Ammonia levels rising, Suggestions Please

26 gallon
1 forktail rainbow
1 plecco
150 marineland biowheel
40gal sponge filter
ApI liquid test
Prime & stability
Weekly water changes with python gravel cleaner
Tap water zero for ammonia
Tank was seeded feom established tank
Water levels had zero ammonia zero nitrate and 20-40 nitrate.
Did a fish trade for my jd for the forktail and pleco about a month ago.

Ammonia levels have been rising since I put the new fish in. I do 50% water changes to get it to zero and they climb right back up.

What do I do?

 

How do you clean your biological media? What did you use to seed the tank? What kind of pleco is it?

 

What kind of pleco? Plecos are messy, messy fish.

 

How do you clean your biological media? What did you use to seed the tank? What kind of pleco is it?

Entire filter some decorations 75% water and jd. Just a regular pleco

What kind of pleco? Plecos are messy, messy fish.

Just the regular generic pleco

Pleco

 

Pleco

That might be your culprit. How long was the previous tank established with this filter? So you went from one jack dempsey to two fish, one being a pleco. Your bioload went up quick I’m sure, plecos are messy poopers and he will get big (I believe it’s a common pleco?)

 

Tank was running for years with this filter. Jd was about 3.5 inches and the pleco is fairly small. I know they outgrow tanks but I got that to put in with the jd but my jd tried to kill it so I traded her in. I just don't understand its a 26 gallon tank that's crazy ammonia from 1 fish

 

I just don't understand its a 26 gallon tank that's crazy ammonia from 1 fish

That's plecos for ya!!

Welcome to the world of pleco keeping!

 

That's plecos for ya!!

Welcome to the world of pleco keeping!

Hes getting the trade in for corycats haha

 

Hes getting the trade in for corycats haha

That’s great, you’ll love them. Just make sure they get their own diet as well, protein, sinking pellets etc. a lot of people think they’re a clean up crew, not saying that’s your thoughts just an fyi.

 

That’s great, you’ll love them. Just make sure they get their own diet as well, protein, sinking pellets etc. a lot of people think they’re a clean up crew, not saying that’s your thoughts just an fyi.

I have alge wafers for my pleco will corys eat those? Or blood worms

 

I have alge wafers for my pleco will corys eat those? Or blood worms

They will eat them, probably, but it's not a good diet for them. I would pick up some shrimp pellets

 

They will eat them, probably, but it's not a good diet for them. I would pick up some shrimp pellets

Awesome thank you for your knowledge its appreciated

 

I just want to make sure you realize that that pleco will need to be rehomed... probably in less than a year