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Rainy Season
Posted: 19 Dec 2020, 20:42
by Cleo21
I read that stimulating the rainy season (or breeding season) is a trigger most plecos will spawn with. How do you do this properly? Thanks!
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 19 Dec 2020, 20:44
by bekateen
Hi Cleo21,
I'm sure different people have their own methods. Myself, I increase frequency of water changes and lower the temperature about 5F.
Cheers,
Eric
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 19 Dec 2020, 20:47
by Cleo21
bekateen wrote: ↑19 Dec 2020, 20:44
Hi Cleo21,
I'm sure different people have their own methods. Myself, I increase frequency of water changes and lower the temperature about 5F.
Cheers,
Eric
How long do you do this for? Do you have a period of no water changes before this increase? Do you also increase feedings?
Thanks!
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 19 Dec 2020, 21:21
by bekateen
Cleo21 wrote: ↑19 Dec 2020, 20:47How long do you do this for? Do you have a period of no water changes before this increase? Do you also increase feedings?
Thanks!
As far as a time of no water changes, I just rely on life to abuse me and deprive me of time to do WC for a while. My regular schedule goal is always a 50%-80% WC every week or two. But in busy times I may go 4-5 weeks without changing water. Then for rainy season I do a WC every day or two for at least a week.
Cheers, Eric
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 20 Dec 2020, 15:08
by Shane
Cleo,
Several things happen at the onset of the rainy season.
- Temperatures drop due to the influx of rainwater and cloud cover that blocks the sun.
- Dissolved oxygen levels increase due to increased water flow and wind action
- An influx of food. Some washed in by the rain and some available as the rivers flood their banks and open more available feeding areas.
- Decreased light due to clouds and the water becoming deeper
- Increased flow of rain water makes the water softer. The pH may go down in alkaline waters but may actually go up in blackwaters
- Dissolved waste levels drop massively as the water volume increases and waste products (mainly rotting leaves and vegetation) are washed away.
The above said, I have found very few plecos need seasonal changes to begin spawning. Even the Chaetostoma spp (which are subject to huge rainy season changes in the wild) I have spawned do not need environmental changes. They spawned best when I replicated their spawning season (cooler water, high O2 levels, plentiful food, and very clean water) year round.
-Shane
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 23 Dec 2020, 21:28
by Cleo21
Shane wrote: ↑20 Dec 2020, 15:08
Cleo,
Several things happen at the onset of the rainy season.
- Temperatures drop due to the influx of rainwater and cloud cover that blocks the sun.
- Dissolved oxygen levels increase due to increased water flow and wind action
- An influx of food. Some washed in by the rain and some available as the rivers flood their banks and open more available feeding areas.
- Decreased light due to clouds and the water becoming deeper
- Increased flow of rain water makes the water softer. The pH may go down in alkaline waters but may actually go up in blackwaters
- Dissolved waste levels drop massively as the water volume increases and waste products (mainly rotting leaves and vegetation) are washed away.
The above said, I have found very few plecos need seasonal changes to begin spawning. Even the Chaetostoma spp (which are subject to huge rainy season changes in the wild) I have spawned do not need environmental changes. They spawned best when I replicated their spawning season (cooler water, high O2 levels, plentiful food, and very clean water) year round.
-Shane
Thanks for your answer! Would topping off with store-bought distilled water help bring the TDS and pH down a little? I know people use RO to help lower this stuff but I do not have access to it. Therefore, is it safe to use distilled?
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 23 Dec 2020, 21:36
by Shane
Distilled is fine for top offs, but keep in mind rain and melted snow do the same thing for free.
-Shane
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 23 Dec 2020, 21:42
by Cleo21
Would I have to filter it or do anything to collect it a certain way?
Re: Rainy Season
Posted: 24 Dec 2020, 00:22
by Shane
Not at all, especially in Ontario.
-Shane