Plecos For A Planted Tank.

[Cú Mhara]

I have decided not to bother adding any Dwarf Cichlids to my South American tank, and will instead be stocking the bottom with a group of Sterbai Corydoras (already got 7), and some Plecos. I was hoping there would be room for at least 2, and they would need to be compatible with a fairly heavily planted tank and the following fish:

Angelfish (6 juveniles, will remove 4 once I get a pair)
Red Phantom Tetra (12)
Sterbai Corydoras (7)

I assume that all of the above would be fine with pretty much any Pleco that will fit in the tank, but thought I better list them just in case. The tank is 36 x 18 x 19 (200 litres). I was just wondering if there's anything fancy that doesn't cost too much (and would maybe even pair up), or should I just go for a couple BNPs?

 

[catfishblues]

BNPs are good. For algae eating purposes plecos aren't the best (but I love them just because they're cool) I have in my planted tank a rubber lip pleco which is cheap, small, and got rid of one kind of algae; and the other is a snowball pleco which is a more attractive fish but gets a tiny bit bigger, and is a bit pricey.

 

[Cú Mhara]

I'm not really bothered about whether or not they eat algae; I just want them for their looks and behaviour!

 

[xingumike]

Bristlenoses would be the easy and cheap choice.

For a prettier, more expensive and harder to source option you should be ok with Hypans in there, L260's being a personal favourite of mine.

 

[creeker]

Beware of a BN Pleco in a planted tank. Currently looking to rehome my albino BN as he has practically destroyed a dozen Argentine Swordplants that were flourishing in my tank. Every time new leaves sprout, he is on them and destroys them. I have a nice piece of wood in the tank for him, and he gets plenty of tablets and flake foods. It's a shame because I really like the fish, and have grown him from under an inch to about three inches in the past year or so.

 

[xingumike]

There is the obvious caveat as well that any pleco may rearrange the planting whether you like it or not.

Hypans should leave the plants alone much more than Ancistrus as they are carnivores.

 

[Cú Mhara]

Hmmm. The plants are more important to me than having Plecos. Perhaps I will just get some dwarf cichlids after all!

 

[xingumike]

Adding more Sterbai could be an acceptable compromise.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

I have an L444 Pleco who is about 4", and should stay that size. He does chew on the plants a little, but they're not being destroyed. There are little holes in them, my Platys eat them too, so it might not even be the Pleco's fault. Mine is adorable, and friendly enough. He tries to attack the siphon when I vacuum around his little rock cave They are very territorial in my experience, he attacks anything that goes near his cave, but he mostly just scares them away and doesn't actually do any damage, or even touch whatever is near his cave. So if you're still considering Plecos I highly recommend L444s!

 

[xingumike]

Chaetostoma are fairly territorial.

Not ideal for your average tropical setup because of the temperature.

 

[snazy]

I've got a 7 inch common pleco and he is yet to destroy a plant and does a great job of cleaning the glass. I've never touched it to clean it so that compensates for the pleco poop I guess. He doesn't chew on plants or even bother them. He prefers to polish the driftwood and eat cucumber I've no experience with bristlenose ones yet but I have a baby one so I'll see how it goes with him/her. I'd say only a starving pleco will eat plants, if they do at all? But they will eat romain lettuce in case you decide to plant one inside the tank
As for a type of fancy pleco, I like the L168, it looks lovely for an algae eater and grows about the same as a bristlenose.
Or get a school of otocinclus, great algae eaters and will love a planted tank.

 

[greenmumma141]

I have a "high fin" pleco (see my sig.) and he is extremely friendly and doesn't bother with my plants at all. He is very active, he can be seen during the day even though he has a cave, and he will only get around 5". I love the way he looks, and he was very cheap as well

 

[xingumike]

^ see my reply in the other thread you posted in.