Plecos in the pond for algae control, your thoughts

[kyari]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if any of you have any Plecos in your ponds for some algae control. I was thinking of getting a couple, I get the what I call algae bunnies all the time, they look like dust bunnies that you get in your house sometimes, near the bottom, not so much string algae just the clumps. I was wondering if you guys had any Plecos and if they help, or take up precious water space needed for the Koi. My koi are getting older and bigger, I know they harvest the algae, I think mine are not harvesting enough. I know I could put a Hyacinth in, I have Lilly's, I know the hyacinth sucks up more nitrates and competes with the algae, salting my pond here and there as I have had to, killed my Hyacinth, and I had to take it out. Should I get another, or for the sake of more salting if needed get a pleco or something else? I know I could ask you guys, you guy are the best and experts here, and I know you guys know what works the best! Thanks as always,
Carrie

[gspotmc]

Kyari,
Try Hi-fin sharks. Had a couple. They are also algae eaters. But they grow quite fast. Mine grew from 7 to 18 inches and can survive cold water. Plecos are tropical fish. I had 2 in my qt tank they were fine during summer but when the weather got cold they died.
Michael

[An Ly]

Carrie, don't get a pleco, it will not survive the cold water in the winter, i had two in my pond okay in summer die in colder weather, just like Michael. A proper size UV light with proper flow, is best to treat algae IMHO. Not only will it make your water crystal clear, it will kill certain bad pathogen as well. So if you don't have one, i think a UV should do the trick, if you have one maybe bulbs needs replacement since it loose its effects over time, or maybe water flow to fast through UV not enough exposure time to kill the algae.

An

[Tamianth]

Pleco's can be bad news too. Being nocturnal and carp are bottom sleepers. Their dietary needs change as they grow older and larger also and can pose a risk to koi as they can latch onto them.

My question here would be why are you salting the pond?

[kingkong]

Always have plecos. Temps 62 to 82 degrees F. Will suck on other fish.

[MikeM]

Your "algae bunnies" are just bits of broken off algae filaments that have clumped together. Plecos will not eat them, unless one settles on its nose. UV will not affect them either. If the filter system is not capturing them eventually, then you may need just a bit more current to keep them moving to let the filter capture them.

[kyari]

I was salting as a completely over zealous maneuver. I was keeping it a .3 because of all the parasite problems I had had. My pond has been cured for so long, I was a pre-caution, I know I can stop. And I need to that may be my algae killer to as well as my shade sail, blocking some sunlight.
Carrie

[Lee]

In reply:

I have some huge plec's in my pond.

I have always had them. They came with my first shipment of koi.

And, whilst ugly creatures. I have never had any problem with them.

For the most part, I never see them...either. They blend in so well with the pond colours...(I have three ponds. Two with koi.)

I was told to get rid of them years ago. Not by anyone who had them. But, on general principals. I never did find a home for them, hence I have had them ever since - without any problem whatsoever.

Will you be that fortunate? Obviously, I don't know. I only know I have had no problems...whatsoever.

Lee A.
Grand Cayman

[PapaBear]

We have a few and yes, they definitely have to come in during the winter as cold water is something they absolutely cannot handle.
Do they really help with algae control??? I doubt it. Koi graze algae too and I've got a lot more Koi than pleco's... and still plenty of carpet algae to go around
While I've never seen one latch on to a Koi to suck the slime I know they'll explore new food sources. When we refilled our pond last year after deepening the new liner obviously had no established carpet algae. We sat in the pond at the mouth of the stream while it finished filling after moving the fish in with our legs dangling in the deep end. The Koi came over to check us out of course, but only the pleco (normally reclusive) looked for a snack. It latched onto my legs in several places, apparently in hope that the hair on my legs was really algae...

[HEADACHE6]

It is nothing for a hobbiest to have 2 or 3 plecos. in a 55+ gal. tank . I just don't see plecos doing much in a large pond . Plus years ago when I worked in a Pet Store , I remember plecos. coming down with Ich very easy (mostly because of temp. swings , stress , etc.) .