Dead Pleco

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I have had a pleco now for a couple months. It has been happy and healthy so
it seemed. Unfortunatly I just found it floating dead. The only difference that
has happened in the tank is my goldfish spawned. There was quite a bit of
milt clouding the tank, but i have 2 very young bubble eyes, along with 3
large goldfish,  and they weren't effected at all. I was wondering what could
have possibly killed my pleco?

ANSWER: Hi TC:  Sorry to hear about your pleco... Most pleco and other bottom feeders die of starvation in tanks.  There is generally not enough for them to eat in tanks that are under 60 gallons unless you supplement their diet with algae wafers... If the pleco showed no sign of illness then I suspect that may be what it died of... there are other issues that may have been at fault such as a sudden change in water chemistry, etc... though it should have effected the goldfish first....dave

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for getting back with me so quickly. I fear you might be correct about the starvation. I fed it algae wafers every couple days after I turned the lights off, but I fear the goldfish got to it first. It was growing however, so it seemed as if it were getting enough to eat. I do have another question for you... I have a 29 gall tank with 3 fairly large goldfish. I recently purchased 2 young bubble eyes and have them separated in the tank. However, the problem I am having predates the bubble eyes and goes back to near the time I started the tank. The water is cloudy, white cloudy, and hasn't been completely clear for months.I have an Emperor 280 and I keep the basket filled with either carbon or ammo-chips or a combo of them. Which ever I use makes no difference. As I write the levels are:

Nitrite: .25
Nitrate: 0
Amonia: .25 -.50
PH: 7.6  

This is average for the tank, though I think the Ph is a bit higher than normal due to the spawning. I do a 5 gallon water change every week, 10 if needed. I use:

Every water change:

Top Fin conditioning salt
Top Fin water conditioner
Top Fin bacterial supplement (after 15 min.)
Nutrafin cycle

When needed:

Tetra nitraban
Top Fin ammonia remover

This has been a problem from about 1 month after I got the fish. That has been about 6-8 months ago. Any ideas? Thanks again for getting back with me so quickly.

TC

Answer
Hi TC:  I would add a double dose of bacteria to the water and see if that clears up in a day or so... Also you may consider a water clarifier which will clot the particles together where they will then be trapped by the filter.... let me know... dave