My fish are all swimming around at the top of the tank?

Question

I have had a problem for the last couple of days.

I have a four foot tank that has been fine for about 8 months. yesturday I noticed that all the fish are at the top of the tank. I dont have an air pump but use a large filter which is set up to slash on the top and airate. this has worked fine until now. I have two plecks and I saw the largest pleck appear to come up for air last night. I also have a red finned shark who is nose up.

I cleaned the filter today and that didn't make a bit of difference.

does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks Sam

Thanks all

I do have plants growing and there doesn't appear to be a lot of algea.

I can run a sample upto the aquarium up the road tomorrow as unfortunatly I can't get out of the house until then.

How safe is it to put tap water straight in? I usually use tap safe but can't get any of that until tomorrow either.

I have a pump but it's not really big enough for this tank but I'll set it up temporarily till I can get to the shop.

thanks again Sam

OK, I found some testing kits in with my stuff i got with the tank, they are a little old so not sure how accurate they are.

Ammonia was 0 ppm

Nitrates where 10 ppm

any ideas please?

Ph of tank water is 7.4

Answer 1

How often do you clean the gravel? Or the filter? What kind of filter? If your filter disturbs the surface tension of the tank,the Oxygen exchange should be fine,so the increased BOD(Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand) is probably coming from a build-up of organic matter(dead fish or snails,crap,or uneaten food) in the water,filter or gravel. Siphon the gravel,clean the filter sponge in water just removed from the tank,and what ever you do don't do a large water change unless the pH of the tank is the same as the pH of your replacement water. Check the pH,if the tank has a significantly lower pH than your tap water,then you have a sour tank. Start by doing small water changes every day( 10% ). If you raise the pH too quickly the Nitrates(which will be quite high)will convert back to toxic Nitrite and wipe out the whole tank.
If the pH is not all that much lower than your tap water then go ahead with 25% water changes once a week. I hope this helps.-----Best of luck.-----PeeTee

Answer 2

Do you have an air stone in the tank? Sounds like they are looking for oxogen. You really need to get a bigger tank or return the angel. They get at least 6'' top to bottom in size and that is cruel in that small of a tank. Make sure it is a tiny angel now or your neons will become a special treat. The neons are fine, if you want another pretty fish add ONE male betta with the neons but that would be your max. As others have said make sure you check your water perameters. Test ammonia and nitrite (should be at zero) and nitrate (20-40ppm is OK). Eep didn't realize the tank is only 2 days old!!! That is WAY too many fish. Read up on here several questions about setting up a new tank. Your fish are suffereing from new tank syndrom which will happen when a tank is not properly set up. I just cycled my 120 gallon tank using fishless cycling. Look up 'fishless cycle' on yahoo for more info on how to do that. This process allows a network of bacteria to build up that change the toxic ammonia produced intro nitrite (which is also toxic and another bacteria forms to turn that into nitrate) Some nitrate is ok and will feed your plants if you have live plants. If nitrate levels go above 40 that could become harmful to your fish so it is recommended to do a 20% water change every week.. NO MORE. So I would return your little fishies now before they die (which is a near certainty) and go with fishless cycle if you don't want to kill any. If you want to risk it then keep 2 neons (I would suggest getting a more hardy fish like zebra danio) until the bacteria form or the fish die and you have to try again. To me that is excessively cruel and highly recommend fishless cycle where I know it tanks tons more patience but you will feel good about it and the fish will thank you. Fishless cycle allows you to learn about your tank water without playing with lives. Good luck!! Save your fishies!!!

Answer 3

Try not having the light and lower the speed of the filter to give them rest. Some times you can be to nice to the fish I have had a tank for 2 years only lost 2 fish and never ever use any meds or other stuff, I find the best way is to have a two 25 ltr bottles like the ones you get in the office for cold water and leave one full for 4 days this will get to room temp and also decontaminate the water, then draw water into the empty one then fill the tank with the full one, With my tank this makes a 25% water change every 4 days. t

Answer 4

yes like all the other answers you no longer have oxygen in your water and teh fish arent gonna make it wirthout. i also have two 55 gallon tanks which are 4' x 1 and a half feet. This is what i use:

Tetratec
Power Filter
PF300

I found it at PetCo and it runs about $70. It also has an integrated heater and it is a biofilter so you are killing all your birds with this one stone. The filtrated water is shot back into the tank under your wtaer line and it is really doing a greta job with both my tanks. I suggest spending the money on it.

Oh so you know in one tank I have 6 African Cichlids and 2 Chinese Algea Eaters. The other tank has 2 Spotted Puffers, 1 Figure Eight Puffer, and 2 Fan Dancer Goby's. I also use live plants in with the Cichlids, but not with the Puffers.

Answer 5

Hiya Sam,

Your fish are looking for oxygen, you need an oxygen pump or oxygen stone in there for sure...

How about, (until tomorrow) lowering the level of the water in the tank about an inch or so, this will cause more of a splash from your filter, causing more surface aggitation and therefore more oxygen in there. Plus make sure that the temperature isn't too high as this will also lower the oxygen levels in there.

Oh yeah, your pH is slightly on the Alkaline side too, may need a small water change.

Hope this helps.

B

Answer 6

My guess is something is wrong in your Biologicial filter first. Did you run a check on your ammonia and nitrite amounts? One of the first signs of high ammonia is the situation you described, that is my first guess. Is algea under control? Sometimes algea growth can inhibit oxygen in the tank. Is your tank planted? Putting in some plants will help not only add oxygen, but use some of your nitrates. If none of these seem to apply, then get an air stone.

Answer 7

check your water condition or take a sample to a good fish shop most of which will carry out a check for you at a very modest price. if this is ok i would get an air pump and air stone to put more oxygen into the tank if you are able to plant the tank with live plants as they put oxygen into the water

Answer 8

they are definitely gasping for air,general problem people have is they think the water is fine as long as it is clear this is far from the case,go ahead and do a 25%water change straight away it will do no harm and then again in 3 days time,this should help the immediate problem ,you then need to work on a long term solution,as a matter of course water should be changed at least 50% per month anyway to keep your tank fresh and avoid such problems.

Answer 9

needs more air, some new live plants. that's a big tank, a filter will not air that.don't add tap water with out cleaning it. a small amount to level what evaporated won't kill them, but an actual water change might be a bit harsh.

Answer 10

Hey ya!
I had the same problem I have a in lid filter and its soposed to add air to the tank............. but within er ummm like 3 mins my fish were coming to the to to breath so I had to turn the air pump on. Love Chloe
ps hope it helps!!!