Which Plecos. make the best grazers?

[Muske]

Need a good algae eater. I would prefer it not being a common or bristlenose. Have read that Royals make for good algae eaters, any others. I have a Clown that is pretty effecient, just too small at the moment to make an headway. Also, would prefer a smaller/dwarf due to space, but this guy or guys, will eventually be in a 110. It will eventually be in a 110, just not for a month or so.

 

[WyldFya]

An algae scraper, or mag float is what you need. Don't rely on the fish to do the work.

 

[NilePufferFanatic]

You mentioned the three best plecos. I agree with WyldFya on the scrapper.
Another option is shrimp (I think amano) or oto cats.

 

[Muske]

Have the Mag-Float, the problem is on the rocks. Got rid of my Mbunas and am going all (mostly) tang. Now that the Mbunas are gone, the algae on the rocks is out of control. I've cut the daylights down to 5-6 hrs./day but it keeps growing. Don't want to eliminate the lights all together because of some plants. Water is semi-hard, but relative neutral. All the cichlids I have in there now are pretty peaceful. Peaceful w/ the cats and plecos at least.

 

[COL]

What wyld said.


Also, panaques make crappy cleaners unless all you're looking to clean off is your driftwood.

 

[davo]

Well they are more likely to add a lot of nitrates and increase your algae yield... Look for cutting off the cause... light, high nitrates etc, and of course the algae scraper. Ancistrus, Chaetostoma and some Panaques are often used... not always successful at all though.