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Is there any way i could put a pleco with some of my kenyis? Or is there any other algae eater that could work in this tank? I know that kenyis are pretty aggressive and logically thinking, i figured that this would probably not work. I just started to find some algae growth, and i am looking for a solution.

Thanks!

†Aquapickle†

A common pleco would probably be suitable, I would think.
Chinese Algae Eater may work too.


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Sneakys fish would probably live with them, but the ones I've kept havent eaten algae. Bristlenoses work much better, a large one might work, or a gibbiceps.

I agree with Inkodinko the Bristlenose, or I was thinking maybe a flying fox. I would not go with the Common Plec as I have heard they get rather large 17.7" in the profile on this site. (If your using the 29gal. in your profile). The Chinese algae eater is kinda debateable with me. I own one and he has not shown any aggressive behavior but I have heard several times that he will eventually. Also It is said that they quit eating algae when they get older. I am sure someone will be along to comment on that soon. Later!

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

I've had a chinese algae eater in my 29gal tank for just about a year and he has completly stoped eating the algae and has recently began to show signs of aggression and has also eclipsed the 3in mark as well. I would say no on the CAE.

"No whammy, No whammy, No whammy, STOP!!"

1984-Michael Larsen On Press Your Luck

OK. Thank you all for the suggestions. I Don't think our LFS has any Bristlenoes right now, but i mgiht try a common pleco or something and see how it goes.

Thanks Again.


†Aquapickle†

if I was yo I would not go with a common plec, they are truly waste machines and make way more mess than they would clean in way of algae. They get very large, and although I like the way they look I wouldn't put them in anything less than 90G. BN's will work out nice with the kenyi's and you can also try a bulldog plec. There is also clown plecs you can try, these 3 all stay under or around 5". The BN will be the best algae eater,with the bulldog doing a decent job. Actually now that I think about the clown might not be a good pick since I believe its a wood eater, scratch him.

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An algae eater that will be compatible with Rift Lake fishes. Hmm, nice challenge.

I'm going to make a VERY unusual suggestion here.

Limias.

Why am I making this suggestion?

One - Limias are excellent algae eaters. Indeed in the UK they were sold for that purpose back in the 1960s and 1970s before the rise of the Loricariids.

Two - Limias live in hard, alkaline water in nature, so they will be environmentally compatible with the Lombardoi Cichlids.

There are other good reasons for this selection too. Limias are robust fishes that share their wild home with a variety of feisty Central and South American Cichlids, possess an attractive range of colour schemes, and are easy to both maintain and breed in the aquarium (they're livebearers related to Mollies). They are excellent algae eaters, and being livebearers, will produce fry that will keep the lombardoi occupied as well.

imia melanogaster is probably the best choice. It will live in water with a pH of 8.5 and a hardness of 30 degrees dH, so it should be quite compatible with Malawi Rift Lake Cichlids from a chemistry standpoint. It will probably be capable of withstanding any aggression from the lombardoi as well.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Limias would get ripped apart by kenyis, and they're probably near impossible to get unless you order them online in most US states.

I say go with Bristlenoses. They stay smaller, males being the biggest at MAX, if even, 6 inches. They aren't as big of waste makers, and they can get in small crevices if fish pick on them, although with my cichlids, I have not had that problem. Easy to care for, and spawn easily given right conditions. Majority of your fish are not raised in soft water, which we don't have in the US, unless you have a machine. And I know MOST LFS don't take that extra route to make sure south american fish get soft water, so more than likely the harder water will not be a problem, has never been with me. Hope this helps!

72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up
75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)

For optimum health, ancistrus should not be kept in African tanks, IMO.

"Chinese" algae eaters really make excellent fish to keep with aggressive tankmates, and do not stop eating algae with age; like all limnivores, they feed on organic films and tend to be more omnivorous than anything. They do make great cleanup fish though, are quite interesting to watch, and certainly will feed on brown algae, not to mention thriving in high pH environments.

Garra, though, IMO, really do take the lime light, as far as algae eaters are concerned. They are far more herbivorously inclined than most other algae eating fish, are robust, and do well in groups. They also seem capable of branching away from brown algae, which is the only type of algae more loricariids and otherwise limnivoric suckermouthed fishes will consume.

I went with just a common pleco. In only three days he seems to have gotten at almost all the algae, and his tank mates and him seem to be getting along well too.

Thanks again!


†Aquapickle†

Hey Aquapickle,
if by common algae eater you mean common
pleco, keep in mind many species of common
pleco reach 18-24 inches in length and a very
robust.
Not sure the size of the tank, but it is possible
the pleco will outgrow it.
Common plecos seem to average about
6-9 inches of growth per year, depending on species.

Cup - Garra are, I agree, a phenomenal algae eater.
I kept a Garra Cambodgiensis for many years.
Probably one of the most fluent algae eaters out
there.


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Yeah i went with a common pleco, my tank is 29 gallons, and i will probably give it back to the LFS before it gets too big.

†Aquapickle†

Well that wont give you very much time.
Plecos can grow 2-3 inches a month if given
enough food.
I definitely would go with a Bristlenose instead.
It makes much more sense to buy a fish that will
be able to live its whole life in your tank,
than be constantly swapping them in and out.


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