I am a bad fish mommy. :-( Some questions.

[BradT85]

So your saying they can't get up to one foot???

Im not saying that at all. Im saying that they can reach well over a foot and possibly twice that. Using your thinking it would be fine to tell someone with an RTC that they can grow up to 6 inches. I am just letting the thread starter with a common pleco know of their potential size since they already mentioned they upgraded to accommodate it. Obviously the needs of a 1' fish and a 2' fish are quite different.

 

[vaine111]

So what you're saying is that they can't get up to a foot? And I've seen maybe a total of five 18-24 long plecos in person. Yes they do get that big, but to me it's pretty rare to see them that size in the normal aquarium hobbyists tank................

Had 2 that were 17" in my tank.

OP I would suggest looking for a 75 gallon or bigger on craigslist. Ideally you would like to go bigger but a 75g your your choices of tankmates is doable. You can probably find a 75g for $75 or less maybe a little more if you want the stand as well if you choose to keep the pleco. Add a 200 watt heater and a Marineland 400 and you are golden.
You don't have to do it asap as you have some time before it outgrows the 29. So take your time looking on craigslist for a good deal.

 

[fhawk362]

^^^ yes craigslist has plenty of good deals, if you get a 29 that will give you more time to look for a good deal, and just low ball some people until someone agrees with the deal so then you really make out, some people just want fish tanks out of their house. Common plecos do get quite large, and for heaters ebay has them really cheap, i just bought some that were odyssea brand, seem to be working fine and were about ten bucks a piece. And for a filter get this, its a special going on right now, best deal you can get, buy the filter sponge to get your beneficial bacteria and use filter fluff to catch debris. Also if you use the code NANOREEF you get 10% off, these are great filters at a ridiculously good price. http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp19169/si4408841/cl0/powerfilter70
This is the filter floss(which you dont have to buy here cause like one person said you can get this anywhere cheap and can use pillow stuffing as well from a fabric store.)
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18430/si1382113/cl0/bigalsfilterfloss20sqft
Heres the sponge
http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCa...e?&query=300+foam&queryType=0&hits=12&offset=

 

[kdrun76]

I have one 18" pleco and one 14" pleco. It will get to be more than a foot. Both of my fish are young and still growing.

You need a test kit. You need a test kit that uses liquid reagents NOT dip sticks. You need that test kit ASAP. I like the API Fresh water master test kit, but there are others that work.

Starting a tank from scratch it takes 6-8 weeks to cycle a tank. Starting from a destroyed filter media situation it might only take 3-4 weeks.
The 2-3 week trick with the two filter running together on the new tank only works when you have a cycled filter. You don't. Try it any way. The bigger tank will be easier on the fish for the water chemistry problems.


Here is my recommendation. The pleco needs a new tank a LOT sooner than later. He's outta here. Get everyone into the new tank with both filters immediatly. Its going to take 3-5 weeks to get thing cycled and settled since the bacteria got tossed. Once that has settled, set the ten gallon back up as a quarantine tank with its old filter, into it you need to put 6 more danios, 4 more corries and 5 or 6 more of what ever kind of tetra you have. Wait 6 weeks. Quarantine the new fish for 6 weeks. If they are healthy and all looks good..... put them into the 29 with the others.


The ten gallon filter goes back on the 29 gallon tank and the 10 gallon tank goes into the closet to be used as a quarantine when ever its needed.

 

[purplekelly]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I got the 29 gallon with the hood and lights for $20 on craigslist - I am actually picking it up today. I am going to move everyone there to start with, and then once I get that accomplished, I'll start thinking about whether I am going to trade my plec in or look for an even bigger tank. I've gotta get him out of that 10g ASAP though. Going with a 75g in the future would probably mean having to get rid of a piece of furniture to make room for it. I am not necessarily against that, but I'm not the only one who has to live in the house, you know? Luckily, we have a couple of quality LFSs around here that will take the plec if I end up having to trade him in.

Here's another random question: my plants keep floating up. I've just been planting them in the substrate. Do I need to pot them or anchor them or something?

I'm going to buy a test kit on my lunch break, so I can see what the deal is with my water. I think tonight before I do my next water change, I am going to try rubbing my filter media in the gravel to help seed it.

If I go with the biowheel filter for the 29g (which is what I am leaning toward), do I not change that cartridge either? It's got the all-in-one thing that has the activated charcoal in it. How do I work with that?

Again, I really do appreciate you guys giving me solid advice without flaming me. I should have done more research when I got started, but I honestly didn't think of myself as a noob since I grew up with aquariums. Lesson learned.

 

[purplekelly]

Another question: If I know someone with an established, healthy tank, can I cut a piece of their filter media and put it in my filter? Would that help to seed, or would I risk introducing other bacteria that could cause a problem?

 

[BigSchallz70]

i have a 30 g tank much like your 29 i would go with the emperor 280 for your stock i may have more in mine but yours are much bigger and as far as taking some of the filter from some one else that should be fine

 

[mshill90]

I would go with the Aqua clear Filters. Kinda pricey, but well worth it. I find the penguins to be JUNK. The bio wheels are expensive, and they never spin. I bought mine brand new, and from day one they never spun.

 

[shaung]

get cichlids

 

[mgk]

I've had a ten gallon tank for over a year now, and it's done pretty well. However, I recently have been noticing some issues with my pleco, and I came across this site while searching for answers. As I've read here, I am realizing that I haven't been doing nearly enough to care for the pleco - I didn't realize he needed food other than algae and whatever fish food sunk to the bottom. As soon as I read about them needing vegetation, I put a piece of cabbage in there for him (used a wooden skewer to keep it on the bottom). I will get him some other fresh stuff tomorrow.

So, questions. I really appreciate any advice you guys can offer.

I just bought a 29 gallon tank to upgrade to, because my plec is getting to big for the 10 gallon. He's probably about 5" now. He (or she, I guess) is a common pleco, L001 (or at least I am pretty sure). He's been freaking out a lot the past few days, having spells where he starts breathing fast and shaking or thrashing around. Any idea what could be causing this? What should I check for? The only thing that I changed recently was adding a couple of new plants. Maybe he's just growing out of this tank?

Next question, what's the best was to transition to the new tank? I don't want to shock all of my fish. How can I best establish the biological factors in the new tank?

What does my new tank need? I've been running with just a filter and lights on my 10 gallon, but I think I may need more things. I am looking at this Classic Whisper filter. Any thoughts on that? I've never needed a heater, because my tank has maintained a good temp without one. Will I need one with the bigger tank? Is gravel okay for substrate? I unfortunately am on a budget, but I also want to take good care of my fishy friends.

Oh, important detail that I left out: the other fish in the tank are 2 cory cats, 2 danios, 2 tetras, 3 guppies, and 2 platys. I'm a bit overfished, which is the other reason why I need the bigger tank. The tank is moderately planted with bamboo and swords. I think I need to add a cave of some kind for pleco?

The like blanched zuchinni


you need to check your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels to find the possible problem.

move some gravel over to the new tank to help it cycle. heater is nice because it will raise the temperature of water recently add if its too cold. I don't consider it integral for most plecos if the tank stays in the 70's.


Buy a bigger filter then that(as big as you have money for) most plecos get really big, on that topic if you have a common pleco the 29 won't hold it for life.

gravel is fine.

it would enjoy a cave for day time.