Back to back dead plecos.

[thefredpit]

There is so much snow on the ground that there is no way there is any spraying going on. And I think it's something strange since all other bottom dwellers are doing great.

when my incident happened my mystery snails were fine

 

[pops]

this a strange one. have you been seeing them actively feeding?

 

[smitty03281964]

I have found very few that changed water more than me, and I can tell you that I had the same results when I would add the water in 1 shot without a product such as prime. I understand that the water change it what is needed but it contains chemicals that change the balance of what you already have., and that change stresses some plecos more than others when it is all added at once. I have not lost a pleco after a water change in probably 15 years without using a product such as Prime.

 

[DJ-EGGNOGG]

Are you using any glutaraldehyde-containing products including but not limited to:

• Seachem Flourish Excel
• API CO2 Booster
• Azoo Carbon Plus
• Cidex
• Metricide
• NilocG Enhance
• Easy Life Easy Carbo
• Rataj CO2 Vital
• Dinosaur Spit
• Rhinox Easy CO2?

I use Seachem Flourish Excel.

 

[squint]

I use Seachem Flourish Excel.

I'd stop using it...

Read all about it here, starting with page 3 where biochemistry professor Dirk Bellstedt chimes in:

https://tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/so-who-uses-excel-gluteraldehyde.5411/page-3

And this thread from start to finish:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/excel-fish-poison.315427/

People there have noticed red gills with Excel, stopped, and they return to normal. Start again, red gills come back. Same with dropsy and mystery deaths.

Also note that glutaraldehyde was a trialed in a study by the Coast Guard to sterilize ship ballasts of invertebrates, fish, and other potentially invasive organisms.

 

[Hendre]

Read all about it here, starting with page 3 where biochemistry professor Dirk Bellstedt chimes in:

https://tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/so-who-uses-excel-gluteraldehyde.5411/page-3

Yeah Prof Dirk doesn't like liquid carbon, among many things. Use at your own risk

 

[TheNewSeverum]

I've got 7 plecos in my tank, 6 different species. I attempt 70-90% changes weekly if not bi-weekly. Always used prime. Match the temp to that of the remaining tank water and refill. I've never once lost a pleco due to a water change.