Plec's for Large Cichlid Tank?

[ragin_cajun]

I have a 540 Gallon acrylic tank with a 12 inch Synspilum, 8 inch Midas, 3-6 inch Argentea, 2-6 inch Bifasciatus, a 12 inch Zonatus--you get the picture. Big Central American Cichlids. I have a good bit of Manzanita driftwood, a large stump a 5 3-4 foot long limbs. A flower pot, 2-3 6-8 inch terra cotta "pleco caves", could add some PVC pipe sections if needed.

I want some Plec's for this tank. I've heard Royal's would gouge the sides of the tank? And I'm worried about how I'd get food to a timid pleco--cichlids would rob him. Is there a pleco that is aggressive enough to live in my tank without scratching up the sides of it? I was thinking an Adonis? I also have a 125 gallon tank I could acclimate a pleco in until it gets big/outgoing enough to compete for food. I've "heard" of plec's that will skim the water surface for pellets at feeding time just like cichlids do--Is that too rare to count on?

[ragin_cajun]

Oh....water params

pH is 7.6.
temp is 79 deg fahrenheit
nitrates are very low with a 40 Gal/day freshwater drip
O2 levels--must be very high with a sump, overflow/weir, powerhead in the sump rippling surface
substrate is pool filter sand

[Jools]

Pterygoplichthys

are your best bet. Followed by

Hypostomus

and

Scobinancistrus

. They will need cover and a lot of attention to settle them but will certainly be able to hold their own. Also consider larger

Doradidae

.

Jools

[Linus_Cello]

Pterygoplichthys

are your best bet. Followed by

Hypostomus

and

Scobinancistrus

. They will need cover and a lot of attention to settle them but will certainly be able to hold their own. Also consider larger

Doradidae

.

Jools

Why Scobys? Though large, I thought they weren't as aggressive/tough as Pseudas.

[Jools]

It depends what you mean by tough, if you mean hardy then I don't see much difference. I overlooked them because they're roughly not as big but they'd work too.

Jools

[Shane]

Cajun,
Any large pleco is going to mar the transparency of an acrylic tank over time.
-Shane

[Linus_Cello]

It depends what you mean by tough, if you mean hardy then I don't see much difference. I overlooked them because they're roughly not as big but they'd work too.

Jools

I meant that generally pseudas are less prone to being bullied than scobys.

[tagamasid1023]

Why Scobys? Though large, I thought they weren't as aggressive/tough as Pseudas.

Scobis are very "tough", hardy, and aggressive IME. Especially, once they reach sub-adult size and age. A six-foot long tank would be just enough for a pair IMO. Perhaps they are often overlooked for their "toughness" and aggressiveness because they are purchased for their beauty and less-rugged look.

In a cichlid tank, the Scobi Pario (L048) is a good alternative to Goldie.