SkyCrystal

I was planning for a Bristlenose Pleco, but those seem more expensive than what I can handle at the moment, and my LFS doesn't seem to know what they are (I know... lol!). The clerk suggested a Clown Pleco, and those are much much cheaper. She said that those get around 4". They sound familiar to BN Plecos, except just a tad bit smaller and a whole lot cheaper. Would a Clown Pleco be a good substitute as far as algae eating and peacefulness goes? It will be the last addition to my 46g. Right now I have in there:

2 Angelfish
1 Dwarf Gourami
5 Cherry Barbs
5 Cory cats
3 Kuhli Loaches (It may be only two now, but I can never be sure. Those things are so hard to find!)
3 Guppies (One of which is a fry... long story)
Who knows how many Ghost Shrimp

Today when I did my water change, I noticed several decaying pieces of fish flesh being sucked up through the vaccuum. It's most likely the Ghost Shrimp's, but it may be the missing Kuhli Loach. I had originally planned to put quite a bit more fish in the tank because of the awesome filterage (up to 125 gallons! 0.0 ). But after I had already added all these fish, I found out about bio-load. That was awhile ago, and it's been months since I've gotten another fish. Everybody seems fine and happy so far, but the algae has been growing like wild fire. I know it's because of the sunlight streaming into the window, but I just can't move the tank now. The ghost shrimp and Cories aren't eating the algae at all, and it's really hard to scrub off the plastic plants. Would the Clown Loach work? Not bio-load wise, because I'll do extra water changes and I have live plants, but compatibility and algae eating wise.

-SkyCrystal

mathas

The clerk you spoke to was incorrect about a clown being a good substitute for a bristlenose when algae reduction is the goal. While bristlenose are great algae-eaters, clowns prefer to graze on driftwood.

From PlanetCatfish:

SkyCrystal

Alright, it was just an idea. I'll just have to go to the dreaded other LFS to get the really expensive BN Pleco (maybe I'll just ask for it for Christmas). Bunches of thanks, mathas!

Allie

and they love to anything like cut up thawed shrimp...BN like to eat driftwood too

cichlidlover

the clerk was probably just trying to sell you something.

SkyCrystal

Probably so, but she was being really nice while doing it! Lol! I'm a regular there, so she knows that I'm no newbie that you can sell any old fish to (unlike the other clerk there. He really gets on my nerves! ). I told her I'd research the Clown Pleco. Oh well, I think I'll be getting a BN pleco for Christmas anyways...

musicman4567

How much are BN's running you at the Dreaded LFS?

cichlidlover

yeah they do seem so nice. there was a young guy (about 25) at a marine designs store. he seemed so nice. I asked him for advice about protein skimmers. He said the "best" type was the ones that were built in.( the kind in the internal black box that you get with the aquarium. Well it turns out that a 12 gallon tank (just the tank not the stand) costs $500!!! OUCH!!! I told him my budget was $500 for everything, and that I wanted a 50 gallon thank, so I asked him then about the seaclone hang-off-the-back kind He said the waste from the tank fills up the cup "all the time" lol (yeah,right) so then I left. on the way home my mom said he was just trying to sell my some of his fancy tanks.