[GSAS-Member] Tiny Tank Troubles

[Linda Knapp <linda@bozuk.org>]

I am taking care of my daughter's tank for a semister and am about ready 
to pack it in and get her a bigger tank! (It would not fit in her space 
unfortunately) She has one of those 2.5 gallon mini bow tanks with a 
tetra whisper internal filter. She has a smallish pleco (maybe 3 inches 
total) which I had not noticed at first, a tetra whose type escapes me 
and  a male guppy (The 2 females died within days of putting them in the 
tank.) which I got along with a small plant when I took over the tank. I 
have been fighting high Nitrite levels and cannot get the thing to 
stabalize despite frequent 20-40% water changes every few days..  I 
would like to get it set up with a couple guppies for her to breed but 
don't want to get another female until I get it a little healthier.

I'm thinking I have at least two problems - besides the small system - 
The pleco and the filter. I'm thinking I should remove the pleco and put 
it into my tank - I have a 40 gallon rift lake tank. But I am not sure 
how happy it will be in there. I have not had great luck with plecos in 
that tank. I wonder if an external filter with maybe a charcoal stage 
might help the tiny tank? Since the water level is at the top of the 
internal filter I am not sure how good a job it is really doing. This 
tank has been established for some time and my daughter has had ok luck 
with a few fish - like the pleco and the very hardy tetra.

Any ideas?
Thanks!
Linda
linda@bozuk.org

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