I've never had Africans but I have kept my Blue Phantom L128 and Leopard Frog Pleco L134 with some pretty mean SA cichlids and I never had a problem. Oh... except for a Festea that attacked EVERYTHING! Until I sold it. What about a Hypostomus? too boring? I dont know of any fish they cant be kept with and there are few plecos that can eat as much algea. Either way I'm with you about the Bristle nose, they never did appeal me.
Synodontis will not eat algae, what about a rubber lip pleco? I don't know your tank size so it's hard to make a recommendation. Rubber lips reach around 6 inches, I keep one with my frontosas and have no issues. They also eat algae like mad.
tank is 125, filters 2 emperor 400's, lights 10000k and 6700k h.e. solar max. cichlid sand and holy rock. mix of haps and peacocks. I would rather give to much info than not enough. rubber lips kind of cool and cheap
