newby sam

I have a 10 gallon tank with 5 platies and a pleco. Does changing the water once to two times a week hurt the fish?

Luniyn

Don't change all of the water. Only 10% to 20% per change is needed. And no they will be ok with you doing the change.

COBettaCouple

You'll want to change about 2.5g once a week. Your pleco is going to get too big for that tank quickly.. once he's over 2". The Pleco puts out a lot of waste & will probably make it necessary to change the water 2-3 times a week instead of one. I'd recommend returning him for a ghost shrimp or 2.

Neville

hi sam, u have a pleco. how big is it? plecos grow up to 18 inches and they grow fast, it will soon outgrow your 10 gallon tank, i think u should get rid of it.

newby sam

It is a small pleco, about 4 1/2 inches. It was 4 inches when I bought it about 5 weeks ago.

Neville

i think it will reach 10 inch within 6 months.

COBettaCouple

The pleco is already putting a heavy bio-load on that tank, so at least 2x a week for water changes would be good & keep good track of the nitrogen cycle.

If you want to keep your pleco, consider a 55g asap - http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Pleco.htm.

Gunnie

You don't have to have a pleco in a tank, and the one you got is probably a common pleco. The members here are correct in that your pleco has already outgrown that tank. We only tell you this because your tank is probably overstocked already and giving you high readings. The only way to maintain a healthy tank with that pleco in that tank would probably be daily water changes. I think the 5 platies would about max out that tank, and my guess yours isn't even cycled. It would be hard to keep that tank balanced. I have a common pleco in my 100 gal. tank, and the poop that fish puts out requires weekly water changes for the tank. I also have 2 oscars in there with him, and they are big poopers too, but if I don't clean the tank that often, the nitrates skyrocket, and it's just plain gross to see all that poop on the bottom of the tank. My pleco came from WalMart probably about the size of yours or maybe a little smaller. He is now over a foot long. Plecos are not necessary in your tank. There are many smaller ones that don't get over 4 or 5 inches that would be much better for your 10 gallon. Go to www.planetcatfish.com and see if you can identify the type of pleco you have, and we will help you further.