Whats With All The Poop?

[DRB]

Pretty to the point I reckon..
My Sailfin Plec seems to have a non existent digestive system because it seems as soon as he takes a bite he knocks one out the back, and it so happens that he never ever stops taking a bite.. Grazing all day = Pooping all day.
 
Seriously what is with this, I read a lot that Plecs are waste machines but this is insane, are these dudes cursed with the IBS of the fish world or something? Is there anything I can do to stem his need to drop a log constantly or is it just how they are?
 
Hopefully someone knows the answer to this gross question.

 

[gregswimm]

Not much you can do.  Add stronger filtration is about all I can suggest.

 

[PlecostomusPerson]

Well actually Plecostomus have one of the stronger digestive systems, due to them digesting other fishes waste, wood, algae, and dead material. Plecostomus also eat a lot and it is very normal for them to poop a lot, but you can always do what gregswimm said and get a stronger filtration going.

 

[DRB]

Hmm yeah, right now I'm just using the lid mounted filter system inside the Aquaone 850.. it's pretty weak really, next to no suction and nothing further than a few inches from it will drift close. Thinking of adding a more powerful canister filter now that my tanks finally cycled. 
Might be the way to go hey? How about a power-head close to the substrate to throw it all toward the filter?

 

[PlecostomusPerson]

I don't know much about filters.
 
How big is your Plecostomus?

 

[DRB]

About 7-8cm I reckon (a little over 3 inches)

 

[PlecostomusPerson]

Oh well, when he gets older he'll poop less, but it will be in bigger amounts. 
 
Enough said, I can't tell you much more.

 

[DRB]

lol oh well that's something to look forward to, infrequent giant monster poo's!
Thanks though mate

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

It would be better for all the fish in the tank if you got into the habit of syphoning up the poop every few days.

 

[PlecostomusPerson]

Yeah, that would be twice as good and double it with a crazy good filter

 

[DRB]

Already into that habit, substrate vacuum every second day, must encourage him to try harder to make a mess for me.

 

[Madjonny]

I have a tiny clown plec, and he makes such a mess of the sand it's unreal... All night he must dart around the tank pooing as he goes!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Plecos are grazers, like cattle.  So, they eat a lot and make a lot of waste, just like cows.

 

[snazy]

You just need better filtration. The trickle filter won't cut it and I am sure the pleco will also appreciate better flow around the tank.
I've had a common for over two years. He's in a planted tank with white sand and 3 filters(the trickle filter in the hood of the tank, a very big external and a big internal) and I hardly ever see any poop as far as aesthetics go. Mine was around 8.5 inches the last time I measured him.
You'd need to setup the filters intake/outlet in a way so there's a degree of flow on the substrate and the flow pushes it towards the intakes. I'd go with a filter rather than just a powerhead.

 

[lrhodes]

I have a common that's about 6 or so inches long. And he always has poop attached that is twice as long as him. Just eating and pooping. All day long. There was a big string of it in one of the plants and my two year old said "there's a worm!" I said "no. That's gator poop!" (Gator being our common's name.)