A Success At Last

[donporter]

I've had lots of these over the years, and I don't know why but they've never lasted more than a couple of weeks.

This one however, is still going strong after 18 months and getting a bit big for the tank - fingers crossed the gars don't get him.

 

[madgap]

What is your tank set up?
For example, size, water stats, lighting and tank mates?
Is his fin always down like that?

 

[donporter]

What is your tank set up?
For example, size, water stats, lighting and tank mates?
Is his fin always down like that?

Hi madgap,

My tank is about 4' long x 2' wide x 2' deep. I haven't found a shop that sells water testing equipment where I live, so I'm not sure about water stats. However, I have both undergravel, and internal filtration, with charcoal and medium for amonia removal. I change a third of the water every 2 months, and remove solid waste every 2 weeks. I think the water is pretty clean, or as clean as I can make it. I try and leave some algae on the glass for him, and only clean off the most unsightly bits. (I would class myself as an enthusiatic amatuer, with little knowledge)

The lighting is 2 blue/black flourescents.

There are a mixture of cichlids, silver dollars, tinfoil barbs, parrot fish and catfish in there with him. Oh and the recently famous, and soon to be evicted gar fish.

His fin is down when he settles in one place, but when he swims around fin is up. He has grown considerably in the time since I bought him, (about 14"). So, I think swimming is a bit difficult at times.

Regards, Don

 

[paul_219]

WOW it looks gr8.

 

[madgap]

What is your tank set up?
For example, size, water stats, lighting and tank mates?
Is his fin always down like that?

Hi madgap,

My tank is about 4' long x 2' wide x 2' deep. I haven't found a shop that sells water testing equipment where I live, so I'm not sure about water stats. However, I have both undergravel, and internal filtration, with charcoal and medium for amonia removal. I change a third of the water every 2 months, and remove solid waste every 2 weeks. I think the water is pretty clean, or as clean as I can make it. I try and leave some algae on the glass for him, and only clean off the most unsightly bits. (I would class myself as an enthusiatic amatuer, with little knowledge)

The lighting is 2 blue/black flourescents.

There are a mixture of cichlids, silver dollars, tinfoil barbs, parrot fish and catfish in there with him. Oh and the recently famous, and soon to be evicted gar fish.

His fin is down when he settles in one place, but when he swims around fin is up. He has grown considerably in the time since I bought him, (about 14"). So, I think swimming is a bit difficult at times.

Regards, Don

I would say that I'm a beginner in the company of most in this forum. But not such a beginner as to say that perhaps your water changes could possibly be a bit more frequent. I dont know about others on here but I perform a, roughly, twenty percent change every four days.
The reason I asked about your tank statistics, earlier, was hopefully someone might be able to shed some light on your pleco loss. It might be that something about your tank is, or was, wrong. And an advanced hobbyist may guide you, preventing another pleco death.

Good luck with your pleco. They are a fantastic creature.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Tank is way to small, and has way to many fish. And you only take water out a third of water every two months? Is that a typo

If it isn't, then there lies the key to why fish keep on dying...


Ammonia will be through the roof!


Ohh, and that looks to be a gibby/sailfin pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbi) or a common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) Either or, I never was good at idin' plecos


The sailfin with have a large dorsal fin (name says it all)

 

[donporter]

Thanks for that madgap, I really appreciate your advice.

I will certainly up the water changes. Tap water in the middle east is a bit unpredictable, and I would never drink it. When I have added the tap water to the tank it has left a horrible black residue on the plants and rocks.
Therefore I have been using 7 x 20 litre drinking water containers to fill the tank from scratch, adding water conditioner, then refilling with 2 x 20 litre bottles every 2 months. I drain water from beneath and above the gravel when I do a water change. I was worried, as I have no means of testing the water, that I would be removing too much bacteria from the water if I changed the water more often.

The only problem I seem to have is an occasional trace of a fungal infection, (the fish, not me) but usually after I've introduced new fish to the tank, and the aquadine clears that up in a few days.

The plec, (as it's the first one I've managed to keep), was another reason for the regime, but I'm here to learn and any advice is gratefully received.

Regards, Don

 

[donporter]

And you only take water out a third of water every two months? Is that a typo

If it isn't, then there lies the key to why fish keep on dying...


Ammonia will be through the roof!

Thanks for the reply,

No, not a typo. (Sorry)

I've had this tank and the plec for 18 months, and not had one death yet. What I meant was that up until now, every other plec I've had in other tanks has died very quickly, when other fish have not. I take the point about water changes, but could this be the only reason? Not sure.....

Don

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

And you only take water out a third of water every two months? Is that a typo

If it isn't, then there lies the key to why fish keep on dying...


Ammonia will be through the roof!

Thanks for the reply,

No, not a typo. (Sorry)

I've had this tank and the plec for 18 months, and not had one death yet. What I meant was that up until now, every other plec I've had in other tanks has died very quickly, when other fish have not. I take the point about water changes, but could this be the only reason? Not sure.....

Don

Only reason for what... death? If that is in fact your question, then no. It could have easily been starvation (depending on what you are feeding it) or possible even disease (although other fish would most likely have died.)

You can always boil the water, let it sit for a few hours, and then de-chlorinate it just to be on the safe side. Putting out a few barrels to catch rain water would be a good idea too (if possible.)



By the way, no need to be sorry. I was just checking, because that seems very little. Normally you want to be doing 20-30 percent water change once a week. You may even be able to find drain/fill aquarium kits that do all the aquarium maintenance for you!