Why do I fail at keeping a bristlenose pleco?

[jeb102385]

+1

[TangoMIke]

Bn plecos are very suseptable to spikes in PH and or ammonia during a water change. I would say your water changes are stressing them which results in issues later. Remember these fish don't like our high ph to begin with I think that you are probably stressing them and causing them not to eat. They will also be stressed by poor water quality or something off in your parameters prior to many other fish. The guppies anf plecos both like soft water so maybe the high ph is the cause.
Mike

[R_sustaita]

Bn plecos are very suseptable to spikes in PH and or ammonia during a water change. I would say your water changes are stressing them which results in issues later. Remember these fish don't like our high ph to begin with I think that you are probably stressing them and causing them not to eat. They will also be stressed by poor water quality or something off in your parameters prior to many other fish. The guppies anf plecos both like soft water so maybe the high ph is the cause.
Mike

+1 and he is the best pleco breeder in town.

[MaverickCAT85]

I think your right I shoot for once a week on the water changes on both tanks. My 40 gallon breeder is crystal clear all the fish are happy and eat hearty. Same goes for the 55 gallon until recently.

Problems began with a water change and an addition of carbon that I didn't properly introduce into my filter. I got pieces of carbon floating in the water and had to pick them out then did a small water change and found my old BN pleco dead and realized i was down a female and male guppie.

I do have a giant piece of Mopani in my tank gravel substrate and lots of ocean rock or what i call "holey rock". My liquid API test kit is a couple years old and I dont think I get accurate measurments with the ammonia and nitrite readings.

Although I've haven't tested all my water parameters in awhile because I haven't had these problems since I started these tanks or since I took em out the rubbermaid tub and bought new tanks.

Tanks have been up a good six months though and Ive been using the same water and filters for a year and a half. I've only moved the fish to new tanks adding substrate and rock decor plants ect. I'm thinking I do have a high PH last tested it was around 7.8-9 but haven't tested since last year and have added a lot of rock and driftwood. I keep mainly cichlids anyway maybe its time to give up on my dream of having a pleco until i get a dedicated tank.

[Ashley45]

Do you use anything to change your PH in your tank? Also what do you use to treat the water for changes? I have always stood by never messing with your PH unless you have a reason like breeding.... Also I stand by Prime 100% I use it to treat my water which has .05 ppm of ammonia straight out of the tap... The prime makes the ammonia levels of tap water safe for about 24 hours until your tank can cycle it out...

[jeb102385]

I have a carbon bottle but those things are expensive!! I used prime before I got it and would suggest it as well

[MaverickCAT85]

I stick by Stress coat and Amquel plus always worked for me and I never adjust PH.

[wesleydnunder]

Bn plecos are very suseptable to spikes in PH and or ammonia during a water change. I would say your water changes are stressing them which results in issues later. Remember these fish don't like our high ph to begin with I think that you are probably stressing them and causing them not to eat. They will also be stressed by poor water quality or something off in your parameters prior to many other fish. The guppies anf plecos both like soft water so maybe the high ph is the cause.
Mike

Many local aquarists successfully breed BNs in the local tapwater. Fish don't have receptors for ph so it's probable that they have no idea what the ph in their tank is. If the water is changed frequently enough, the partials shouldn't alter the tank's ph or TDS significantly. Are you testing for ammonia? nitrites?

Mark

[wesleydnunder]

I think your right I shoot for once a week on the water changes on both tanks. My 40 gallon breeder is crystal clear all the fish are happy and eat hearty. Same goes for the 55 gallon until recently.

Problems began with a water change and an addition of carbon that I didn't properly introduce into my filter. I got pieces of carbon floating in the water and had to pick them out then did a small water change and found my old BN pleco dead and realized i was down a female and male guppie.

I do have a giant piece of Mopani in my tank gravel substrate and lots of ocean rock or what i call "holey rock". My liquid API test kit is a couple years old and I dont think I get accurate measurments with the ammonia and nitrite readings.

Although I've haven't tested all my water parameters in awhile because I haven't had these problems since I started these tanks or since I took em out the rubbermaid tub and bought new tanks.

Tanks have been up a good six months though and Ive been using the same water and filters for a year and a half. I've only moved the fish to new tanks adding substrate and rock decor plants ect. I'm thinking I do have a high PH last tested it was around 7.8-9 but haven't tested since last year and have added a lot of rock and driftwood. I keep mainly cichlids anyway maybe its time to give up on my dream of having a pleco until i get a dedicated tank.

I think the move threw your tank into a cycle.

Mark

[R_sustaita]

i think the solution would be to keep trying and eventually you will have luck, get some plecos from a trusted source.