New Pleco Now Missing, Orange Water...help!!!!

Hi!

Today I became a mommy to a little sweet Clown Pleco. I think he makes a great addition to my tank.
Introduction went well. Acclimated him properly. All was well.

Currently, 4 hours post introduction, I cannot locate my Pleco anywhere in the tank. The water is turning a yellow/orange, and became VERY cloudy. Now, on the Seachem Clarity bottle it says that cloudiness may become worse after dosing, but will clear up in 1-2 hours, and did not say ANYTHING about discoloration.

Can someone please tell me what is going on? I have 13 White Skirt Tetras and an Angelfish that I'm concerned about. Please note that I test my water daily, am diligent about water changes, and give my fishies the best care I can possibly provide them - so no, water quality is NOT an issue - unless somehow, in 12 hours since my last test, something went haywire.

Tank size;
20 G (long)

Other water supplements in the water currently;
Seachem Prime, API Stress Coat+, Pimafix, Melafix, Seachem Stability, Aquarium Salt.

I do NOT use zeolite, so that is not the source of my cloudiness.

NOTE: I was experiencing a light, white, cloudiness before the introduction of the Pleco. I treated it with Seachem Clarity. Also, I replaced my old filter (AquaClear 20) with the AquaClear 50 yesterday. I did use the old media to keep the good bacteria.
Additionally, about 1 week ago I lost my Betta fish to a fungal disease. I treated the tank prior to knowing what was wrong and when it looked like Ick, with Tetra Ick Guard. Not sure if that could be related, but I thought the more information I can provide the better.

Anybody have any idea what in the **** is going on?
All input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

Plecos are very great at hiding he is probably okay but I have no idea why your water turn to this color I remember you mentioned cloudiness somewhere else
Notelecos need 29 gallon+ but since you said you want to upgrade I don’t think he will be an issue for short term just know they have a heavy bioload

 

Oh yes, I know, thank you I will be in a 36-46 G very shortly. I think everyone will be a much, much happier camper.
The cloudiness has been an issue lately - but it's NEVER been this bad, nor has it ever been orange/yellow.
Freaking me out


Also, I know they're nocturnal, which is why I waited to freak out until night time. Now...still no signs of little Hoover the Pleco.

& here is a photo, if that helps on the cloudiness & discoloration issue (but if you spot my pleco...let me know! Lol!)

 

Do you have any driftwood, leaves, or peat moss in the tank?

 

Not currently, no. I do have marimo moss, but not peat moss, and have never seen any discoloration since I've had them (they were the first things I purchased with my setup, so I would have noticed any weird effect they would cause to the tank by now, for sure.)

 

Was the only thing from the AC20 the old media? Any new media added to this?

White cloudiness is a sign of a minI cycle. It’s quite possible that your change to a new bigger filter is causing this. If the glo fish are ok the tank will be fine.

As for your pleco, in hindsight you probably should have waited on this and let the new filter catch up to the tank.

Try putting in some blanched zucchinI and stick a fork in there and see if that will coax it out.

The orange water is likely the rainbow of chemicals you threw into the tank. You probably should do some water changes.

 

That "cloudiness" looks like an algae bloom. Green water. Nothing to freak out about haha.

Your pleco is probably crammed into the last place you'd expect, perfectly fine and munching away.

Oh wait. I just looked at the picture... your pleco needs driftwood. He's probably feeling a bit insecure right now.

 

View attachment 372035 Also, I know they're nocturnal, which is why I waited to freak out until night time. Now...still no signs of little Hoover the Pleco.

& here is a photo, if that helps on the cloudiness & discoloration issue (but if you spot my pleco...let me know! Lol!)

In the photo you posted look through the hole in the rock at the base of the plant in the background. Is that your Pleco? If not, I bet he's in there somewhere. As others have said, they're experts at hiding.

 

I only see my clown pleco once every three months (no joke) but he's also in a heavily planted tank.
Also, clown plecos are wood eaters, didn't see any driftwood in there but I could have missed it... if you don't have any you need to add it asap. Unfortunately adding it quickly will release tannins into your tank as you won't have the option to pre soak for very long. If you have a LFS you completely trust you can ask them for a piece of wood from one of their tanks (note though this comes with the same risks of not QT a new fish when introducing it into the tank, can bring in disease, etc... also though will bring in some good bacteria as well.

Orange water I've never seen, your tank looks more green to me... I would stop adding the clarity, no need for it.

 

You have an increasingly, potentially toxic mix in there.

melafix is useless, but will colour water if it builds up. You have zero reason to use it. Salt will counter melafix's weak usefulness - one cancels the benefits of the other, and neither is needed with the fish species you have.

Clarifiers drop particles to the bottom. Plecos stir up the bottom.

With all due respect, you are going a little chemicrazy in the tank. If you treated for Ich, that's a 3 week course of treatment during which no other med should be used. Pimafix and Melafix are remedies more than medications, but should not be in there with Ich meds.

So what would I do, for what it's worth? A series of 40 percent water changes over 4 or 5 days to remove the meds. Put away every chemical but the one used to neutralize chloramines. None of the others are necessary.

The API test kit doesn't tell you about your water - just about one small element - the cycle. You have been building a toxic environment with the contradictory and unnecessary additives. That tank needs a month to rebound.

Yes, they were sold to you. I learned this by buying a lot of these products too, or at least their "grandfathers". Stores will put a hard sell on aquarists they see as really really to go the extra mile for their fish. The aquarium remedy and chemicalcompanies support that 100%, for pretty obvious reasons...

 

Just curious, why are you using Prime and API Stress Coat+ together?

 

Thanks, yeah, I'm new to this and have been relying heavily on what the pet stores have told me. I feel awful
Still no sign of my Pleco anywhere. I checked periodically for signs of him throughout the night - and nothing. Driftwood will be added today, and I did drop some raw zucchinI down there about 10 mins ago. Watching carefully.

Will do a 40% water change this morning.

As for using Prime and API Stress Coat+ together, again, my LPS suggested using both when adding new fish to the tank.

I wish there wasn't so much bad information out there

In the photo you posted look through the hole in the rock at the base of the plant in the background. Is that your Pleco? If not, I bet he's in there somewhere. As others have said, they're experts at hiding.

No, I saw that too, and got excited for a second...but no, that's not him.

Also - at this point, as far as locating him (I don't care if he's hiding, that's totally cool with me, but I just want to make sure he's okay since the transition is so new) I have searched high & low and basically, one of two things had to have happened - either A) somehow he escaped in the opening at the top. or, B) he has literally BURIED himself in the gravel. (do they do that?)

 

Like Jocylyn, I also go weeks without seeing my clown Pleco. I really like them but they aren't a great fish for the new aquarist who would actually like to see their new pets. Over time he'll be out a little more, but don't expect much. If you put the wood slightly out in the open there is a better chance you will see him soon.

 

Tonight, when the lights are off in the tank and the room, try with a flashlight. He's a nocturnal species.

 

If those fake rocks are hollow, try turning them over and looking inside with a flash light. Another thought would be to check your filter box. I've had a pleco find its way into a filter before.

Good to hear you have an upgrade in the near future. For now, I'd be doing at least twice weekly water changes with that many fish. I'd also stop adding the salt, melafix and pimafix. If none of the fish are diseased I see no point in adding meds, including the salt. IMO the fewer additives the better, plain old water conditioner to remove chlorine and heavy metals is what I'd use.

 

Update; my pleco has been found. However, still concerned.

Below is a photo and a video of him about 5 mins ago. Seems very pale - not a lot of movement - even when I came at him with a net to see if he was alive.
Also, I dropped some raw zucchinI down there and an algae wafer (I purchased some mopanI wood today - its boiling as we speak) and he seemed to have zero interest in it.

Is this cause for concern?

 

Could be from salt I heard catfishes are very sensitive to it

 

Won't let me post the video for some reason. But here's a pic.





Never mind. He found his wafer. Sucked on it a bit then left it alone and is now headed the other direction.

 

Your parameters are still in check? My pleco, for the short while I had him, was sensitive to high nitrate (which he was making).

He could also just be settling in. Sometimes new fish take a while.

 

Parameters are alright. Seeing a small, small increase in Nitrate. Just tested the water, will do a 40% water change (to combat the Nitrates, rid the tank of leftover Pima/Melafix, Ick Guard, Etc., and assist with the bit of residual cloudiness that's still in the tank) when I get back from grocery shopping in about an hour.

Hopefully that will do the trick.

I did try dropping some raw zucchinI to the bottom of the tank - he seemed to have no interest in it.

I did buy a good sized piece of MopanI wood today. I boiled it for about 15 minutes, and it's soaking in water. Water is icky icky brown. Don't want tannin filled water unless it's absolutely necessary.

1) My sweet little Pleco has been home for about 24 hours. He ate a good amount of his wafer today. Would it be safe to keep the mopanI wood soaking overnight, or does the little guy really need that wood in there ASAP?

2) If I do need to put the wood in immediately - could the tannins harm my other fish in the tank? I do know it lowers pH, and do have pH up if necessary.


Thanks, everyone <3

If those fake rocks are hollow, try turning them over and looking inside with a flash light. Another thought would be to check your filter box. I've had a pleco find its way into a filter before.

Good to hear you have an upgrade in the near future. For now, I'd be doing at least twice weekly water changes with that many fish. I'd also stop adding the salt, melafix and pimafix. If none of the fish are diseased I see no point in adding meds, including the salt. IMO the fewer additives the better, plain old water conditioner to remove chlorine and heavy metals is what I'd use.

Wow! Your pleco somehow got into your filter box? Danggg. They really are sly little things.
Yes, I was dosing the Pima/Melafix and Aquarium Salt as a precaution, as I recently lost an ADF who clearly had Dropsy, then my Betta became sick less than 24 hours later and died 3 days after that. I just wanted to do everything possible to ensure that my other fishies had the best chance of remaining healthy as possible.
I don't plan on using them regularly, and haven't dosed the tank with them in a few days.

 

Parameters are alright. Seeing a small, small increase in Nitrate. Just tested the water, will do a 40% water change (to combat the Nitrates, rid the tank of leftover Pima/Melafix, Ick Guard, Etc., and assist with the bit of residual cloudiness that's still in the tank) when I get back from grocery shopping in about an hour.

Hopefully that will do the trick.

I did try dropping some raw zucchinI to the bottom of the tank - he seemed to have no interest in it.

I did buy a good sized piece of MopanI wood today. I boiled it for about 15 minutes, and it's soaking in water. Water is icky icky brown. Don't want tannin filled water unless it's absolutely necessary.

1) My sweet little Pleco has been home for about 24 hours. He ate a good amount of his wafer today. Would it be safe to keep the mopanI wood soaking overnight, or does the little guy really need that wood in there ASAP?

2) If I do need to put the wood in immediately - could the tannins harm my other fish in the tank? I do know it lowers pH, and do have pH up if necessary.


Thanks, everyone <3

Please use one kind of stuff. It is called PATIENCE.
Free available all over town (on the street, in the shops, in your house, etc etc....)

You'd rather put your fish in an established / ripened tank but let it settle, don't wotry about tannins but get it some softer wood as well, feed it some frozen as well (later), keep an eye on waterparameters.

Imagine what this fish have experienced the last past days, weeks, months. You'll understand his behaviour.