have had the opposite happen. Not all fish act the same.
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Do some homework dude. If you don't feed plecos much, they'll turn to plants. It was a very justified question.

So, if you need to hear more... The guy I bought my ABNs has them in all his planted tanks (11). So it's not just mine. They don't eat plants if they're fed properly.
 
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