Fish Staying At The Top

[dazzadub]

Right some may remember I had a small tank and 6 fish as advised by pets at home UK, I've since gone in with some facts and made a complaint with manager, she agreed I was miss sold the equipment and could see on the system I was sold fish not shrinks for the tank so she gave me a brand new 40l tank with nee pump, filters etc

She said it was vital I got the fish from the old tank to the new one asap as the pump was also failing due to an issue with the integrated set up.

I was advised remove fish and place in a bag with the tanks water, and to place the rest of the tanks water into the new tank, followed by the old gravel , the old sponge and plants, to add treated water to the tank which was about 50%. Add some bacteria and also a small amount of salt.

Then to add the fish as normal.

This was done, and fish seemed happy, eater was little cloudy to start with but I expected that as tank is doing a cycle again.

After 2 days the fish have stayed at the top and rarely come down, I asked the fish shop who said it could be high levels of ammonia and nitrate which is why fish are staying at the top for oxygen, and that she would expect this from what we have done with the tank change. She tested a water sample and ammonia levels were low but still not exceptable. Other levels very high.

So I have added bacteria on a daily basis to try and build it up and also added a ammonia detox bag to my pump .

Does this sound about right?

I was told it will take a good while for the tank to settle and the levels to drop and that we have to hope for the best no fish die bacuse of it, the manager did say if that does happen she will replace the fish and apologised in advance.

She seems to know her stuff.


I was thinking maybe a air pump is needed.


The pump that cane in the tank is ok, surface water moves well, and fish seem happy with it, but I have feeling not enough oxygen is being made.

 

[AshleyNZ]

Adding bacteria doesn't speed up the cycle (Correct if im wrong). 
Having a fish-in cycle will increase the chances of fish dying. i will let someone else explain this a bit better, as I have not had much 
experience with this myself.

 

[RRaquariums]

Do lots of water changes a 25% each day for a while would be good that's the best thing i always do if fish are hanging at the top.

 

[tunagirll]

Basically you have entered what is known as a 'fish in' cycle - your fish are experiencing stress from poisoning from the ammonia and nitrites (note: nitrite not nitrate, two different chemicals) in the tank. The nitrites especially are causing your fish to suffocate as they are interfering with their ability to take up oxygen - hence sitting at the top of the tank trying to get more (which will be futile).
 
They will continue to be stressed until the cycle completes in your tank. It's too late to opt for a fishless cycle now, so what you will need to do is do a large water change immediately (~70%) and then monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels in your tank.
 
Any time the ammonia is over 0.25ppm and/or the nitrite is over 0.25ppm, you will need to do a 50% water change.
 
You may need to do this for several weeks.
 
A fast remedy would be to find someone with an established tank and acquire some of their filter media, which will have the bacteria present on it that eat the ammonia and nitrites.
 
Hope this helps.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Are the fish gasping at the water surface?
What are the water stats, especially nitrite, with a liquid test kit?
What size tank were the fish in before the move?
What fish (types and numbers of each) are in the new 40l tank?
 
Nitrite messes with fishes' ability to get oxygen to their body, I would always do a 75-95% water change ASAP if I see such behaviour.
 
Looking at a previous topic by you, I'm concerned you have Mollies in a 40l. These livebearers need a far longer tank, at least 120x30x30cm (~140l), they are active; moderately sized ~8cm excluding tail fin as adults; semi-fiesty.

 

[dazzadub]

Basically you have entered what is known as a 'fish in' cycle - your fish are experiencing stress from poisoning from the ammonia and nitrites (note: nitrite not nitrate, two different chemicals) in the tank. The nitrites especially are causing your fish to suffocate as they are interfering with their ability to take up oxygen - hence sitting at the top of the tank trying to get more (which will be futile).
 
They will continue to be stressed until the cycle completes in your tank. It's too late to opt for a fishless cycle now, so what you will need to do is do a large water change immediately (~70%) and then monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels in your tank.
 
Any time the ammonia is over 0.25ppm and/or the nitrite is over 0.25ppm, you will need to do a 50% water change.
 
You may need to do this for several weeks.
 
A fast remedy would be to find someone with an established tank and acquire some of their filter media, which will have the bacteria present on it that eat the ammonia and nitrites.
 
Hope this helps.

Thanks. I have now some filter sponger from my bro unless tank which has ran for a year , and have put this into my pump.

I also got some rocks from his tank also which also have bacteria in, I have today added a bigger pump to the tank that is creating more oxygen and the fish are happier to go to the bottom and swim around, levels are dropping.

Eater change was done today and another planned for tomoz.

A bloke from a local aquatics centre actually came to the house today to test the water, and said it was little high but they are dropping from yesterday, and said everything is in there I need and should be ok, he said fish are little stressed but he said that is normal for the type of situation im in.

He said all is well considering they have been moved tank and are in a cycle.