Smaller bristlenose that eats algae well

[Pepere]

Current batch of quarantine fish are due to transfer to display tanks in 2 weeks. 
 

thinking of a few Bristlenose plecos to assist with algae eating, cleaning.

looking for some on the smaller sideas looking for 1 in a 20 gallon and perhaps 2 in a 29 gallon.  So, also looking for ones that dont need a group, 

 

any guidance or suggestions to consider?

[nabokovfan87]

I used Rubberlips.  They are glass cleaning machines.  For "more general" surfaces, Bristlenose's work well.  Those are generally going to be the two sizes available for use.

Edit: I can't speak to their use, but if you want something smaller Panda Garra might be worth a look.

Edited August 18, 2022 by nabokovfan87

[SpacedCadette]

Like @nabokovfan87 said, a panda garra could be a good alternative. 

I have one as a part of my cleaning crew and they’re neat fish. They have great personalities and tend to be super social. Mine even comes out to see what I’m up to when he spots me. 

One thing to note is they can be a bit boisterous. Mine likes to hang with my cories but he does kind of bowl through them a bit. Luckily they don’t really seem to mind. Lol

My panda garra has easily become one of my favorite fish

[Guppysnail]

I’m not certain what your stock is but nerites are my window washing, hard scape, small crevice cleaners. They don’t do great for cleaning algae from plants though. Paired with some Amano shrimp for the plants they keep tanks on a smaller bioload than pleco who are poop machines. 

[Pepere]

Freshwater inverts not allowed in Maine.

 

and Hillstream loaches are forbidden as well.

Edited August 18, 2022 by Pepere

[PotatoFish]

If you're looking for a fish to do a lot of algae eating, I suggest the tiny otocinclus.

They eat off the glass as well as a number of small surfaces and on fine-leaf plants without damaging them. I always read that you should keep them in groups, but I have 1 (named Otto Von Bismarck II) in my tank who seems to be fat and happy...maybe happy because he's well-fed...and he doesn't poop much!

But they will probably get gobbled up depending on what else you have in the tank.

If you do go the pleco route, I've always wanted to keep a green dragon pleco. Those are pretty fishies. You might like them too.

Plecos are known to completely nom amazon swords if you have them, so careful with that. Also, don't forget to feed the pleco. They will need more than algae...oh, and they do poop quite a bit.

Edited August 18, 2022 by PotatoFish
Incomplete thought...now complete

[Pepere]

I have gone back and forth on both Ottos and Plecos.  Ottos are known to be hard to get established and to train to accept other food sources.  I hate having fish die on me…

The Bristlenose pleco do not particularly appeal to me, but I suspect they grow on you, literally and figuratively.

dwarf Gourami and Emerald Green Cories are the biggest fish I have…

 

my biggest wish is for something to work to keep plant leaves cleaner.  I am fine maintaining the glass myself.  removing and wiping down heaters and hob filter weekly also easy enough as well as pulling driftwood out and scrubbing that down.

 

And yes, I know they need to be fed in addition to algae….

 

 

[CrashBandit05]

I found clown plecos at my LFS and eventually decided to get one for my 29gal. Google (we all know how accurate the internet is) said they do eat algae and plant/wood fiber. In my experience, it only hangs out on the several pieces of driftwood, never the glass. I imagine it eats the algae growing on the driftwood pieces as well but I never see it unless it's night. They stay small and look pretty cool IMO.

[PotatoFish]

On 8/18/2022 at 10:56 PM, Pepere said:

I have gone back and forth on both Ottos and Plecos.  Ottos are known to be hard to get established and to train to accept other food sources.  I hate having fish die on me…

The Bristlenose pleco do not particularly appeal to me, but I suspect they grow on you, literally and figuratively.

dwarf Gourami and Emerald Green Cories are the biggest fish I have…

 

my biggest wish is for something to work to keep plant leaves cleaner.

I think most people have otos die on them because they bought a dying fish at the store. Pick the active one with a full belly if you do decide to get one. The other reason is that they bought too many otos for their tank, and they competed pretty hard for food.

Another sneakyish way about it is to cultivate some bladder snails, pond snails, or mini-ramshorns. These tiny snails are great for fine-leaf plants.

[Pepere]

No otos at local fish stores.

 

it would have to be mail order.

[laritheloud]

I would go with a panda garra. I have one in a 20 gallon long with a lot of flow, they're wonderful, very active little fish. Always cleaning surfaces of algae and anything else edible.

[Pepere]

The Green Neon Tetras and Dwarf Gourami might not like having a lot of flow.

 

the green neons do play in the current of the HOB outflow, but the rest of the tank give loads of places in mild current.

[TOtrees]

I keep (and breed) the blue eyed lemon bn plecos. I've found they stay pretty small and grow pretty slow, but I think there are a lot of mixed strains out there (different lineages) and I have seen others that get decent sized. 

Other options that I like: my favorite glass cleaner is the marbled limpet snail (close relative of nerites). They attach really strong to the glass, so they get good leverage to scrape it clean. I like an army of cherry shrimp for leaves and substrate but with dwarf gourami you might just be adding expensive fish food. So I'd go with amanos. You can't have too many, I've read that scapers aim for like 1 per gallon. 

I've kept panda garra before, and they are SO fun to watch and interact with. They used to get right on my hand during water changes, nom nom tickle tickle. But I agree with comment above that they are boisterous (good word choice), and personally I never found them to be great cleaners. Ottos are great for diatoms and biofilm, but not really into algae, if they have better options. In my experience/opinion. 

[Pepere]

Hmm, starting to think about buying some American Flag Fish first and see how they do.

2 inches or so long and will eat string algae and black beard from sources I read.

and happily eats other fare as well.

Any thoughts, concurrences?