Fish Are Dying From Pleco Waste?

[kensclark15]

I have a 29 gallon tank and I'm trying to get rid of my 12 inch + pleco. It makes too much waste and I have to clean the tank a lot. There are always strings of feces hanging off of everything. My water also turned cloudy and it smells very bad. The nitrate and nitrite are a bit high but close to the safe range. I don't know about the ammonia. I cleaned the tank two times today by using a gravel vacuum. Each time I did 20%. I was told to keep doing this until the cloudiness goes away. I don't know if it's a bacterial bloom or too much ammonia from the pleco. Each time I change the water I also put a small amount of bacterial supplement in it. Today I heard a bang in my tank and one of my sunset fire platys died and was floating around. I took it out and flushed it (That made me sad ). Then I changed the water (the second time today). Could it be the pleco that is causing all of this? It has caused nothing but problems since I got the tank from someone. The tank has the 12 inch pleco which I'm trying to get rid of, 5 cherry barbs, 2 bumblebee platys, and 2 sunset fire platys - 1 that died. I have a good 100W heater, digital thermometer, florescent light, and I don't know what kind but a HOB filter. One thing I should say is that this green gunk keeps collecting on the filter.

 

[Axyadbad]

If ammonia or nitrite is greater than zero this can lead to fish death, this is probably due to the pleco. Do water changes till both ammonia and nitrite drop to 0... get a liquid test kit for ammonia. The api freshwater master kit is highly recommended!

 

[Mr.fry]

i think the green gunk might be algae if it is try to control its growth.

 

[Mr.fry]

if its growing on something like a decoration you could just cut it all out or if you like it just gently pull little hairs off.i know because i have a marimo moss ball.

 

[Mr.fry]

i recommend you get one they make your fish healthy and they grow very large and they dont let algae grow.to take care of one you just take it out of the tank whenever you have time and

take the water out.do that a few times and when you put it back in the water if i has received enough light it might float.if it becomes brownish just get some plant food.if it does not work simply ask an employee at the place you go to for your fishes.

 

[Moby-Krib]

I have a 29 gallon tank and I'm trying to get rid of my 12 inch + pleco. It makes too much waste and I have to clean the tank a lot. There are always strings of feces hanging off of everything. My water also turned cloudy and it smells very bad. The nitrate and nitrite are a bit high but close to the safe range. I don't know about the ammonia. I cleaned the tank two times today by using a gravel vacuum. Each time I did 20%. I was told to keep doing this until the cloudiness goes away. I don't know if it's a bacterial bloom or too much ammonia from the pleco. Each time I change the water I also put a small amount of bacterial supplement in it. Today I heard a bang in my tank and one of my sunset fire platys died and was floating around. I took it out and flushed it (That made me sad ). Then I changed the water (the second time today). Could it be the pleco that is causing all of this? It has caused nothing but problems since I got the tank from someone. The tank has the 12 inch pleco which I'm trying to get rid of, 5 cherry barbs, 2 bumblebee platys, and 2 sunset fire platys - 1 that died. I have a good 100W heater, digital thermometer, florescent light, and I don't know what kind but a HOB filter. One thing I should say is that this green gunk keeps collecting on the filter.

a 12" PLECO IN 29 GAL.. I'm assuming you already know the implications.,.
Yes the amount of waste could easily overwhelm the filtration and cause toxic results to mates.,
Rehome!!! but you know this.

so short term, .. Not much to offer this late in the game. way late to ask
maybe add to filtration, but without direct contact your filter wont grow at the 2x ideal. make sure you seed any additional Filtration knowing the losing battle .. I would say isolate and follow thorough.. Move the big man/girl now..NOW

 

[mossonthemoon]

I don't know how cycling, etc went with the tank, but I think I would start by getting a better filter and putting the old media into the new filter (along with the new media). If you can't afford a very good filter, even getting something less expensive and having them run at the same time would help. If you do that, perhaps you could put half the old media in with half the new in both. Also carry on with water changes of course, and test for ammonia. Good luck rehoming!

 

[Mr.fry]

watch out for PLECO