What pleco for my 220?

[dodgefreak8]

hey everyone I am looking at the possibility of purchasing a pleco for my 220 but I don't know what is really out there. I am looking for a somewhat exotic pleco that maxes out at or around 12-14". I really like a certain royal pleco that is white instead of the normal green but I don't know how available these are. I have large carnivores in the tank but nothing real aggressive. I also have driftwood and plants in the tank. I seem to have a diatom algea problem that I can't get rid of so if there is a pleco that eats this it would be an added bonus. any help would be great. Here is a pic of my setup to help in the quest.

 

[WyldFya]

Lots of great plecs out there. What price range are you willing to go to?

The royal you are thinking of is probably the platinum royal. Good luck finding that one. I have spent the last 5 years looking for them, and have seen none. There is a variety that has more of a gold color than green, and then the green ones. A few that come to mind... L027, L025, L024, L014, L190, L191, L330. None will do anything for you algae problem.

 

[dodgefreak8]

not wanting to break the bank here maybe $100.00 for a small one to grow out.
this says platinum but I'm not so sure
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcatfishp&1170100830

 

[dodgefreak8]

I like the phantom also.

 

[ewurm]

You could always join the L-260 region.

 

[WyldFya]

not wanting to break the bank here maybe $100.00 for a small one to grow out.
this says platinum but I'm not so sure
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcatfishp&1170100830

That isn't a platinum. I posted pics before, but I can't find them anymore.

 

[WyldFya]

I like the phantom also.

I love both the L128 blue phantoms and the L200 green phantoms... but to grow one out for your tank would take nearly 5 years.

 

[dodgefreak8]

I kind of figured it wasn't a platinum. I don't think I want to grow one out for 5 years. How much do phantoms run that are already in the 5-7" range? I think that that size would work fine.

 

[WyldFya]

Generally 5-7 will run you $75.

 

[rkc772]

so these phantom pleco can clean up algae? got the same question, i got a 180 gal with bichirs and datnoids. I need a clean up crew (wishing they won't eat my plants), my tank looks dirty after several days due to slime like coating on the acrylic.