Diggin in the sand?? murky water

[Plecostrum]

I have set up a new home for a oscar and my older plec but he has wrecked it and i havent even put the oscar in yet

I had a loverly bogwood and fewplants and sand base but come down today and he has dug a big hole under the bog wood and is residing in there lolol and i thought the oscar would be the problem

I havent brought the O yet as it will be a tiny one 1 1/2"

So any tips for stopping digging?? I am guessing i need to buy him a cave


MAIN PROBLEM is the water is murky now he has done that the filtration is 2 internal duo 3 interpet and a fluval 3 soon to be adding a fluval 303 will this help keep the water clearer when they dig up the place??

Or do i need a sand filter?? is that for sand bases not sure
LET ME KNOW ANY IDEAS

 

[smithrc]

I'm guessing its a common plec... around 10" or more...

If so its natural for them to dig - and you wont stop him

over time the fine sand particals that have misted the water will get filtered out (put floss in the filter if you can).

It sounds like the sand wasn't washed enough to start with.

 

[digital_run]

Like smith said you wont be able to stop him...and he will arrange the tank to suit himself.

 

[BobK]

My 11" common plec never digs. Maybe it's because he has a cave and a big piece of artificial bogwood. That gives him two places to hide. Maybe a cave will help, maybe not. I had the same problem with murky water. Turned my 75 into a big toilet. I put lots of filter floss in the spare media chambers in my Emperor 400 and that got rid of all the fine particulates. Only problem now is a stray poop or 2, but when he swims around and stirrs up everything they usually break up and get sucked into the filter. Weekly PWC's are a must with a large Pleco.

 

[cryosi]

i have noticed with some gibbiiceps plecs aover the years they tend to dig normally around the smae time each year, no way to stop them , just put back the sand, the pants and any decor lol and wait for them to do it all over again. even some of my small clown, bulldog and other plexcs will occasional dig holes under things just natural i guess , nothing to worry about to be honest . how big is your filter? i use oversize exteral filters for the plecs as they can be very messy.

 

[snowyangel]

My 11" common plec never digs. Maybe it's because he has a cave and a big piece of artificial bogwood.

Agreed, my 10 inch common doesnt dig, he will slowly graze over the sand, but he mostly stays sucked to the wall or to the big pieces of driftwood. Another reason may be is my pleco knows to look on the wall for food. I use lettuce clips(can buy at fish stores for $2) to hold his romaine lettuce, cucumber or zuchinni to the side of the tank and he gladly sucks away in his natural position. Doesnt stir up a thing.

 

[smithrc]

i have noticed with some gibbiiceps plecs aover the years they tend to dig normally around the smae time each year, no way to stop them , just put back the sand, the pants and any decor lol and wait for them to do it all over again. even some of my small clown, bulldog and other plexcs will occasional dig holes under things just natural i guess , nothing to worry about to be honest . how big is your filter? i use oversize exteral filters for the plecs as they can be very messy.

yep - our Small plesc love to dig in the sand tanks - normally under the rocks and wood

 

[Paul_MTS]

My plecs in my sand tanks don't dig as I usually make alot of caves either by placing wood in such a way or using slate, my 2 para plecs have picked there caves and defend them, they haven't dug down at all though.

 

[SirMinion]

We have a fluvel 303 on the 55g tank containing our two Violet Gobies, and nothing digs like a Violet Goby.
Every night they move all the sand from one end of the tank to the other and the water always stays crystal clear.

It sounds like your sand is either too fine (and therefore too light) or was dirty. If it was dirty then the filter will eventually clean the water.

 

[smithrc]

My plecs in my sand tanks don't dig as I usually make alot of caves either by placing wood in such a way or using slate, my 2 para plecs have picked there caves and defend them, they haven't dug down at all though.

Our - Para makes his cave bigger by burrowing under the cave

we have loads of places they could hide... but nope - they seem to like making their own!

 

[Paul_MTS]

maybe they don't like your building skills

 

[Oddball]

well i dont have a problem with plecs digging per se, they find themselves a nice pit/cave and along comes some big ol' cichlid to rip it up!

Its on this note that even if u sort out your pleco, you may find that as your oscar matures he may take it upon himself to rearrange the tank himself!

 

[smithrc]

maybe they don't like your building skills

I've been trying to get a video of them 'digging' its great to watch.

the tuck up under the rocks and then flap all their fins...

sand comes shooting out backwards it quite entertaining.