Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All



During my days of "fish keeping" aquarium style i remember having Plecostomus (pleco) and having to feed them Algae tablets as a food source.

Now this has got me thinking, can i keep them in my fish tank as an alternative fish and algae controller ?

Might be a damm good reason why that i just can't see right now.

Thanks
Joe

Any fish will add to the nitrification in a system. I'm not sure you'll add all the other nuts if you rely on just algae eaters though, but in combination with other fish that eat the aquaculture feed, they'll be fine.

Just make sure that you find the types that can handle the water temps in your system. Some don't like cold, or too hot.

They aren't cheap either.

Can you eat them?

I have 2 in my FT at the moment. They do just fine

Lots of people get rid of them when they get too big so if you have a big tank you should be able to find one cheap.

I've handled one before and they seem like mostly skin and bones except the tail so I don't know if you would want to eat it.

Just make sure he has a little home to hide in.

Thanks for the replies

First of all I don't eat ANY of the fish from my System, i catch my own fish for consumption.
The pleco's would be a "maintenance " fish, to help keep the tank clean.
Cheap they are not but as Mini said i could find some that people don't want, I've keep them before and am aware of their needs re feeding and structure.
I was more wanting to see if people have them in their systems or if it would be a good idea or not.

Joe

With the algae, you're better off shading your system and keeping the algae out in the first place.

IMO they are good they take algae that stole nutrients and turn it back into nutrients for your good plants.

+1