good planted tank bottom feeder.

[dylanserbin]

Hey, i was wondering what a good bottom feeder would be for a hight tech planted tank? I have heard that pleco's eat lots of the plants.. but i love the way some of them look(with the nice patterns and such) any help and sugggestions? Tank would be a 33g

thanks

[Vallisneria]

Do you just want a bottomfeeder or something to help with the algae too? Fancy plecos can go into planted tanks but wont' do anything for algae.

My favorite bottomfeeders/algae eaters for a planted tank are bristlenose plecos, Siamese algae eaters, otocinclus and amano shrimp and zebra loaches(dont' help with algae but are cute, keep the food off the bottom and help with snails )

This thread will help you out

http://albertaaquatica.com/index.php?showtopic=21519

Edited November 11, 2008 by degrassi

[rolandocalgary]

plecos are awesome...i have a few different types but yes, they usually eat the plants. i find almost any synodontis to be a great bottom feeder....corys are great too....both come out way more then any pleco too....synodontis petricolas are a big fav....

[werner]

Depends on the type of pleco. Ones that need wood in their diets will rasp holes into woody plants like swords.

[fishclubgirl]

Depends on the type of pleco. Ones that need wood in their diets will rasp holes into woody plants like swords.

Bristlenose are great. Mine don't eat plants, keep the algae down and don't get too big. I never have to clean off any algae. Also like corys as bottom feeders but always have a group of four or more. This ad is paid for by the "Bristlenose for PM" campaign.(Everyone else wants to be so why not a fish?)

[Art]

I agree with all that's been said about bristlenose. Mine never caused any trouble with any plants, stayed a small size, and cleaned an awful lot. My friends all said he was hideous, though haha :P

[devocole]

From what i've read and heard. Otocinclus is the only true algae eaters. It eats algae by trade. They are small and gentle and do a good job.

[PiscesGirl]

I agree that the Oto is by far the best reputed algae eater, but I have never been able to keep one alive more than a couple weeks ?!? I was recently suggested an L187 Thomsoni (Bulldog/Rubbernose Pleco) for the brown algae in my 10g Ram tank. A little improvement, but then he is only and inch long.

Also, I LOVE my Cories, and in combo with Malaysian Trumpets, they are a FANTASTIC cleaning crew... However, I find they are aweful for uprooting my tall, thin stemed plants and picking off the bottom leaves!! (especially Cabomba, Worts and Hygrophila) I combated that problem by planting only the shorter, broad leafs (Wendtii, Anubias etc) and thicker stems for height (Vals and Swords)

[fishclubgirl]

Though my BN for PM campaign is still in full effect, I do have another thought. After observation of my tanks, I realised that full grown BNs are too heavy to clean some plant leaves. My little guys(1/4" long) are light enough to do it. Kept otocinclus when I was a kid and could never keep them alive too. Have about 15 little BNs who do a great job in my one tank. So little BN rock in my opinion!!