Are My Fish Ok?

[acula]

Ive just set up my tank this week and over the last couple of days all my fish (mollies) always hang around at the top of the tank. Is this normal?

 

[Helen G]

Did you cycle your tank first? and do you have an airstone?

Also how many fish do you have in there?

 

[acula]

tank is cycled correctly, i followed the guys instructions in the shop. i dont have an airstone, no one mentioned that to me.

its a small tank (aqua start 320, about 25 litres) but i only have 7 lil mollies

 

[2excitedkids]

tank is cycled correctly, i followed the guys instructions in the shop. i dont have an airstone, no one mentioned that to me.

its a small tank (aqua start 320, about 25 litres) but i only have 7 lil mollies

What the guy in the shop says and whether you are actually cycled is actually another thing...we were caught out like this.Cycling a tank takes weeks with or without fish ( see pinned topic on cycling). Have you checked your ammonia and nitrite levels...did you cycle without fish or just add some 'bacteria' from a bottle (doesn't really work !!).

Most important thing is to check your ammonia and nitrIte levels with a liquid test kit and go from there.

 

[Anguilla82]

generally fiah at the top means a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water.
either your water chemistry is off i.e. high ammonia etc or you need more surface agitation to oxygenate the water.
direct your filter output to the top of the water to craete a ripple.

 

[acula]

yes i used a "safe start" to get the tank going on the advice of the shop. To late to do anything about that now i suppose.

Ive adjusted my filter to right at the top of my tank to agitate the water, i'll let ya know if if helps.

i'll have to go buy the stuff to check the nitrate levels n stuff when i can

oh btw, they became instantly more active when i adjusted my filter, so thanks for that!

 

[waterdrop]

tank is cycled correctly, i followed the guys instructions in the shop. i dont have an airstone, no one mentioned that to me.

its a small tank (aqua start 320, about 25 litres) but i only have 7 lil mollies

What the guy in the shop says and whether you are actually cycled is actually another thing...we were caught out like this.Cycling a tank takes weeks with or without fish ( see pinned topic on cycling). Have you checked your ammonia and nitrite levels...did you cycle without fish or just add some 'bacteria' from a bottle (doesn't really work !!).

Most important thing is to check your ammonia and nitrIte levels with a liquid test kit and go from there.

Yes, this is excellent advice.

Acula, you need to call around or look for a test kit based on liquid reagents. You especially need tests for ammonia, nitrite and pH and will also need ones for nitrate and possibly KH later on. There are good ones made by Hagen and (I can't remember tetra or nutrafin) and API. The one many of us use is the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, which works quite well usually. You also may find a couple of glass eyedroppers useful to go with it.

It will be most useful for you to start learning, here in the pinned articles, about the nitrogen cycle and about good water change techniques. Read all that you can and be curious about others questions and answers here in the "New" forum.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

have a read of this

http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...eady-have-fish/

unfortunatley you can expect some problems in the next few weeks so best to be prepared before the problems start.

 

[acula]

well im now a little annoyed! i asked the guys in the shop to get me set up completely correctly with everything i need. i was told nothing about Ph tests and such. Now ive just noticed ive got my first casualty... my favourite one too!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sadly fish shops don't give v good advice, you should always do your own research before taking on responsibility for any living animal. that being said, you're in the right place now and we can get you through this, the instructions in that thread should get you through, basically need to get a decent test kit and do plenty of water changes.

 

[acula]

well ive just done a 25% water change, all i can do now is hope i suppose, not nice having to watch em suffer tho

 

[Miss Wiggle]

no it isn't

the other alternative is to return the fish to the store and do a fishless cycle, saves any fish having to go through cycling

 

[acula]

what will they look after em for me or will i have to buy more when rdy?

 

[martyn21uk]

Depends on the shop. It's unlikey that they'll keep 'your' fish safe for you, but they may issue you a credit note type of thing. Alternatively, you will have to buy some more but its a moral question then on if you write off a couple of quid for the life and wellbeing of your fish.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Depends on the shop. It's unlikey that they'll keep 'your' fish safe for you, but they may issue you a credit note type of thing. Alternatively, you will have to buy some more but its a moral question then on if you write off a couple of quid for the life and wellbeing of your fish.

exactly