Re: [GSAS-Member] GSAS-Member Digest, Vol 66, Issue 50

[matt kaufman <igotadose@hotmail.com>]

> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:57:50 -0800
> From: Shango Los <shango@shangolos.com>
> To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
> <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> Subject: [GSAS-Member] Albino Plecos in Trouble
> Message-ID: <9D921174-C11C-47CE-BE3D-672B8AC9A8C5@shangolos.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> Came home from a walk around Green Lake and both of my adult Albino 
> Ancistrous are on their backs breathing slowly. The tetras and cories and 
> shrimp are all fine. I just did a water change of 50%
> 
> What could cause only the plecos to suffer?
> 
> Thanks
> Shango


Did you do the water change *before* the fish showed stress, or after? Did you 
drop the temp abruptly? Or suddenly raise pH?

 

If the water change was before the fish stressed out, its due to the water 
change - either a temp change, ammonia spike, or an increase in the 
chlorine/chloramine level in your water, which may happen if the town decides 
to mess with the municipal water system.

 

What kind of dechlorinator do you use? I'd measure the ammonia level if you 
can, or add some aeration. If you've got some poly filter and can arrange for 
the water in the tank to circulate through the poly filter, I'd do that. It 
rapidly removes excess ammonia. 

 

Also, if you have a CO2 injection system, make sure its not excessively dumping 
CO2 into the tank (like its stuck open or something like that.) I'd even turn 
it off just to be safe.

 

Tetras don't mind really acid water and are tougher than you'd think. I've had 
zero luck with the various albino ancistrus that are circulating around the 
club, because I think my waters too soft, and I'm not sure that seattle water 
isn't much softer. I don't think they like low pH.

 

 
                                          
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