FishProfiles.com Message Forums

It is a 5gal that has been established for well over a year and within the last two weeks we have lost 5 Rummynose and 2 Plecos. The first pleco was very small and I added him for a cleanup effect. He died about 2 weeks after being added to the tank. I then went ahead and put in a slightly larger (3 inch) from one of my other tanks and about a week passed and we lost all 5 Rummynose (same day) and the Pleco 2 days later (today). I still have 2 WCMM that appear in great health.

I just tested the water:

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Ph = 7.6
dH = 8

The Carbonate hardness was high because we do have very hard water. Nothing unusual though.

I have two other Cichlid setups that have virtually identical numbers and all of the fish are very healthy.

Any thoughts.

What kind of plecos are we talking about here? That's kind of a small set-up for anything other than a betta. Your water params look okay, but I would suspect a cramped tank was a contributing factor. I don't know of any plecos (including the ones that stay pretty small) that should be in a 5 gallon tank...they create too much waste. What is your nitrate reading?

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

I know it was crowded. The Plecos stay was to be short lived. I don't have a Nitrate test.

How often do you do water changes on this tank? If the nitrates get high enough it will kill fish.

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Rummynoses are a good indicator of water quality. If the rummys arent happy then its time to check the water out. Can you take a sample of your water to your lfs and get it tested for nitrate? I'm almost 100% certain it would be nitrate problems in this case.

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

A small pleco can produce enough waste to keep nitrates up in a small tank. Get your water tested and let us know.

Smaller tanks can be pretty unstable. Rummies are sensitive fish, so I wouldn't put them in an unstable 5g. Also, my rummies are pretty active so I can't imagine they had enough room. I wouldn't put them in anything less than a 20g.

If you plan to restock I suggest only having a Betta in there.

*Kristin*

I suspect you are right about the Nitrates. The 5 gal was bought and setup as a betta tank originally until the little guy passed. I sort of inherited the remaining fish and had little place to keep them. They did great until I added the little pleco.

In the meantime I will take the advice and get some water to my lfs tomorrow just to check things out. Thanks.