How often do you do water changes?

 

20% every week. Is that too much or too little? Pleco is a poop machine so I also do a vac with the water change.

 

My tank is a 29 gallon and i do about 40% every 4-5 days. I'm a bit on the excessive side, but my nitrates are always around 5 ppm.

How did you cycle your tank?
Did you test frequently during the cycling period?
What is the temp of your tank?
What are the Nitrite and Nitrate readings?
What is your p.h?

 

Yes cycle was tested my readings are .25 ammonia 2 ppm nitrate. Water temperature is stable at 80. Sometimes fluxuates between 78-82

 

If you're still getting an ammonia reading then the tank is not yet fully established/cycled. When it is completely cycled your ammonia and nitrite will read 0ppm.

Are you sure it's nitrate that 2...and not nitrite?...my tester only tests nitrates by 5ppm increments, but tests nitrite by the 1 ppm increment.

Did you add all your fish at once, or did you introduce them gradually?
It sounds like you've added too many fish too quickly, and if your tank was established it caused a minicycle because of the extra bioload of the new fish. This could cause your fish to stress and die

 

It would make sense since I did add 3 tetras, 3 albino cory, and 1 betta at once. The other 2 cory and pleco came about 2 weeks after.

Maybe I did overload. I fell bad about that... Gosh what would the solution be?

By the way it was Nitrate, nitrite is at 5. Sorry for the confusion.

I really appreciate the help.

 

Well, your tank is definitely not cycled! In a fully cycled tank you will have a colony of good bacteria that processes the ammonia into nitrite, and then the nitrite into nitrate (which is wayyyy less harmful to fish). You should never have nitrite or ammonia. And you won't when your tank is cycled.

I suggest buying something to rid your tank of the ammonia/nitrites if you want, or do some major water changes for a while until you get readings of 0 on nitrites and ammonia, and low nitrates.

I reccomend 25-30% water change weekly 20% is a little on the low side...

The fish probably died of ammonia poisoning...

 

+1 on the water changes weekly but i'd do 40% weekly. It sounds like your tank still has a little while to go to cycle. DON'T GET FRUSTRATED, it'll be o.k., and don't feel bad about your mistake of adding fish too quickly. You'll know next time.

I would continue to check the levels every day. As ammonia levels decrease, you'll see a rise in nitrites( which is what is happening in your tank right now). Over the next few days or week your ammonia levels will drop off, nitrites will drop off, and nitrates will start to rise. When your ammonia and nitrite are completely zeroed out and your nitrites are up to 5-20 ppm you'll be cycled. BE PATIENT. If you see a spike in ammonia, do a water change immediately! Good luck, keep us posted on here what's going on with your tank

 

Be prepared to rehome that Pleco. They get way too large for a tank that size. And you'll never be able to stay on top of keeping the tank clean with him/her. I had to bring mine back to the LFS last week bc he outgrew my 45 gallon in 10 months and I couldn't keep nitrates under 40 even though I change 1/3 of the water each week and do a thorough gravel vacuum.

Sorry but it's really the best thing you can do for your tank and for the pleco. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

You may also help keep toxins such as ammonia and nitrites low by feeding a smaller amount of food perhaps once each day. Any levels of ammonia or nitrites will be harmful so Water changes daily might be needed rather than once a week. It will depend on what the daily test results show.
Would also be careful to protect the bacteria (good kind) in the filter material, by ALWAYS cleaning it in old aquarium water you take out at water changes or ,in a bucket of dechlorinated water. Tapwater should not be used to clean filter cartridges,sponges,pads etc. The chlorine or chloramines found in most water supplies will kill off the (good Bacteria) that consumes the toxins mentioned (ammonia,nitrites.)