Hope that someone can help me out here.
I have three fish in my standard 125: a 3" crenicichla, a 2" L-190 and a 5" L-190. The tank has been set up for several years, though with this combination for only two weeks. The crenicichla and smaller pleco I have had for that same amount of time (got both from a LFS where I work part time, and both had been there for months), the larger pleco for a bout a year. The tank is filtered by two Emperor 400s.
The water parameters: pH 6.5, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm, temp 80 F
The problem: both of the plecos seem to be breathing VERY rapidly, like 2-3 times per second. They eat and behave normally.
I thought that maybe they needed more oxygen, so I have added a powerhead blowing across the top of the water, but I don't think that I have seen a difference.
Is this species just a rapid breather, or is there another issue?
I have three fish in my standard 125: a 3" crenicichla, a 2" L-190 and a 5" L-190. The tank has been set up for several years, though with this combination for only two weeks. The crenicichla and smaller pleco I have had for that same amount of time (got both from a LFS where I work part time, and both had been there for months), the larger pleco for a bout a year. The tank is filtered by two Emperor 400s.
The water parameters: pH 6.5, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm, temp 80 F
The problem: both of the plecos seem to be breathing VERY rapidly, like 2-3 times per second. They eat and behave normally.
I thought that maybe they needed more oxygen, so I have added a powerhead blowing across the top of the water, but I don't think that I have seen a difference.
Is this species just a rapid breather, or is there another issue?
