Pleco Turning White

[PlecoNewbie]

I inherited a 10-gallon fish tank two days ago with five fish, three small and one pleco about 3 inches long. I have made numerous mistakes and I'm desperate.
 
- I noted the existing tanks temp to be around 85.
- I put the fish into gallon ziplocks with water from the existing tank.
- I poured out the majority of the remaining water.
- I transported the fish and the tank about 20 minutes to my house.
- I washed the gravel in the bottom of the tank. (STUPID)
- I washed the filter. (STUPID)
- I put warm tap water in the tank.
- I floated the ziplocks in the tank for about 10 minutes.
- I let the fish swim out.
- I saw the temp was around 90 degrees.
- Two fish died in about 5 minutes. I took them out.
- I desperately tried to lower the temperature by taking out warm water and replacing it with cooler water.
- The temperature lowered to around 83.
- A few hours later another fish was looking ill.
- In the morning the last little fish died. I took them out.
- I put some zucchini and a algae wafer in for the remaining pleco.
- I read about cycling and was horrified by what I'd done to destroy the biofilter.
- I read about chlorine and was horrified by the tap water I subjected the fish to.
- I noted that the pleco was getting a lighter shade this morning.
- I purchased tap water conditioner and applied it to the tank. 6 drops per gallon since I live in Austin and we apparently have chloramines in the tap water.
- I purchased 6-in-1 test stripes and ammonia test kit.
- I measured moderate nitrite, safe nitrate, safe pH.
- I measured 2ppm ammonia in the tank.
- I changed around 40% of the water with conditioned tap water.
- I measured 1ppm ammonia in the tank.
- I measured around 1ppm ammonia even in straight tap water.
 
I'm freaked that I'm killing this poor pleco.

 

[PlecoNewbie]

Here are some pictures:
 
http/imgur.com/a/xx0OJ
 
Should I look for an emergency temporary home for the pleco while my tank re-cycles?

 

[DJH584]

The best thing you can do at the moment is to change the largest amount of water you can without drowning the fish using dechlorinated temperature matched water.
Keep testing the water daily to check on the ammonia level - it should be below 0.25ppm - and do a massive water change if it approaches that.
 
It is obvious from what you have posted that you do care about the livelihood of your pleco. Yes you have made errors - and which one of us has not???
 
It might be an idea if you could tell us what pleco you have and that way other members with better knowledge than I can suggest what size tank you should have for it.
If you can't identify the pleco, then please post a picture of it and perhaps a member of the forum can identify it for you - hopefully it will not be one that grows to a humungous size. In the meantime, be prepared for massive water changes on a daily basis.
 
I see that you have bought test strips - the general consensus of opinion here is that they are a waste of time.
Either get yourself a liquid nitrite and nitrate testing kit or a a masterkit.
They will serve you well.
 
Regards
 
David

 

[PlecoNewbie]

DJH, thank you very much. I will get liquid nitrite and nitrate testing kits ASAP.
 
Since my tap water apparently is already at 1ppm ammonia, should I go get some reverse osmosis or another kind of purified water from Whole Foods?
 
I feel awful that I've already killed four little fish and want to do anything I can to help this last guy survive.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Odds are you've got a common pleco which can grow to more than a foot in length. I'd suggest getting yourself a much bigger tank or rehoming him (which might not be a bad idea anyway considering you don't have a cycled filter system).
 
Get yourself a master test kit which will check for hardness, pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. Then you can determine the course of action looking at your tap water. If there's that much ammonia in your tap water, call the water department! That's way too high for humans. 
 
Get a bottle of Seachem Prime as your dechlorinator, as it does so much more. Also, get a glass thermometer  for the inside of the tank (the kind with a suction cup and red liquid indicator. Old fashioned but pretty reliable) and keep the water temp below 75º if you can. 
 
So glad you've decided to come here for help!

 

[PlecoNewbie]

This Old Spouse, thank you!
 
Any suggestions on how to find a new home for this pleco? Maybe a post on Austin craigslist?
 
I do have a thermometer and it is reading around 80 degrees right now. Some pictures here: (sorry for flash): http/imgur.com/a/xx0OJ

 

[This Old Spouse]

Well, he's very stressed for sure. Is there any way to bring the water temp down?
 
You can try craigslist or see if you have a FreeCycle group in your area. You might try requesting some mature filter media, which would almost instantly cycle your filter. Maybe even your LFS (local fish store) will donate some to you. 
 
Plecos need some kind of driftwood to munch on, as well as algae wafers. They tend to like some kind of "cave" to hide in during the daylight hours, which could be as simple as one flat rock on top of two other rocks. That's what I've used and they seem to like it.
 
It is a common pleco, btw. 

 

[PlecoNewbie]

I will turn down the heater and try to get some mature media from a lfs. Ill also make him a hiding place.

Thanks so much.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Sounds wonderful. Keep us posted?

 

[PlecoNewbie]

Will do. I have a piece of driftwood from lfs soaking.

 

[PlecoNewbie]

Update:
 
My pleco is fairly active. He's eating and swimming around. I added a piece of drift wood and he likes to hide underneath it. I added a floating log and he has been sucking on it a lot. I gave him zucchini and he's been eating that.
 
I have done another couple 40% water changes with de-chlorinated water. My strip test kit says chlorine levels are safe. Nitrite is just above OK. My liquid ammonia test keeps coming back with very high reading even on straight tap water and also on water that I've treated with a "Prime" conditioner that is supposed to neutralize ammonia. I'm wondering if the test is faulty. It says to put eight drops of solution #1 and then eight of #2. I do that and it always turns green. I'll go get some reverse osmosis water tomorrow to see if that comes back positive as well. Needless to say, the readings from the tank itself are also high.
 
I purchased some live bacteria and added 4 oz yesterday and 2 oz today.
 
More pictures here:
 
http/imgur.com/a/Xcv2U

 

[PlecoNewbie]

Update:
 
Given that my tank was not properly cycled, I figured the best solution would be to give the pleco to somebody with a proper environment. I put an ad on Craigslist but had no takers. Luckily someone at the pet store informed me that a local fish store called Austin Aqua-Dome would adopt a fish and find it a new home. I took the pleco there the next day and they immediately put him into a cycled tank. He looked very happy to be there.
 
Thanks again to everyone for your help.

 

[Timberbatch]

Awesome! Thank you for being so responsible with him. Do not feel bad about the mishaps with the new tank, everyone makes mistakes and at least some good has come of it and you're that much more informed now for the future!