Please help - new tank and fish kissing the surface

[guineapigfish]

Hi there, we have set up our 60 litre tropical tank, had the water tested and successfully kept 6 tetras and a guppy for a week. We returned this weekend to increase our tank population and got 2 more guppies and 3 mollies. Our tank is now complete.
We have three live plants in our tank too.

One mollie has just died. Another mollie is constantly kissing thd surface of thr water. The guppies are doing this occasionally too. I have just added 5 litres more water as the tank wasn’t full as we eventually plan to get African dwarf frogs.

I’m so worried conditions aren’t right for my fish. I have followed all guidelines from dobbie’s fish experts. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Rocky998]

Hello, and welcome to the forum!
How long has this tank been set up?
Is it cycled?
What filter(s) do you use?

 

[Rocky998]

One other thing I meant to mention, fish that "kiss" the surface can mean that they are low on oxygen inside the tank, so that is when they "kiss" the surface.

 

[Byron]

From what has been mentioned, this is probably a cycling issue. The fish produce ammonia during respiration, and this is poisonous. Gasping at the surface is one sign. Mollies are extremely sensitive to ammonia.

Cycling is explained here, read the two "sticky" threads at the top of this section of the forum.

Cycle your Tank

Cycling a tank is vital to keeping your fish alive. This section is where you can read about cycling (the nitrogen cycle) and ask questions about how to do it properly.

www.fishforums.net

Changing a majority of the water until ammonia and nitrite test zero may save the fish, explained in the threads linked. Do not acquire any more fish until this is resolved. See if the store will take the fish back, even temporarily, which would allow you to cycle the tank.

Looking ahead, you also need to determine the hardness of your water. You have fish requiring moderately hard water (mollies and guppies) and fish that are OK with softer water (tetras). There might be some overlap depending upon the tetra species. Your water authority website may have this data.

 

[Circus]

You may have problems with any dwarf frogs getting enough food. From what I have seen with mine, they have poor eyesight and seem to hunt for food by smell. Voracious eaters like Molly and guppy fish may out compete the frogs for food.

 

[Rocky998]

You may have problems with any dwarf frogs getting enough food. From what I have seen with mine, they have poor eyesight and seem to hunt for food by smell. Voracious eaters like Molly and guppy fish may out compete the frogs for food.

be was going to mention that as well... I find that ADFs are best in a species only tank because it can be hard to get food and you have to worry about possible aggression from the fish towards the ADFs. I have heard that some fish can nip at the frogs

 

[guineapigfish]

One other thing I meant to mention, fish that "kiss" the surface can mean that they are low on oxygen inside the tank, so that is when they "kiss" the surface.

Thank you so much for your help, and for the help from others as well. I have a 60 litre tank. I took some water to be tested at Dobbie’s and am very relieved to say that all the levels were fine. I had videoed the mollie to show the assistant there and she immediately told me that I should fill my tank up - I had left a large amount unfulfilled in preparation for ADFs (now unsure we should even get any) and the fish needed more water (I fitted an extra 15 litres in!) and also to move the filter up to increase the oxygen flow. I’ve done both things. All the fish except the mollie are behaving normally and seem happy. The mollie continues to swoop up to the surface pretty much continually but she is also swooping down in the flow of bubbles and zooming round the tank in loops. She seems improved although not totally normal. I am hoping this will be be enough to save my fish. They are my 11 year old son’s and he is very invested in them. We all are.

 

[hansgruber7]

This could be low oxygen levels in your tank. I would add some aeration, either with a sponge filter or an air pump of some kind. See if that helps.

 

[MonsieurLaGrenuoille]

I really don't know, but welcome!

 

[emeraldking]

Hi and welcome to TFF. Well, there are already things mentioned that could've caused your problems. Hopefully they could've helped you out.

 

[connorlindeman]

Sounds like low oxygen to me as well

 

[Slaphppy7]

Welcome to TFF.

You need to be testing your own water, do not trust what a pet store employee tells you.

Get one of these ASAP, test for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte, and post the results here

API® | FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT

The API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT measures the 4 most important levels in freshwater aquariums quickly and accurately, including pH, high range pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

apifishcare.com

I suspect ammonia poisoning, from an uncycled tank