Tank-Pleco=Algae or what?

[siebertn]

How do you guys control algae in your tanks without the help of a Pleco or is the algae eating reputation of the Pleco over rated.

The reason im asking is because my Pleco mysteriously died this week and i don't think i want to get another one especially if i don't need one in my tank.

 

[iloveoscars702]

chinease algae eaters do a really good job... you can try snails too.. but if its on the glass a quick swipe of a mag float should do the work

 

[CODzilla]

Yeah, providing it's not on the glass or sand I let it grow. I have a rock tile background that I didn't really like at first but since the algae took a hold it looks pretty cool. I don't need the extra bio load of a plec either.

 

[iloveoscars702]

Yeah, providing it's not on the glass or sand I let it grow. I have a rock tile background that I didn't really like at first but since the algae took a hold it looks pretty cool. I don't need the extra bio load of a plec either.

yea i like the look of algae on stones and wood... but i usually clean it off if it spreads to the front and sides of the tank

 

[cichlid2006]

i usually have a pleco because i like the look of them but some have the added bonus of being great algae eaters too. i found bristlenose plecos to be very hard working, get an albino one and i get looks and clean glass/decor. they dont seem to stop algae eating like a lot of plecos do as they age.
they stay pretty small too so unless you have your tank so packed its got your filter on the edge of collapse the bio load will be easily handled.
though i dont know which L number specifically but its one i can usually buy anywhere that sells fish, so definitely not a rare L number.

i dont have one now, due to bichirs, and i notice the extra work i have to do rather than just sucking up freakishly long poo strands.

of course i advise anyone to get a pleco based on their desire for their looks and regard how good a job it does eating algae as a bonus.

 

[oscarcrazy]

Mag-Float

 

[CODzilla]

i usually have a pleco because i like the look of them but some have the added bonus of being great algae eaters too. i found bristlenose plecos to be very hard working, get an albino one and i get looks and clean glass/decor. they dont seem to stop algae eating like a lot of plecos do as they age.
they stay pretty small too so unless you have your tank so packed its got your filter on the edge of collapse the bio load will be easily handled.
though i dont know which L number specifically but its one i can usually buy anywhere that sells fish, so definitely not a rare L number.

i dont have one now, due to bichirs, and i notice the extra work i have to do rather than just sucking up freakishly long poo strands.

of course i advise anyone to get a pleco based on their desire for their looks and regard how good a job it does eating algae as a bonus.

I had a male Albino BN, he had reached about 5.5 inches before I sold him to a breeder because all he ever used to do was eat my wood and poop all day long, he was producing more crap than my two Oscars put together!!

Mag-Float

Too easy to end up with scratched glass plus I have 3 kids that would never leave it alone!

 

[Cecropia]

I like plecs personally. I've been keeping panaques though so they really don't go after algae unless it's on the wood they're eating. The crap is pretty ridiculous though.

 

[siebertn]

Thanks for the reply's guys.
I went to pick up my order of Massivore and Bio-Gold at the LFS today and they had 3 bristlenose plecos in stock so i bought one probably 3" long so il see how good a job he does.

 

[MrA123]

I like my plec but he isn't particularly amazing at cleaning. Once they get to a certain size they get lazy. You need to mix their diet up with green veg etc anyway and as it will starve on just algea alone. I had a huge apple snail that was pretty good at cleaning until it good eaten by its best friend, my crayfish. Mama mia!