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The question is, how many bristlenose plecos should I get?

Here is the basic information. Its a standard 125 gallon tank with more than enough filtration and decent water movement. Heavily planted with live plants, some rocks and fake driftwood making numerous hiding places. Current residents include:

5 Cories (will be adding 7-8 more with the plecs)
4 Siamese Algae Eaters
7 Red Rainbowfish (G. incisus)
7 Boesemani Rainbowfish
6 Turquiose Rainbowfish (M. Lacustris)

The tank has developed a minor algae problem on the glass. The SAE keep red and hair algae out of sight and the decor clean but don't touch the glass. The tank gets a 20% water change at least once a week (probably closer to every 5 days or so) and is very clean.

I'd like the plecs to take care of the glass (I hate scrapping algae) but also think Plecos are just cool. I have a 14 inch common Pleco in another tank but want some BN.

How many can or should I add to the tank? Also, do BN need real driftwood to graze on like common plecos? I have some I can throw in there if they do.

The bristlenose doesn't actually need to be kept with, but they do seem to benefit from it. I believe that it helps them with digestion.

You could probably safely add 4 BNs to that tank, as long as there are plenty of hiding places for them. Male BNs like to stake out their own territories, and chase other males away. To avoid that aggression, give each BN a cave of its own.

Personally, I love the bristlenose catfish as an algae eater, and as a pet. They are so ugly they're adorable, and they do a very good job of cleaning a fishtank's glass. My BN has kept my 29 gallon algae free for the three or so weeks that I've had him, and I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Good luck with yours!

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

BNs don't need wood as sirbooks said but it does help them with digestion, and without wood their waste turns white and stringy (i think its BNs that do that anyway)
if you are getting all males i'd only get 2, but if you are getting all females or 1m 2f i'd get 3 because males BNs can be quite aggresive IME.

cfd

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Billy was a scientist, Billy is no more. For what he thought was H20, was H2SO4

for a 125gal there are a lot of better looking plecos that would work
eg saflin pleco
gold nugget pleco
and so on and so on

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''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

IME, BNs are not aggressive at all, but rather territorial. Males and females alike will chase each other around the tank--but nothing serious. I'd go with 3-4 large BNs or 6-7 smaller species.