Pleco Other Than Gibby For Algae Removal

[skiltrip]

I haven't posted on here in years! My tanks have been running very nicely over the last couple years, but it's time to buy some stock and I have a question...

In a larger tank I have I have one Sailfin Gibby Pleco that does an amazing job of keeping any and all algae under control. He swallows down all the brown and green that he can find.

My wife has a 15 gallon tank, and i'm looking for a smaller Pleco that would do the same sort of excellent job cleaning up like my Gibby does in my larger tank. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

good to be back,

kip

 

[johnatkin]

Ottos are excellent at keeping algae under control and they don't grow very big. You will need more than one though as they prefer to be kept in groups.

 

[Scotty87]

Pitbull pleco? not sure if these get too big or not for a 15 gallon

 

[skiltrip]

Ottos are excellent at keeping algae under control and they don't grow very big. You will need more than one though as they prefer to be kept in groups.

YES! i forgot about ottos. hmm... my local LFS never usually had them though. but i will check. In the event that no ottos are in stock, I'd like some alternatives... (it's my wife's birthday, all she wants is something that will clean up all the brown algae that's been building. )

Pitbull pleco? not sure if these get too big or not for a 15 gallon

thanks for the suggestion! do pitbull plecos go by any other common names, or do you happen to know the scientific name for them?

 

[Scotty87]

Parotocinclus jumbo

They grow to about 6 cm (2.5" ish) I think. Also better to keep in pairs i think

 

[djloach]

Bristlenose/Bushynose plecos stay small (<4") and are good algae eaters. Same for rubbernose/bulldog plecos.

I should add that most plecos like rocks and faster moving water. If you have a heavily planted tank with few rocks several Otos would be a better choice as Otos also do a good job cleaning algae off of plants, even small leaved plants.

 

[sparklefuzz]

sorry to bulldose in, but do otos clean the algae off glass?