lyndatu

Hello

We have a 20-gallon freshwater plant tank and I am planning to get a school of serpae tetras to help fertilize the plants and an albino pleco to help control algae. The pet shop finally has some serpae tetras, but still no pleco. I'm thinking of buying the serpae tetras immediately because they run out pretty fast, but I heard that you should always add algae eaters like plecos first. Is this true?

Thanks in advance!

Shawnie

hmmm I have not heard this but that doesnt mean its not true...I never added any pleco's first as I never had algae until after I had fish...I have 3 in 3 different tanks who were actually added weeks later hope this helps

Sabi

I think it would be fine to add the serpae tetra's now. Are you speaking of the albino bristle nose?

Barbrella

I would wait until some algae grows in the tank so the new pleco can have some familiar food right away.

COBettaCouple

With serpae tetras, there's not a real reason to add the pleco first that I know of.

susitna-flower

Is your tank cycled for fish? If it has just had plants, and no fish it may not have completed the nitrogen cycle.....Do you have the results of water tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? If you do could you post them please.

My advice on this size of a tank is NOT to get a pleco....the only possible exception is 1 Bristlenose pleco....but for a planted tank I feel you would do fine with 5 otoes....

If your tank is cycled, add the tetras, let the cycle catch up, then add the otoes or pleco.

voiceless_kat

I introduced my clown pleco ( now about 3 in.) into my stocked 55g . He found a spot inside a log and stayed for several hours. He was fine.

I dont have a lot of algae, and also have 4 otos in there. I put zuchinni in the tank every 2 or 3 days and he demolishes it so if you don't have algae, it is a good idea to feed them some veggies. And he likes his driftwood.

Good luck with yours....BN are soo cool.

Val

lyndatu

Thank you so much for the replies, everyone!

I read an article somewhere in the web saying that you should always add algae eaters first before the main fish......thank you for proving it wrong! Oh and the pleco I am planning to add is a strain of the albino bristlenose - I read they grow only 5 inches. And the tank already completed the cycle - got some cycled filter media from a friend! I've been adding ammonia drops in the tank even though it's cycled because there's no fish yet...

Thanks again everyone!

COBettaCouple

Yea, I think that would only apply to territorial fish.

Sabi

Longfin Albino bristlenose is next on my list, they are just too odd looking! And by that i mean great fish.

COBettaCouple

Yea, I love our albino LFBN plecos!