Plecos and petro vs. acrylic tank

[myjohnson]

So, I got this acrylic tank. I really want to use some bright lights on it to show the full color range of my fishes.

But I know algae will grow. I'm wondering if I can just keep some plecos and have them keep the tank clean for me. However, I'm worried that some plecos may scratch the acrylic in that process.

The only person I know that keeps plecos in an acrylic tank is Geoff so I hope he can comment some on this issue.

Comments from anyone else with first hand experience would be greatly appreciated.

[Nickintex]

I have plecos in a acrylic tank. I have some scratches, but they do not match a plecos mouth. Some of them are from rocks and substrate being moved around, or from having algae wiped off with a sponge.

[myjohnson]

What type of pleco is it?

So you think the pleco is not scratching the acrylic at all?

[tbui1178]

I don't have first hand experience, but I would assume that a pleco would be ok in your tank.... unless you plan on getting a 12"+ monster.

[myjohnson]

No, plecos freak me out as is. I can't even touch one. I have to use a net to mess with them.

I'm just planning to keep 2-3 small ABNs.

[geoff_tropheus]

I have kept regular plecos and bristtlenose plecos in acrylic tanks and not had a problem with scratches.

In my 10ft with the Tri-colors, and my 8ft with the Trewavasae, I have not seen anything that looks like they are scratching it.

Alex told me that he had a acrylic tank that did get scratched up from Petros that housed Red Bulu's When you look at the mouth's of Red Bulu's and compare to them to Trewavase the teeth are totally different and so are the lips texture. I think you just need be careful about which plecos/petro's you pick and look at their mouths and make a judgement call.

[stevenallenbarnard]

Avoid the various Panaque species (royal plecos and the such) as they have bigger teeth more suited for rasping.

[Nickintex]

What type of pleco is it?

So you think the pleco is not scratching the acrylic at all?

Common, BN, snowball, and some kind of leopard spotted one (can't remember the L#).

[Nickintex]

No, plecos freak me out as is. I can't even touch one..

Plecophobic?

[myjohnson]

Something like that. I just can't touch some fish.

Like a giraffe cat, they totally freak me out!

[myjohnson]

I have kept regular plecos and bristtlenose plecos in acrylic tanks and not had a problem with scratches.

In my 10ft with the Tri-colors, and my 8ft with the Trewavasae, I have not seen anything that looks like they are scratching it.

Alex told me that he had a acrylic tank that did get scratched up from Petros that housed Red Bulu's When you look at the mouth's of Red Bulu's and compare to them to Trewavase the teeth are totally different and so are the lips texture. I think you just need be careful about which plecos/petro's you pick and look at their mouths and make a judgement call.

Cool! Thanks for the info buddy. I'm going to get plecos for sure then. I'm just going to let them clean the glass and not give the petros a chance at scratching it. I have no idea how to compare the teeth on the petro I want. I don't think to many people even have them.

I'm just keep a group on miniature ABN.

[geoff_tropheus]

i dont know about minature ABN, but if they are too small Petros will eat them.

[myjohnson]

You think?

They are 4'' fish.

I might just get the bigger ones.

But I do really like the look of the ABN.

[seminoleranch]

Something like that. I just can't touch some fish.

Like a giraffe cat, they totally freak me out!

LOL I can not believe I am hearing this out of you, its cool though because other than my rubber lipped I am not that crazy about them either . Have you thought about Mystery Snails? If you decide you want some let me know and I sure can hook you up with some.

[myjohnson]

I haven't thought about mystery snails but I have thought about nerite snails.

Maybe buy like 100 of them and just put them in there. I just don't like the idea of a lot of them dieing at once and causing my water to go bad.

If a pleco came up missing I would know to look for it.