|  |  | 
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| How many algae wafers?
Hi
I have 2 plecos and a RTS in my 29 gallon tank along with 2 skirt tetras and a powder blue dwarf. I recently purchased some algae wafers and was wondering how many to put in since it's dark when they are consumed and they dissolve by morning. The RTS is 3" and one pleco is 5" and the other 3". | 
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Hi brendanignatius...seeing how the plecos are way too much fish for that size tank, you need to make sure they are definitely eating the food and its not dissolving..you are going to have a heck of a time keeping the water perimeters in check with the plecs and over feeding will make it worse...if there is algae, feed them wafers like 2-3 times a week other wise, they will not eat your algae....if those are common plecos, you need to find a bigger tank or rehome them as one plec just barely fits into a 75 gal with their bioload ...goodluck! | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie  Hi brendanignatius...seeing how the plecos are way too much fish for that size tank, you need to make sure they are definitely eating the food and its not dissolving..you are going to have a heck of a time keeping the water perimeters in check with the plecs and over feeding will make it worse...if there is algae, feed them wafers like 2-3 times a week other wise, they will not eat your algae....if those are common plecos, you need to find a bigger tank or rehome them as one plec just barely fits into a 75 gal with their bioload ...goodluck! | I do have plenty of algae growing on the gravel but only 1 pleco and my RTS ever seem to take any interest in it. Also I purchased the plecos 5 years ago when I started up my tank and was unaware you need 55gallons minimum for one because yes they are common. However in 5 years they have only grown a few inches and do not look like they will reach a longer length meanwhile getting along fine with their tankmates. Is this normal or do their growth periods last for a longer time?
Also, I thought that they ate waste and other scraps from the bottom and sides of the tank. Would this not decrease the bio-load? Or is this the source of my high nitrate reading?
I have no current room for a bigger aquarium, only a 20gallon that I am getting. So are there any other suggestions as what to do with them?
Thank you for reading this, this post is quite long but I am concerned with the well being of my pets.  | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by BrendanIgnatius I do have plenty of algae growing on the gravel but only 1 pleco and my RTS ever seem to take any interest in it. Also I purchased the plecos 5 years ago when I started up my tank and was unaware you need 55gallons minimum for one because yes they are common. However in 5 years they have only grown a few inches and do not look like they will reach a longer length meanwhile getting along fine with their tankmates. Is this normal or do their growth periods last for a longer time?
Also, I thought that they ate waste and other scraps from the bottom and sides of the tank. Would this not decrease the bio-load? Or is this the source of my high nitrate reading?
I have no current room for a bigger aquarium, only a 20gallon that I am getting. So are there any other suggestions as what to do with them?
Thank you for reading this, this post is quite long but I am concerned with the well being of my pets. | plecos insides will continue to grow even if the outside cant because they are in a small tank..its very painful for any fish to not be able to grow on the outside of their body ...NO fish eats poo/waste...but they will eat leftover foods that will drop....if you cant upgrade their tanks, the only humane thing to do is see if you can rehome them to someone with the proper size tank or check craigslist which has a ton of stuff right now , maybe check in your area? just because they dont grow , doesnt mean their inside organs dont  ive been here before and its not fun by any means but your commons have the potential to grow over 2 feet and dont belong as you said, in smaller than a 55 gal for just one..and that would only be temporarily ...sorry | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Which is more important to you: the life of your fish, or how much you like the fish? This will help answer your question. I would take Shawnie's advice. After all, she's a moderator . | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| Would giving them back to the store, even though its been a long time, for little to none store credit be an option? Or will someone make the same mistake that I did and bring more suffering to these poor fish as I have due to ignorance? | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by catfishlover Which is more important to you: the life of your fish, or how much you like the fish? This will help answer your question. I would take Shawnie's advice. After all, she's a moderator . | being a moderator has nothing to do with it catfishlover....learning everyday like I do , is whats important...please dont use my advice, and being a mod, as being set in gold, as a reason to agree with me  im wrong sometimes too and I learn from other members advice daily Quote:
Originally Posted by BrendanIgnatius Would giving them back to the store, even though its been a long time, for little to none store credit be an option? Or will someone make the same mistake that I did and bring more suffering to these poor fish as I have due to ignorance? | if it was me brendanignatius, I would post an add on craigslist and then you can ask all kind of questions as to what type of tank and size and other fish would be in there..then you would have control to where they would be going to live | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie being a moderator has nothing to do with it catfishlover....learning everyday like I do , is whats important...please dont use my advice, and being a mod, as being set in gold, as a reason to agree with me im wrong sometimes too and I learn from other members advice daily | Well, after seeing your posts, you really know fish . Guess I forgot all about that. | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by catfishlover Well, after seeing your posts, you really know fish . Guess I forgot all about that. | I dont know it all by any means...and ive only educated myself from being a member here on Fishlore, since March of last year....prior to that, I was keeping 12 inch oscars in a 30 gallon tank ...so my status has nothing to do with my willingness to always read and learn from many of our knowledgeable members here on fishlore | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie I dont know it all by any means...and ive only educated myself from being a member here on Fishlore, since March of last year....prior to that, I was keeping 12 inch oscars in a 30 gallon tank ...so my status has nothing to do with my willingness to always read and learn from many of our knowledgeable members here on fishlore | Okay, I see your point. (after 3 posts of course)
(sorry for hi-jacking)
-catfishlover | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| if it was me brendanignatius, I would post an add on craigslist and then you can ask all kind of questions as to what type of tank and size and other fish would be in there..then you would have control to where they would be going to live [/quote]
What exactly is "craigslist"? Could you please provide a link if possible? | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| www.craigslist.org then click on your ohio area then their pet section... | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Addict
| Craigslist is a site where you can buy and sell things. Just do a search for craigslist and it will come up. There are craigslists for virtually every area in the US. There is also freecycle... which has area specific sites as well. You have to give things away for free... but once again you can choose a home for you fish based on finding it the right home. I found a home for my chinease algae eater on freecycle and I was able to choose from many people and give him away to the best home for him.
Jenn | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| Thank you very much. | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| Jenn
Could you please provide more info or possibly a link on "freecycle" as many different sites are coming up in the search and my time is limited. Thank you. | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Moderator
| Here's the link: FreeCycle
Search for your state then choose whatever groups are closest to you. | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| Thank you very much Lucy. | |
| | |
June 2nd, 2009
|
| | Moderator
| Your welcome. | |
| | |
June 3rd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| I received an email response from the moderators at freecyle.com: "Sorry but anything living and breathing is not permitted on the site posts." Is this true? Thanks. | |
| | |
June 3rd, 2009
|
| | Moderator
| The rules vary group to group.
I'm sorry that route didn't pan out for you. Did you sign up for others that are near you? | |
| | |
June 3rd, 2009
|
| | Fish Bum
| Yes and West Cleveland is the same unfortunately. I did find a person who lives in Parma (an hour away from me). But he said he would take the fish if he had room in his tanks at the time. He had no photos of the tanks on craigslist and it sounded like he was just a reseller, which is not what I am looking for. I want to find a good permanent home for my little guys. | |
| | |
June 3rd, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. I'd say the best thing to do is to either return it to the store you got (if you can) or try to get another tank for them. Otheewise, I'm at a loss. | |
| | | |
Similar Aquarium Fish Forum Threads 
