Craving for a BN pleco, is it raisonnable?

**Delphe** · 02-13-2013, 03:44 PM

Hello,

I would like to add a BN Pleco to my community.
I know I am 97% stocked right now according to aqadviser.com and getting the pleco would get me to 110%, but it'll be for a few months only as I am budgeting for a 50+ gallons tank, so probably 3 or 4 months before set up.
I keep my tank very well, i believe, keep the nitrate down to between 5 to 10 ppm by doing 2 water changes of 25% each a week and I don't mind doing some extras if necessary.
Also would it be OK at pH 7.8?
What do you guys think, will it be too much even for a few months or can I make it?
Thanks.

**imma24** · 02-13-2013, 04:10 PM

IMO I would wait for the larger tank - why overstock even for a short amount of time - plecos produce lots of waste.

**talldutchie** · 02-13-2013, 04:31 PM

Probably right. What's the tank stocking and decor?

**Delphe** · 02-13-2013, 05:04 PM

Was afraid you'd say that :-(
My stock is 17 bloodfins, 7 corys panda, 3 nerites.
Sand, driftwoods, planted (java fern, anubias, compacta, apogenon, crypt), amphora and cave.
AC 70 for filter, 29 gallons rectangular standard.

**imma24** · 02-13-2013, 06:25 PM

Well then, it's a good thing you asked huh? You are wise for asking before purchasing! It's amazing how many fish some people think they can stuff into a tank - many impulse buys - not a good idea!

**talldutchie** · 02-13-2013, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Delphe

Was afraid you'd say that :-(
My stock is 17 bloodfins, 7 corys panda, 3 nerites.
Sand, driftwoods, planted (java fern, anubias, compacta, apogenon, crypt), amphora and cave.
AC 70 for filter, 29 gallons rectangular standard.

Tank decor and tank mates won't be an issue. The bloodfins are too clever to mess with an Ancistrus. The cories tend to be easy going. However, as you suspected, you're already pretty much at your stocking limit. It could work, especially with your water changing regimen but realistically, you're already leaving yourself with 0 room for error.

**fishmommie** · 02-13-2013, 10:59 PM

Conventional wisdom suggests that all the advice you've been given is sound. However, I'll be the dissenting voice here LOL. I have 8 colombian tetra, 6 serpae tetra, 6 cories, 1 DW gourami and 3 snails in a 30 gallon along with an albino BN pleco. For the past 3 months, it's also been temporarily housing a 3 inch Electric Blue Jack Dempsey until he gets a little more growth on him. The tank, however, is well established - a year old. It's in perfect harmony and health with plenty of filtration and established beneficial bacteria. Like you, I keep up with my water changes and keep nitrates in check. It's all about taking care of the water.
Granted, you'd be pushing it a bit but if your tank is mature and healthy and you have at least double filtration for the tank size, I think you could add a baby BN - especially considering you plan to transition to a larger tank at some point. By the time he gets any growth on him, you'll be set up and ready. My little BN makes my tank - so I can see why you have a hankering to get one.
Good luck whatever you decide

**Honey Badger 1** · 02-14-2013, 02:32 AM

It's a better idea to stock the tank you have and not the one you might get in the future. For the welfare of your fish, accept the fact that the tank is at its limit and wait until you get the bigger tank to get more fish.

**Jaster** · 02-14-2013, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by fishmommie

Conventional wisdom suggests that all the advice you've been given is sound. However, I'll be the dissenting voice here LOL. I have 8 colombian tetra, 6 serpae tetra, 6 cories, 1 DW gourami and 3 snails in a 30 gallon along with an albino BN pleco. For the past 3 months, it's also been temporarily housing a 3 inch Electric Blue Jack Dempsey until he gets a little more growth on him. The tank, however, is well established - a year old. It's in perfect harmony and health with plenty of filtration and established beneficial bacteria. Like you, I keep up with my water changes and keep nitrates in check. It's all about taking care of the water.
Granted, you'd be pushing it a bit but if your tank is mature and healthy and you have at least double filtration for the tank size, I think you could add a baby BN - especially considering you plan to transition to a larger tank at some point. By the time he gets any growth on him, you'll be set up and ready. My little BN makes my tank - so I can see why you have a hankering to get one.
Good luck whatever you decide

I agree... most of my tanks are a tick over stocked. I dont think a single BN will hurt your setup. I have a BN in every tank I have. They're great and do a great job cleaning.

**Delphe** · 02-14-2013, 09:48 PM

Thanks all. I like that fact that it seems to be a little more than just yes or no. I am on the conservative side however and my budget and set up date reflects savings for brand new "A to Z" equipment, knowing that I am watching Graig list and today saw 2 interesting tanks one 50-55 gallons (the stand will need re staining as I see on the picture) and one 90 gallons, I am not considering the decorations included as I want to do my own thing, so it might turns to a couple weeks verses months.
So if I can get one on these in by this weekend (even know it might not be up and running for an another couple weeks due to cleaning and getting misc...), i thing it would be fair to get my BN now isn't it?

http://portland.craigslist.org/yam/for/3604190607.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/for/3614837918.html
what do you think do any of these seems like a good deal?
Could you tell me what I should be watching for and question to ask to make sure I get it right?