Tankmates for Jack Dempsey

[mryan]

Hey everyone! Looking for suggestions regarding a tankmate that removes algae from tank walls.. looking to avoid Pleco (due to size), and snails (due to efficiency). Any advice? I'm concerned anything smaller will be eaten, and anything larger will be inappropriate for tank size.

Tank Size: 55g
Tankmates: Jack Dempsey Cichlid, Four lined Pimelodus Catfish (roughly 12"), 2 Rainbow, 1 tiger barb

 

[mattison187]

A fancy pleco? Can get about any adult size you want

 

[FreshyFresh]

It kind of depends on the Dempsey too. Some are peaches, some not so much. The best "cleaner" I've ever had in terms of keeping the interior glass clean are bristlenose plecos. They don't get big and don't require wood to rasp on. They do require you to sink veggies often for food. Sinking pellet foods too.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I would recommend just cutting lights back a bit and using an algae pad on the glass when you do your water change each week. The only fish which will do a good job of eating algae off your glass would be a small pleco like a bristlenose, but they poop a whole lot and your tank is already pretty packed due to the size of the catfish. I think you'd be better off not adding to the bioload.
Just my .02

 

[mryan]

A fancy pleco? Can get about any adult size you want

Thank you!

 

[mryan]

I would recommend just cutting lights back a bit and using an algae pad on the glass when you do your water change each week. The only fish which will do a good job of eating algae off your glass would be a small pleco like a bristlenose, but they poop a whole lot and your tank is already pretty packed due to the size of the catfish. I think you'd be better off not adding to the bioload.
Just my .02

I had the same thoughts..I agree the tank is already just big enough..LFS said the fish technically don't need the lights, but I don't know if this is true.

 

[mryan]

It kind of depends on the Dempsey too. Some are peaches, some not so much. The best "cleaner" I've ever had in terms of keeping the interior glass clean are bristlenose plecos. They don't get big and don't require wood to rasp on. They do require you to sink veggies often for food. Sinking pellet foods too.

Mine is agressive..Lol and thank you!

 

[Gourami Swami]

I had the same thoughts..I agree the tank is already just big enough..LFS said the fish technically don't need the lights, but I don't know if this is true.

The fish don't actually need the lights, ambient room lighting will be enough to give them a day/night transition. What I would recommend is you get a simple light timer, and set the lights to only go on for a couple hours a day, in the timeframe you are most likely to enjoy looking at the tank.