ill pleco!

blue eyes · 02-09-2010, 05:21 AM

hi, i do hope someone can help me here.

I've had my pleco for a few weeks now and he has been fine up until this morning, he is now ill. He keeps floating at the top of the tank but does move a little now and again his movement is very slow and short distance which is very unusual.

He is a common pleco about 2-3inch big, he is in a 20 gallon tank with a couple of tiger barbs, 2 cherry barbs, 3 danios and an apple snail.

blue eyes · 02-09-2010, 05:43 AM

I forgot to mention the plec has got white spot and has been treated correctly for this.
please help any advice or ideas would be much apprieciated.

OrangeCones · 02-09-2010, 01:14 PM

They are huge waste producers. What is your waterchange schedule like?

What are the current levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

A common pleco needs a much larger tank than a 20gallon.

blue eyes · 02-09-2010, 02:25 PM

He was only around 3inches big, was gna keep him til he grows a bit more then get a bigger tank for him, i say he was as he passed away a few hours ago absoulutely gutted he was my favourite fish. 1 of the tiger barbs died about an hour ago aswell not a good day.

not tested the levels yet shall be doing it tomorrow after picking up a new testing kit will let u know what they are once i've done that. he had been having algae wafers to just to be sure he had enough to eat but he didn't eat last nights 1.

blue eyes · 02-09-2010, 02:26 PM

Oh ye water change 1/3 of it weekly.

blue eyes · 02-10-2010, 06:34 AM

the nitrate is 25, nitrite is 1,gh 8, kh6, ph 7.5,cl2 0. the test i got dont do ammonia. any ideas?

OrangeCones · 02-10-2010, 07:45 AM

Nitrite and/or ammonia poisoning likely is killing your fish. At 0.25ppm, nitrite is deadly to some fish very quickly.

Ammonia and nitrite should be zero, and nitrates under 20. I'd get a test for ammonia if I were you. Also do more frequent water changes until the bacteria cycle is established. You've fallen victim to 'new tank syndrome' I fear.

Make sure your dechlorinator also removes ammonia and heavy metals.

blue eyes · 02-10-2010, 03:54 PM

i changed water again tonight and all tests were coming up as being ok, will get test for ammonia 2moz. thank you for your help its much apprieciated.

blue eyes · 02-12-2010, 03:31 AM

All tests ok again but ammonia is very high, added ammo chips yesterday but the level does not seem to be dropping. any ideas?

Sharkee · 02-14-2010, 06:50 AM

You're saying your ammo has spiked up. What are your other readings? Maybe your tank is cycling still or having a mini-cycle... how old is your tank?

02-09-2010, 05:21 AM	#1
blue eyes Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	ill pleco! hi, i do hope someone can help me here. I've had my pleco for a few weeks now and he has been fine up until this morning, he is now ill. He keeps floating at the top of the tank but does move a little now and again his movement is very slow and short distance which is very unusual. He is a common pleco about 2-3inch big, he is in a 20 gallon tank with a couple of tiger barbs, 2 cherry barbs, 3 danios and an apple snail.

02-09-2010, 01:14 PM	#3
OrangeCones Large Fish Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Posts: 947	They are huge waste producers. What is your waterchange schedule like? What are the current levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? A common pleco needs a much larger tank than a 20gallon. __________________ ~It is easy to dodge our responsibilities. But we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. ~

02-10-2010, 07:45 AM	#7
OrangeCones Large Fish Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Posts: 947	Nitrite and/or ammonia poisoning likely is killing your fish. At 0.25ppm, nitrite is deadly to some fish very quickly. Ammonia and nitrite should be zero, and nitrates under 20. I'd get a test for ammonia if I were you. Also do more frequent water changes until the bacteria cycle is established. You've fallen victim to 'new tank syndrome' I fear. Make sure your dechlorinator also removes ammonia and heavy metals. __________________ ~It is easy to dodge our responsibilities. But we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. ~ Last edited by OrangeCones; 02-10-2010 at 07:48 AM..

02-14-2010, 06:50 AM	#10
Sharkee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 97	You're saying your ammo has spiked up. What are your other readings? Maybe your tank is cycling still or having a mini-cycle... how old is your tank? __________________ my fish is my command

02-09-2010, 05:43 AM	#2
blue eyes Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	I forgot to mention the plec has got white spot and has been treated correctly for this. please help any advice or ideas would be much apprieciated.

02-09-2010, 02:25 PM	#4
blue eyes Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	He was only around 3inches big, was gna keep him til he grows a bit more then get a bigger tank for him, i say he was as he passed away a few hours ago absoulutely gutted he was my favourite fish. 1 of the tiger barbs died about an hour ago aswell not a good day. not tested the levels yet shall be doing it tomorrow after picking up a new testing kit will let u know what they are once i've done that. he had been having algae wafers to just to be sure he had enough to eat but he didn't eat last nights 1.

02-09-2010, 02:26 PM	#5
blue eyes Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	Oh ye water change 1/3 of it weekly.

02-10-2010, 06:34 AM	#6
blue eyes Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	the nitrate is 25, nitrite is 1,gh 8, kh6, ph 7.5,cl2 0. the test i got dont do ammonia. any ideas?

02-10-2010, 03:54 PM	#8
blue eyes Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	i changed water again tonight and all tests were coming up as being ok, will get test for ammonia 2moz. thank you for your help its much apprieciated.

02-12-2010, 03:31 AM	#9
blue eyes Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	All tests ok again but ammonia is very high, added ammo chips yesterday but the level does not seem to be dropping. any ideas?