JoK

Hi all

I'm new to this, don't have my 'parameters' to hand - I inherited a small, built-in tropical fish tank 6 years ago when i bought my house and have learnt enough to keep the fish generally healthy, but am no expert. I don't want to wait another day to get advice on this - it might be time-sensitive, so I hope my description will do: at a guess the tank is about 60cm long x 60 deep x 40 high. No idea how many gallons. PH usually about 6.5 (? well, lime green!) according to my home testing kit. I don't have many fish in there, they're all small and none of them are aggressive. I feed flake food, sinking pellets and algae tablets, and occasionally live food / courgette for variety. I feed irregularly and in moderation to try to mimic their natural eating patterns and avoid turning the water to acid.

Anyway...

I've had a plec for about 2 years, not sure what sort - it has brown leopard markings on it - it's about 10cm long. It has been absolutely fine, under what appear to me to be exactly the same cirumstances, until now. I cleaned out the tank (gravel filter & partial water change) on Monday night and 24 hours later I noticed that my Plec has produced unprecedented levels of waste, some with a greenish tinge, with a long string still attached as though it's just constant.

I've not changed the food, altered the process of cleaning the tank, none of the other fish are suffering, and there are no other visible symptoms of any disease. I have looked in my books and googled but can't find any info on this.

The only thing which is different is a thick, bright green algae coating the plants - mainly live & 2 fake - in the tank. This development doesn't co-incide with the plec's reaction, but has built up over many weeks. Could be indictative of poor water levels not revealed by home ph testing though? Is it possible that without me doing anything different the ammonia/nitrates/ph could have changed dangerously? Could this be the cause?

Has this happened to any else - any idea of the cause of this sudden change in my plec and what i should do about it? And can a home ph testing kit be wrong?

Thanks
jo

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore people here are amazing and will help you tremoudsly...I can tell you a few things, first off, if your tank measurements are in cm, its about 37 gallons...second, can you get yourself an api master liquid test kit? those are a fishes bible for all the readings you need....the amonia and nitrites are more to worry about than the ph..as far as the poo, im sure someone will be along soon to help you with that....again welcome you will learn alot here!

Barbrella

Plecos are infamous for the amount of waste they produce. It really needs to be seen to be believed!

Yours may be a species 3 ancistrus, and they are prodigious algae eaters. So if you now have a lot of algae in your tank, that could be the reason for increased, greenish waste production you're seeing.

As for the algae - how many hours per day are lights left on?

I also recommend you get a water testing kit. It's really necessary!

JoK

Thanks Shawnie and Barbrella. Will go to supplier this weekend and get a new & improved water testing kit & get them to test a sample whilst i'm there.Was concerned about sudden vast increase in waste, but yes, he is a mucky chap in general anyway.

Tank is not in direct sunlight and algae is different to previously - intense unnatural green in colour and more furry looking. Lights come on 8.30am, off at 11.30pm. Is this too much? Left them on constantly for about the first year as no-one told me not to, and i didn't read it anywhere! You live and learn...

Barbrella

Lights shouldn't be left on for more than 10 hours a day, and if fighting an algae outbreak, fewer hours to try and starve the algae.

There are many kinds of algae, but a rough rule to keeping it in check are:

Regular water changes (approx 25% per week)

Regular aquarium cleaning.

Avoid overfeeding fish.

Limiting light.

Also, if you have a lot of live plants, they compete with algae for nutrients and hopefully will win!

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore. For testing, I'd recommend the API master freshwater testing kit and if you have liquid tests that are over a year old, they could be 'worn out' and not accurate.

susitna-flower

HI JOK, WELCOME TO FISHLORE! Sounds quite normal for a pleco, they can be pigs.....if it were long and white you might worry, but just sounds like he has a belly full, and as long as he doesn't show any other signs of sickness don't worry...

Your tank being about 38 gallons, shouldn't have more than 38 inches of fish....you didn't state how many and the size, but if you have too many it will produce large amounts of nitrate, and help to account for the algae...I also agree you need to limit the light, and do lots of water changes and gravel vacuumings.

Sounds like you have been doing a good job, given that this is an inherited tank.....Good Luck, and come spend more time, you can learn lots here on fishlore, and maybe it will become a passion for you as it is with many of us.......

Butterfly

You are getting lots of good advice. I would like to comment on the color of your plecos poo He is probably eating a goodly amount of that new green algae. Their poo usually directly reflects what their eating.
carol