Pleco Care?? & New (used) tank setup

[anaerobe]

Hi all,

I have a common pleco, he's like 8" now, and chances are - still growing.
So I bought a 45 Gallon tank... do you think this is sustainable environment for a common pleco?
I'm hearing varying values on different sites, from 12 (obviously that's from Petco/walmart, etc) to 75 gallons minimum. And I hate battling the overcrowded tank (i'm sure the fish hate it more)

Also, I bought this tank used, from a person who seems to have decent living fish (not diseased... or so it seemed). How should I clean this tank up for setup? Will vinegar and hot water work?
I will do a test for leaks, that's all I know atm.

Also, stupid question - how do you change MASS amounts of water in a large aquarium?
Those Python things, where you attach to your Tap water. Do you simply hose it directly into the aquarium (the tap water), and then add some water conditioner? - if so, how does that not affect the fish?
I always left tap water + conditioner in a bucket for 15 minutes. I had a terrible accident that killed my whole aquarium - with chlorine in tap water, so I'm very cautious now.

Thanks for your help, I think it's an amazing helpful community here

 

[Squeakfish]

You need 125 g minimum to sustain a full-grown pleco. At 8", the 45 is still far too small.
You can clean the tank with a 1/10 (I think) ratio of bleach/water. Vinegar (the same ratio) will really make the tank shine.
Checking the seals (pressing on the silicone and making sure it's still squishy/pliable) is also a good idea. Replace it if it's hard.

You CAN put in dechlor directly into your tank as you put tap water in; make sure you put in enough to cover 45 gallons- not the amount you're replacing.

 

[Kashta]

When I'm doing mine, let's say I take out about 40 gallons from the 110. One capful of what I use is good for 20 gallons. So I'll start the water going in and immediately add a capful - usually two. Then before it gets halfway back to the top, I add another. So for 40 gallons gone, I'm treating more than I'm putting back in. I think some people put in all the dechlor at once. I'm just never sure if that's okay or not, so I do mine in stages so it's more than the water still going in.

 

[excuzzzeme]

I have never heard of needing a 125 for common pleco but they are far better off in a 6' tank than a 4'. At 8" he is less than half grown as they can typically reach 24". They continue to grow their entire life. Other than Oscars and Goldfish, this one too is very often sold to unknowing customers by uncaring sales people.

Along with being big poop machines, they require food like any other fish. They do not subsist on algae unless they are very young. The older and larger they get the more they need food suitable for bottom feeders. They also have been known to become aggressive and can hold their own against most fish their size.

They are a highly mistreated and wrongly described fish when it comes to their habitat and feeding needs.

FWIW- mine is approx 18 months old and is 12-13".