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Pleco question?
I was wondering what your opinions are are on keeping plecos when you have an under gravel filter.
The tank has been in constant function since 1998, had a few different set ups with fresh water fish since then, it's a 29 gallon. Right now we have 2 silver dollars and 2 rainbow fish. We were thinking of adding a pleco. What do you think?
Just for further info...we have two additional filters that hang over the back of the tank (Whisper 30 & 70) and there is a powerhead on the UGF. We do regular partial water changes and vacuum the gravel. The last time we had the water tested the guy at the pet store said he would drink it.
ok, I don't understand why you guys think my fish tank with 4 fish is overstocked. The Silver dollars and rainbow fish have been together almost 10 years and they are not stressed, If they were they wouldn't have survived as long as they have. They survived Hurricane Sandy and water temps that dropped into the 40s. If that stress didn't kill them, being in groups of 2 won't either. Everyone agrees that the feel the tank is too small for a pleco.
However the initial question was about keeping plecos in a tank with an under gravel filter. We had heard that it's not recommended but we couldn't find anything online that mentioned it, so I came here. Instead of answering the question, I'm told my fish are stressed. Can anyone answer the question?
3 Answers
- FuzzyMuffinLv 54 years ago
Pretty sure the tank is over/improperly stocked as is. And unless you're testing your own water with a liquid test kit, I wouldn't trust the pet store guy.
Either way, I don't suggest keeping a pleco, simply because of the tank size. It's pretty small, even for smaller bristlenose plecos.
- Kylie AnneLv 74 years ago
1. silver dollars need a much larger tank and are schooling fish so they can become stressed when kept in groups smaller than 6.
2. many of the rainbow fish are also schooling fish
3. don't trust petstore employees... get a liquid test kit of your own. I had a pet store employee tell me my tank that was doing a fishless cycle was "fine" I asked what the results were and he repeated they were "fine" I asked to see the strip and he got frustrated but, go figure, as I had imagined my nitrites were high.
- ?Lv 74 years ago
I hate plecos and certainly don't recommend them for small tanks
If you like them, they would need a bigger tank.
