Fish all hang out at top. please help

pikapp269 · New member Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 3

I just set up my 100 gallon and have a combination of parot and african ciclids. i have my filter feeding water back into the right side of the tank, the same side as the heater, and all of the fish hang out on the opposite side at the top of the tank almost sticking their heads out of the water. i have also had 4 fish jump out of the tank through the filter slot. i don't know what is causing all of them to be at the top. PH problem? Temprature problem? Weird fish?

thank you much.

Travis

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

What are your reading for ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, and pH?

Do you have any aeration in the tank?

What's the temperature?

How many fish are in the tank and how big are they?

Jumping is generally a sign that something in the tank is very wrong. The fish are basically trying to escape the poor environment. Gasping for air is also a bad sign. Either there's not enough oxygen in the water (could be caused by high temps or not enough surface agitation) or the ammonia is too high (burns the gills) or the nitrItes are too high (prevents the blood from carrying oxygen).

Also, parrot cichlids and africans should not be mixed. Africans are much more aggressive and will probably end up killing the parrot. They also prefer totally different environments.

-Chelle

Hooben · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 8:11 am Post subject:

Chelle is right,

I would add that once fishes are s**k air at the surface, they could have just hours or minutes to live. While you try to figure out what is wrong you can put an airstone in the tank. This wont fix anything, but it might buy you some time and give the water some much needed agitation.
The airstone will allow your fishes to strain a little less.

indica · Member Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Posts: 20 Location: B.C.

I had the same problem with my fish when i was setting up my tank. I had to buy them a bubbler for the bottom and i just burried it under the gravel a bit and they just love it now. It gives them something to swim through and they just love playing in the current that it makes.
you should try an under gravel filter. they cause alot of movement with the water.
indica

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

pikapp269 · New member Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 3

temprature is at 78. i am on my way to the store to buy something to add more oxygen. i have a Hagen Fluval 404 multi stage filter on there. will that add enough oxygen to the tank?? the pet store says my nitrate, ph and ammonia levels are good. would adding a power head help. i am starting to loose fish now. 2 large parots have died. my tiger barbs, and africans are what keep jumping. they also swim fast across the bottom and scratch their sides on the gravel. Please Help. thank you for the advice. i am trying to fix this as fast as possible.

Thanks again
Travis

Hooben · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 2:45 pm Post subject:

The scratching on the rocks indicates that they may have something growing on them. Look for cotton like growths or white spots on the fishes.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

Could you get the exact numbers for the ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte tests? I never trust LFS's when they say "it's good."

-Chelle

pikapp269 · New member Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 3

ok, i put the power head on and everyone is doing much better. i can actually watch my fish swim around in the tank. the powerhead was rated at 300gph. penguin brand. i looked for white stuff but didn't see any. they don't seem to be doing it as much now that they have air.