Dead Pleco and sand turning brown

[tel0004]

I have two questions about my fish tank. First, today I noticed that the sand was white, but is now brown. There are patches of white, but im guessing this is where the fish disturbed the sand. I noticed some brown algee on the glass a few days ago, and im pretty sure this is because my tank just finished cycling. My tank is about 6 weeks old. Is this brown stuff algee, and is it normal. Also, I have two plecos, that were doing fine, but when I came home today, one was dead, and he was missing an eye. Could this be a sickness or he have lost a fight. I have two convicts that will pick on him sometimes. I also have an irresident shark that is about 4 inches. The pleco was around 5 inches. The tank is 30 gallons, and all nitrate and nitrite levels are normal.

 

[ChilDawg]

It is likely that your Pleco was sick...and sick in such a manner that he had fluid build-up behind his eye, which causes a syndrome known as Pop-eye (exophthalmia).

If the tank just finished cycling, the algal growth (brown "algae" known as diatoms) is quite normal.

Your ID Shark may well get too big for that tank and need to swim more than can be provided in any tank smaller than 500 gallons (MINIMUM)! Get rid of it, and you might be fine, bio-load wise, depending on what type of Pleco you have...and assuming that the baby Cons leave the tank for grow-out soon.

 

[gonefishin]

my pleco got too close to my breeding jewels and lost his whole head(he was onle about 1 1/2"). as stated the algae is normal. if the pleco is working overtime eating it, he might get too close to the vic's terratory and .....