This past Monday, I lost 3 of my 6 Plecos due to my Roommate overfeeding my fish over the past weekend. I have a 72 gallon tank, and had the following Plecos: 1 Leopard Sailfin Pleco (10 inches), 1 King Tiger Pleco (about 3 inches), 1 Golden Nugget Pleco (about 3 inches), 1 Green Phantom Pleco (about 3 inches), 1 Blue Panaque Pleco (about 3 inches), and 1 Zebra Pleco (L46 about 1/2 inch). The Plecos that died were the Green Phantom, Blue Panaque, and Zebra. I've had the GP for 1.5 years, and the BP for about 1 year. I had just gotten the Zebra 7 months ago.
I have other assorted fish in the tank as well (Angels, Black Ghosts, Yoyo Loaches, Glolite Tetras, Mollies). I don't know what my roommate did, because he has been feeding my fish for me (when I am away at work) once to twice a week (as instructed), every week, for the past year with no incidents. I've been doing regular Tank cleaning and water changes (approximately 40 gallons) once every two weeks. My water parameters were always checking out good (just a little bit higher on the Nitrates (but not at a dangerous level).
When I had gotten home from work on Monday morning, the water in my tank was cloudy, and the fish were swimming about very listlessly. I saw a whole bed of Tertramin Flakes all over the bottom of my tank, and I found 3 of my Plecos dead (mentioned above). I tested the Water, and the Nitrates and Nitrites were over the roof (as far as high levels). I immediately got a bunch of pots from my kitchen and filled them up with fresh water (from my kitchen sink (I have an InstaPure Charcoal Water Filter attached there, and the water has been perfect for the fish)). I scooped out all of the fish from the tank, and transferred them to the pots. I then proceeded to do my regular cleaning of the tank while I siphoned out as much of the water from the tank as possible (until the water level was below the point where the siphon could not work anymore). I think I had about 2 gallons of water left in the tank (underneath about 30 pounds of gravel that I have in the tank). I then proceeded to refill the tank with fresh water. When I had put in about 10 gallons of water, I proceeded to siphon out about half of that (to pick up anymore of the crap that may not have gotten siphoned up in the first attempt, and insure the water was as pure as possible for the fish). I then finished adding water back into the tank. Once a month, I change the stuff in my Fluval 406 filter. This past Monday was the normal date I would have done that, so I didn't do anything differently with the filter. I always replace 2 of the 4 Charcoal packs, and half of the Bio Element. I also replace all of the styrofoam and foam pieces within the filter each month.
After I finished cleaning the tank and re-preparing it for my fish, I took the next few hours to find a pet shop where I could attempt to replace the lost Plecos. I was able to find a place in NJ that happened to have a Green Phantom ($50) and a Blue Panaque ($40). They were about 1.5 inches (half the size of my original ones), so I bought them. I then got home, and my tank water was looking perfectly clear again. I tested the water, and everything tested out perfect. My Nitrates were at the lowest they've ever been since I've had the tank (but I know that will change within a few days). The Nitrites were back down to zero again. I put all of the fish back into the tank (along with the "Newbies") that Monday evening. I have tested the water each day now (for the last 3 days), and everything is still perfect.
Since the fish had last been fed on Sunday (and the overfeeding incident was discovered on Monday), I didn't feed the fish for 3 days (waited until Wednesday night to feed them). All of the fish have been swimming about normally (since the drastic water change), and they seemed to eat normally when I fed them on Wednesday night. I am now away at work for the next 3 days, and I have taken new safety measures with regard to my roommate feeding the fish. I bought some thimble-sized cups with covers, and I am now leaving pre-measured Tetramin Flakes in there (so that he can't overfeed them again). As part of their regular diet, along with the Tetramin, they also get fed either 1 cube of frozen Bloodworms or Brine Shrimp (alternating at each feeding). When I get home in 3 days, I will test the water again. If it tests fine, I will just continue as normal.
Even tho I have replaced 2 Plecos, I am still hurt that I had to. I also miss my Zebra Pleco (which is gonna be a helluva long time before I can find another at the price I paid for mine ($142 (which included Overnight Shipping)). I REFUSE to pay $300 for another L46... That's just ridiculous.
I have other assorted fish in the tank as well (Angels, Black Ghosts, Yoyo Loaches, Glolite Tetras, Mollies). I don't know what my roommate did, because he has been feeding my fish for me (when I am away at work) once to twice a week (as instructed), every week, for the past year with no incidents. I've been doing regular Tank cleaning and water changes (approximately 40 gallons) once every two weeks. My water parameters were always checking out good (just a little bit higher on the Nitrates (but not at a dangerous level).
When I had gotten home from work on Monday morning, the water in my tank was cloudy, and the fish were swimming about very listlessly. I saw a whole bed of Tertramin Flakes all over the bottom of my tank, and I found 3 of my Plecos dead (mentioned above). I tested the Water, and the Nitrates and Nitrites were over the roof (as far as high levels). I immediately got a bunch of pots from my kitchen and filled them up with fresh water (from my kitchen sink (I have an InstaPure Charcoal Water Filter attached there, and the water has been perfect for the fish)). I scooped out all of the fish from the tank, and transferred them to the pots. I then proceeded to do my regular cleaning of the tank while I siphoned out as much of the water from the tank as possible (until the water level was below the point where the siphon could not work anymore). I think I had about 2 gallons of water left in the tank (underneath about 30 pounds of gravel that I have in the tank). I then proceeded to refill the tank with fresh water. When I had put in about 10 gallons of water, I proceeded to siphon out about half of that (to pick up anymore of the crap that may not have gotten siphoned up in the first attempt, and insure the water was as pure as possible for the fish). I then finished adding water back into the tank. Once a month, I change the stuff in my Fluval 406 filter. This past Monday was the normal date I would have done that, so I didn't do anything differently with the filter. I always replace 2 of the 4 Charcoal packs, and half of the Bio Element. I also replace all of the styrofoam and foam pieces within the filter each month.
After I finished cleaning the tank and re-preparing it for my fish, I took the next few hours to find a pet shop where I could attempt to replace the lost Plecos. I was able to find a place in NJ that happened to have a Green Phantom ($50) and a Blue Panaque ($40). They were about 1.5 inches (half the size of my original ones), so I bought them. I then got home, and my tank water was looking perfectly clear again. I tested the water, and everything tested out perfect. My Nitrates were at the lowest they've ever been since I've had the tank (but I know that will change within a few days). The Nitrites were back down to zero again. I put all of the fish back into the tank (along with the "Newbies") that Monday evening. I have tested the water each day now (for the last 3 days), and everything is still perfect.
Since the fish had last been fed on Sunday (and the overfeeding incident was discovered on Monday), I didn't feed the fish for 3 days (waited until Wednesday night to feed them). All of the fish have been swimming about normally (since the drastic water change), and they seemed to eat normally when I fed them on Wednesday night. I am now away at work for the next 3 days, and I have taken new safety measures with regard to my roommate feeding the fish. I bought some thimble-sized cups with covers, and I am now leaving pre-measured Tetramin Flakes in there (so that he can't overfeed them again). As part of their regular diet, along with the Tetramin, they also get fed either 1 cube of frozen Bloodworms or Brine Shrimp (alternating at each feeding). When I get home in 3 days, I will test the water again. If it tests fine, I will just continue as normal.
Even tho I have replaced 2 Plecos, I am still hurt that I had to. I also miss my Zebra Pleco (which is gonna be a helluva long time before I can find another at the price I paid for mine ($142 (which included Overnight Shipping)). I REFUSE to pay $300 for another L46... That's just ridiculous.
