Pleco question

[BigQFan]

I just tore down a planted tank that failed miserably. I have decided that I'm going to try my hand at chiclids. Until I have the dough for my hard scape and chiclids themselves, I have my beloved pleco in there by himself with some driftwood to gnaw on.
My question is, do I need to turn on the lights for him or is the ambient daylight enough? It's a 29 gallon with T-5 lighting.
Thanks


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[Brookster123]

If the tanks bare than lights off is better..

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[dalto]

You don't need lights. The pleco would probably be happier with them off.

 

[fishliker]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but with only the pleco in there, won't the cycle be lost?


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[dalto]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but with only the pleco in there, won't the cycle be lost?

It will not be lost. If you dumped a full load of fish in it all at once you may see a mini-cycle but that is nothing like starting over.

 

[BigQFan]

Oh wow....I never thought about the cycle being lost. I suppose I could add a few fish and then transfer them to my other tank when I get the chiclids. Thanks for the heads up


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[fishliker]

Oh wow....I never thought about the cycle being lost. I suppose I could add a few fish and then transfer them to my other tank when I get the chiclids. Thanks for the heads up


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That's what I would do just to be safe... Good luck.


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[dalto]

Oh wow....I never thought about the cycle being lost. I suppose I could add a few fish and then transfer them to my other tank when I get the chiclids. Thanks for the heads up

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it that much. The cycle is not going to be lost as long that pleco continues to produce waste which it will do if you continue to feed it.

 

[Brookster123]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Especially with a pleco, in a 20 gallon tank a 4" Bristlenose pleco will account for up to 35% of the bio load. Just feed him daily and your biofilter will keep on keeping on.

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