New catfish producing a lot of waste

[Lozzley]

Hi team!
I’ve had my tank for about 5 months and this new pleco catfish for about 1 week. He seems fine but noticed he’s producing a lot of waste. The picture is just after 24 hours And I have taken that much out twice in three days. Is this normal?

 

[okapizebra]

Unfortunately that is completely normal. Plecos are absolute poop machines.

 

[Lozzley]

Okay that’s alright then. I was doing weekly water changes but is it too much of I do it every 2-3 days. Don’t know if it’s bad for the water leaving the waste in there for a week?

 

[Aiken Drum]

There are gravel vacs that can be set to recirculate the water back into the tank while filtering out detritus or to remove the water. You could use that to perioducally clean the substrate of poop and then use it weekly for your water change as well.

https://fluvalaquatics.com/us/product/pro-vac-powered-aquarium-gravel-cleaner/

Okay that’s alright then. I was doing weekly water changes but is it too much of I do it every 2-3 days. Don’t know if it’s bad for the water leaving the waste in there for a week?