No, plecos don’t really clean your tank. Many people assume that because plecos are bottom-dwelling catfish, they will clean the tank. However, plecos only occasionally eat algae and may prevent algae blooms, but they can’t clean or scrape algae entirely from the tank.
Additionally, plecos produce a lot of waste, and unlike popular belief, don’t eat poop. Therefore, you can’t rely on plecos to keep your tank clean.
If you have plecos, make sure to keep your tank clean by:
- Installing a good water filter
- Changing 10% the water once a week
- Cleaning the tank at least once a month
- Not overfeeding the fish
- Testing the water regularly
