Pleco with Fin Rot...

[Bigfishnut]

The nitrite is a major problem...I'd guess you have ammonia as well. Don't mess with your filters so much. You're disrupting your biological filtration. Everytime you clean or replace filter cartridges you are removing beneficial bacteria. If the flow of the filter isn't severely restricted, leave them be. Keep up with the waterchanges as you do and your pleco will heal once the ammonia and nitrite are reading zero. I assume you are testing with test strips..,throw them out and buy an API freshwater master test kit.

 

[AngelaNiikole]

The nitrite is a major problem...I'd guess you have ammonia as well. Don't mess with your filters so much. You're disrupting your biological filtration. Everytime you clean or replace filter cartridges you are removing beneficial bacteria. If the flow of the filter isn't severely restricted, leave them be. Keep up with the waterchanges as you do and your pleco will heal once the ammonia and nitrite are reading zero. I assume you are testing with test strips..,throw them out and buy an API freshwater master test kit.

Theyre tetra test strips. I have to rinse or change the filters or the one comes close to overflowing. I thought about draining the whole tank an putting in an undergravel filter as well but from the videos on you tube I don't see how they filter anything it seems they just circulate the water more.... These fish have been in the tank for years. The one Oscar has to be 3 or 4 years old. The newer are the 2 smaller Dempseys and the convict. An most recent was the sick Pleco. I will do more water changes. An the stress coat label says to add double dose if I have sick fish,,,,, that won't hurt the rest of my fish will it? I've also read online the adding additional salt can help to but again,,, I don't want to hurt the rest of them because they're all fine an swimming about as normal.. Thanks for all the input, i figured i would have to do more water changes.. I thought about calling the store an telling them they sd me a sick fish but I don't think It word do me any good. Just hoping this doesn't pass on the the rest of them...

 

[Bigfishnut]

Under gravel filters work by pulling the water down through the gravel and pumping it back up. The bacteria in the gravel converts ammonia and nitrite into nitrate, making the water safe for your fish. This is an old outdated form of biological filtration. Look into getting a canister filter. Much more effective. Better yet, go with a sump. Not as easy to set up, but far more efficient. The problem with your pleco is not the stores fault, it's your water conditions. The other fish you keep are more tolerant of poor water quality so they don't show signs of stress. Fix your water and the pleco will do fine.

 

[Dieselhybrid]

I agree. You've got to get this water quality under control with more filtration and water changes.

The Cichlids are going to start getting HITH and LLD soon with that poor water quality. Then you'll really have an uphill battle.

Good advice given here.

 

[#.$]

Yo just do a 50% water change instead of your normal 20-gallon schedule. Jumping into doing 50% water changes every day would drastically change water conditions which could further cause harm to the fish doing a gradually over time as the best option until it is under control. I would also recommend buying some kind of media to place into your filters to support the bio load. How often are you replacing filters in are using OEM filters?

 

[AngelaNiikole]

Yo just do a 50% water change instead of your normal 20-gallon schedule. Jumping into doing 50% water changes every day would drastically change water conditions which could further cause harm to the fish doing a gradually over time as the best option until it is under control. I would also recommend buying some kind of media to place into your filters to support the bio load. How often are you replacing filters in are using OEM filters?

I did a 60 gallon cycle yesterday. In my 2 bio wheel 360 i just have the blue cartridges. I added another stone yesterday as well. However the test strips I have read close to the same results straight from the tap. I ordered the master kit another person recommend that will be here this week. I change the cartridges every 2 weeks. But i rinse them when i do my water changes, otherwise the one filter wants to overflow.

 

[stempy]

Those filters cannot handle your bio load unfortunately I would look into some other form of biological filtration and soon. There are fairly cheap canister filters on amazon and eBay that would make a positive impact on your water quality. Of course like already mentioned a sump would be best but not the easiest to implement.

 

[#.$]

I did a 60 gallon cycle yesterday. In my 2 bio wheel 360 i just have the blue cartridges. I added another stone yesterday as well. However the test strips I have read close to the same results straight from the tap. I ordered the master kit another person recommend that will be here this week. I change the cartridges every 2 weeks. But i rinse them when i do my water changes, otherwise the one filter wants to overflow.

I'll save u some money. Buy a sponge like a aquaclear they different sizes so you might have to do some measureing and get some kind of bio media such as ehiem substrate pro is a good one most large pet chains carry and replace the fliter blue cartridges. It will be an initial investment in the long run you'll never have to replace any of it and save you some money in the long run.

 

[#.$]

Big al pets has the aquaclear 70 replacement sponges for like 2 bucks each right now. 4 if them would work perfect. Some of the best sponges for fliter I have gotten my hands on and never have to be replaced. I have 5 AQ 110 sponges in my sump and I only have to clean them about every 2.5 months

 

[AngelaNiikole]

I cycled another 60 gallons today. Pleco still looks the same. Not worse or better. Everyone else is still the same.
I ordered an FX4 canister filter. Should be here next Thursday, any recommendations on what sponges or other things to put into the filter other than what it's coming with????