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I hope that someone can help me out here.

I have three fish in my standard 125: a 3" crenicichla, a 2" L-190 and a 5" L-190. The tank has been set up for several years, though with this combination for only two weeks. The crenicichla and smaller pleco I have had for that same amount of time (got both from a LFS where I work part time, and both had been there for months), the larger pleco for a bout a year. The tank is filtered by two Emperor 400s.

The water parameters: pH 6.5, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm, temp 80 F

The problem: both of the plecos seem to be breathing VERY rapidly, like 2-3 times per second. They eat and behave normally.

I thought that maybe they needed more oxygen, so I have added a powerhead blowing across the top of the water, but I don't think that I have seen a difference.

Is this species just a rapid breather, or is there another issue?

You say they eat and behave normally. That's good. Are their fins held open as normal or clamped? If clamped check closely for disease or parasites. Is the pike cichlid behaving normally?

Do you have plenty of bogwood in the tank for them to chew on?

Adding the extra powerhead might help. I reckon they would appreciate it more by directing the flow downwards to create a current across the bottom.

When you say standard 125, you means gallons? That's a huge tank for those 3 fish, and I don't see how it could be an O2 problem. I have 10 times the fish you have in my 125 and my L190 and L90 both breath very normally. But I do have 3 filters (FX5, XP3, 2028) and two Koralia powerheads (1 and 2) in the tank.

Thanks for thr replies, guys.

Their fins are all held open and look good, and the pike is acting normally. None of the fish has been scratching or flashing or looking uncomfortable. It is a 125 gallon tank (72x18x22), so I can't imagine its an oxygen issue, either.

I am working at LFS today and made a note that most of the plecos here, in for sale tanks as well as displays, seem to be breathing faster than I would think is normal.