Fish at top after water change

[Marley]

I did 20-25% water change about 36 hours ago. I vacuumed the bottom also. A few hours later I noticed 3 or 4 of the fish were at the top, not really gasping but definately mouths at the surface. Now I have one the spends quite a bit of time at the top, and a couple of others that go up for a second and then back down periodically. Nitrite and ammonia levels are good. I also saw one of my venustus scrape himself along the bottom. I've only seen him do it the one time.

Thanks in advance!
Marley

[marauder_77868]

Re: Fish at top after water change

Check the nitrite coming from the tap. It may have already metabolized in the tank and is gone now.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Fish at top after water change

I know it happens to all of us at some times, but you did add de-chlorinator to the water?

[Zulaab]

Re: Fish at top after water change

Marley,

When you did a water change did you use Prime or Amquel to make sure that all the chlorine and other harmful chemicals where removed ?
If that is not the problem then it sounds like the water is stagnant in your tank and not allowing enough Oxygen into the tank.
You will need to add more circulation.

Jesper

[Marley]

Re: Fish at top after water change

I used aquasafe, I add it to the tank and then put the hose directly in the tank. My nitrite level directly from the kitchen tap is good, I am assuming that it is the same from the faucet on the back of the house. My water is always too warm, so I put ice in a one gallon freezer bag to cool the tank back down. I also added stresscoat plus. I just saw the venustus scrape himself again. I also have brown algae? growing in my filter hoses. Tank has been running for about 6 weeks. water looks clear, smells good. I have noticed the output on my filter has weakened.
Thanks,
Marley

[CichlidFan]

Re: Fish at top after water change

I try to add my chemicals with the new water, in small increments, if I'm adding 40 gallons of water, then I add the approx amount of chemical spread out over the entire refill process.

CF

[JStrider]

Re: Fish at top after water change

if your going to cool the tap water down, do it before you put it in the tank...  

putting slightly warmer water into the tank then putting icecubes in it to cool it back down is like giving them a double whammy...

just let it cool back down to its normal temperature on its own...

my tap water is warmer then my tank water and I dont cool the tank back down and I've never had any trouble.

[semper]

Re: Fish at top after water change

add an airpump

with airstone

should help immediately

[greg_tsam]

Re: Fish at top after water change

When you vacuum your gravel you are removing the beneficial bacteria and thiscan cause an algae bloom of cloudy water that happens about 3 days after the cleaning.  It's happened to me several times before I read up on it.

[wesleydnunder]

Re: Fish at top after water change

When you vacuum your gravel you are removing the beneficial bacteria and thiscan cause an algae bloom of cloudy water that happens about 3 days after the cleaning.  It's happened to me several times before I read up on it.

That shouldn't happen, Greg. The nitrifying bacteria adhere themselves to things. Simple vaccuuming of the substrate shouldn't ever cause an algal bloom. Could you post a link where you read this?

Mark

[nacra99]

Re: Fish at top after water change

I can think of 2 possible reasons for the gasping...

1) Dissolved CO2 in tapwater. This is very common especially in houston tapwater. This is evidenced by areating the water overnight and noting that the pH increases after areation.
2) Chlorine / Chloramines. These can burn gills and kill fish. This might also be the reason that your other fish is darting, perhaps it's gills have been irritated or it's trying to shed slime coat on the gills. Once it's gills are damaged, fish will go to the surface and gasp in an attempt to get more oxygen.

I would highly suggest areating the water with dechlorinator OVERNIGHT before doing a water change instead of doing WC's directly from the tap.
HTH.

[nacra99]

Re: Fish at top after water change

When you vacuum your gravel you are removing the beneficial bacteria and thiscan cause an algae bloom of cloudy water that happens about 3 days after the cleaning.  It's happened to me several times before I read up on it.

That shouldn't happen, Greg. The nitrifying bacteria adhere themselves to things. Simple vaccuuming of the substrate shouldn't ever cause an algal bloom. Could you post a link where you read this?

Mark

I think he might be talking about a bacterial bloom. Vacuuming, if not done thoroughly and properly might stir up otherwise untouched poo and stuff, thereby releasing more nutrients into the water column. This might be a potential cause for a bacterial bloom.

I would think that a true Algal bloom due to same causes is more unlikely.

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: Fish at top after water change

Is it a new hose? Im assuming its a garden hose and not a drinking-water hose?

[Marley]

Re: Fish at top after water change

Well, it's fixed! I added an airstone and immediately fixed the problem. I think as the flow in my filter decreased of course so did my top to bottom exchange, causing oxygen depletion. That's what I get out of it. I am going to get a dedicated drinking water safe hose for fills and I am getting a tub to let water sit overnight. Thanks so much for your help and input, I appreciate it!

Marley

[semper]

Re: Fish at top after water change

glad we could help