Algues... which Pleco?

cloudies · Post by **cloudies** » 10 Sep 2007, 11:03

I really love pleco's! I know have three of them swimming around in my discus tank. These three I bought because I found them looking nice, now I want to buy two or three additional ones with a more specific task assigned to them...

Which pleco's are known for their ability to eat algae's? I know you will probably know to mention a lot of different numbers/names, but I am really looking for real algae killers...

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 10 Sep 2007, 11:17

You need an .

These stay small (<15cm) and are the best algae eaters.

are another option, but these are a bit more delicate

They are smaller though, and are useful for eating algae from plants.

If you have a serious algae problem I would recommend treating the root cause rather than addressing the symptoms.

Excess light and nutrients are usually the cause of algal problems.

cloudies · Post by **cloudies** » 10 Sep 2007, 11:57

I don't have a big algae problem, but it is slowly covering my tank. Primarily on the sides en back (don't know the English word right now..) And a bit on my plants.

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 10 Sep 2007, 12:06

If its not too bad, an algae eater should clear it up, but do remember plecos only eat certain types of algae. The soft green and brown stuff is their favourite.

The don't like the hair algae or the blue/black cyanobacterial "algae".

The constant grazing of surfaces by the plecos can stop these types appearing in the first place though.

Landlubber · Post by **Landlubber** » 10 Sep 2007, 12:42

Pterygoplitchthys joselimaianus is an extreamly good algae eater.
Unfortunatly the waste from these plecos can give quite a heavy bio load on filters.

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 10 Sep 2007, 13:02

Pterygoplitchthys joselimaianus is an extreamly good algae eater.
Unfortunatly the waste from these pl*cos can give quite a heavy bio load on filters.

I would also add that as they get rather large, they may well upset the sleeping discus with their nocturnal foraging.

cloudies · Post by **cloudies** » 10 Sep 2007, 13:05

Thank you all!

Maybe a stupid question... but does "Ancistrus" that is mentioned also include the species like Baryancistrus and Pseudancistrus

Landlubber · Post by **Landlubber** » 10 Sep 2007, 13:10

racoll wrote:I would also add that as they get rather large, they may well upset the sleeping discus with their nocturnal foraging.

Yup you're quite right there m8

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 10 Sep 2007, 13:23

cloudies wrote:Thank you all!

Maybe a stupid question... but does "Ancistrus" that is mentioned also include the species like Baryancistrus and Pseudancistrus

Baryancistrus are definitely not algae eaters. I'm not sure about the diet of Pseudancistrus.

I would probably try to find - usually called "Common bristlenose" or "Common bushynose" or some such. They are hardy, easy to find, cheap and will do a good job. If you want something more exotic, try a "black with white spots", such as - these are also better adopted to low pH situations that you'd have in a Discus tank.

--
Mats

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 10 Sep 2007, 13:39

"Ancistrus" that is mentioned also include the species like Baryancistrus and Pseudancistrus

In a word, no.

They are separate genera, but are closely related.

Another one is Hypancistrus, but these are very poor algae eaters.

You can generally assume that members of the same genus have pretty much similar diets, but you cannot take it any further, to related genera.

Baryancistrus are definitely not algae eaters.

I would say they are Mats.

I added a pair to a pretty algified tank, and it was cleaned spotless in less than 48 hours.

They certainly have the mouth of a biofilm grazer.

cloudies · Post by **cloudies** » 10 Sep 2007, 16:40

Thank you all for your feedback. I love to see the Ancistrus dolichopterus (L183), and will start looking for one. Here in Holland I see a lot of Ancistrus sp. being advertised as dolichopterus.

I also really like the Baryancistrus sp. (L018) and the Baryancistrus demantoides (L200)

Can any of the dutch readers suggest me places where they might sell these species?

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 10 Sep 2007, 21:02

cloudies wrote:Thank you all for your feedback. I love to see the Ancistrus dolichopterus (L183), and will start looking for one. Here in Holland I see a lot of Ancistrus sp. being advertised as dolichopterus.

I also really like the Baryancistrus sp. (L018) and the Baryancistrus demantoides (L200)

Can any of the dutch readers suggest me places where they might sell these species?

Be aware that Common Ancistrus sp. 3 which is an excellent choice is also frequently misidentified as A. dolichopterus L183.

One other good algae eater is L204 "Flash" Plecos. Mine keep their tank free of algae despite their love of animal protein. They do well at typical Discus temperatures.

L018 seems to be versatile in this respect as well.

Few plecos are better than the common Ancistus sp. 3 in a Discus tank. I raise both common Ancistrus and Discus; I always keep a few young Ancistrus with the young Discus to keep the glass clean. They have never harmed Discus which can't be said of the many of the larger species.