Pleco's for Cichlid tank

[Sir Speedy]

I've done searches looking for threads that may answer my question about High PH and plecos but I have not been successful. I am look for algae eating pleco that can handle High PH

So, to all my fellow cichlid keepers I need help. I am starting a new freshwater tank which will house about 70 or so male peacocks. As I understand it Malawi cichlids can be kept in a range of 7.5-8.5.

if I keep Peacocks in the lower range 8.0 or less will this affect the color or their health? If I do this then my options for plecos have a larger pool.

If I keep Peacocks in the higher range 8.1-8.5 my chances of getting an algae eater shrink tremendously. Is higher PH better for their health and coloration?

I found the Liposarcus anisitsi which gets to about 16 inches and can handle up to 8.2, Chaetostoma joropo, my favorite which will get about 4.7" and can handle a ph of up to 8.6 but no one sell this in the US, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus this can get to be monster size and will redecorate my tank and Panaqolus albivermis, which is a wood eater and not what I am looking for.

Are there any others that I haven't found yet?

Malawi Cichlid keepers what Ph do you normally keep you cichlids in?

In the end I want to get their water chemistry as closely replicated to their natural environment as possible but yet keep plecos.

Is this wishful thinking?

I need your help.

 

[duanes]

Most Plecos can handle high pH, even the smaller ones like bristle nose ancistrus.
I have kept many in my 7.8 pH water, and there were many bristle nose Pleco breeders in my area with the same tap water, and large breeding colonies .
And getting the smaller Plecos would be much better to keep your water quality up and pH down. Large Plecos create lots of waste, which in turn tends to make pH drop (fish urine=acid= lowering of pH), as does the metabolism of fish feces.
I find most large Places create much more waste than they are worth as an algae eater.

 

[james99]

Bristlenoses seem to work best with African cichlids. I've had one for years in my 125 hap and peacock tank. They seem to eat the most algae too. Just a question though, how big of a tank do you have to fit 70 fish in?

 

[Gates72ss]

agreed with you guys , i have an albino mini bristle nose and a regular mini bristle nose in my mixed african tank with no issues ..

 

[Sir Speedy]

Bristlenoses seem to work best with African cichlids. I've had one for years in my 125 hap and peacock tank. They seem to eat the most algae too. Just a question though, how big of a tank do you have to fit 70 fish in?

I have a 300 gallon tank