Pleco in the current

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emptyhead

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 16, 2009
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Ohio
I have kept an L-200 for a while now. A couple of months ago I moved a koralia nano fan down near the bottom of the tank and stuck a flat rock on the bottom in front of the fan to see if it would like the current.

It never moves while the lights are on (I can see it under the driftwood on the rock). I'm guessing that it comes out and eats at night. Anyway - it just sits in the current - loving it. Fins blowing all over the place.

My question is - is this okay? Is it healthy? Should I put the fan on a timer - just have it run for part of the day?
 
vaine111;3451741; said:
Why do you think they have a sucker for a mouth?
Click to expand...

Is this a philosophical question? JK

I understand that they live in fast flowing streams, enjoy current, etc. That is why I put the fan and the rock in. Keeping fish in our small glass cages, however, sometimes produces strange behavior or limits behavior choice, hence the question. There are not many choices of behavior in the tank. If he wants under driftwood on a rock, he has to sit in front of the fan. I'm sure that in the wild, there is cover, room to move, etc. I just can't reproduce a purely natural habitat.

I would like to hear from anyone that has used strong current with plecos for a long period of time.
 
Hello:

I have same set up in my 125 gl with 2 Koralia 4 powerheads alternating every 30 minutes or so. I do have 3 L-200s along with other plecos and they all love the current. I have had this set up for over 6 months with no problems. They are mostly hiding in the rocks and driftwood positioned in front of the powerheads during the day and I do not see them much but they are not shy to come out to eat at night.

Hope this helps,

Moe
 
zadsham;3453019; said:
Hello:

I have same set up in my 125 gl with 2 Koralia 4 powerheads alternating every 30 minutes or so. I do have 3 L-200s along with other plecos and they all love the current. I have had this set up for over 6 months with no problems. They are mostly hiding in the rocks and driftwood positioned in front of the powerheads during the day and I do not see them much but they are not shy to come out to eat at night.

Hope this helps,

Moe
Click to expand...

Thank you for sharing your experience - very helpful.

What do you keep in your 125 with your plecos?
 
It may sound strange to some, a few African Cichlids specifically Tropheus and also 2 small cory cats and 2 Yoyo loaches. They all get along fine and my Cichlids do not bother the plecos. As I mentioned, the plecos seem to love the set up with the powerheads and mostly resting in the current during the day. I also have 2 x L-128, 2x L-018, 2x L-239 and 2x L091 and 2x L-007 nothing larger than 5". I have positioned a few driftwoods along the bottom in the back with a wall of pieces of Texas holey rock in front. I do not see them much during the day but at night and when comes feeding time with fresh cucumber, they are out.
 
Whats he best powerhead would u recommend to replicate current?

I have a 150 gallon with 5 plecos inside.. L-200, L-128, L-191, L-190 and a chocolate..

The only real current i have inside the tank is generated by my AC110 and my EHEIM 2234. which sadly to say.. its really not much for current..

Will adding a FX5 help? seeing that it comes with a powerhead...
 
Almost all my Plecos hang around right in front of the powerheads and really like the strong current. As I mentioned, I use 2 Koralia 4s (1200 GPH) alternating and the current does not seem to bother them at all, they actually seem to enjoy it very much.

Also FX5 does not come with a powerhead, I have 2 of them ( I know, too much for 125G but I beleive in over filteration and also in case one breaks, I have the other one to do the job ). The output of FX5 is not as strong as a powerhead and my Plecos do not like to climb that high up to reach the outputs ( Also they are kind of shy and do not like to be in the open unless at feeding time, specially with cucumbers ), They rather stay hidden in driftwood in front of the powerheads and enjoy the current.

Hope this helps.
 
Their bodies are shaped in a way that when it's hit by a strong current it will press the plecos body down to the ground.
That body combined with the suckermouth is made for managing and feeding in a strong current.
I think they like it.
Mine feed behind a big log and thus out of the current.
 
hmm.. thats good to know.. cuz i have two silver arowanas in that tank...
and i dont like how the surface of my water has no current in the middle.. other than the two filters i'm using.. AC110 and EHEIM 2234...

Thanks for the info!
 
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