All My Fish Are At The Surface

[johnboi]

hi im a newbie here,got a bit of a problem!! all my fish are at the top looks like they are trying to get air? whats going on my tank is about 100 litres i have mollies, neons, albino shark, plecs,algae eating loach, barbs, could someone please help? i done a water test and it says the PH is about 8 but i read on the internet that even though neutral is 7, fish will be ok in between 6 and 8? any information will be a great help, thanks!

 

[DuMScOuSe]

fish at top of the tank could mean lack of oxygen or poisons inthe water,whendid you set it up? and what are your readings?

 

[johnboi]

its been set up about 18 months,they started doing it yesterday and i done a half water change but there still at the surface

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I'd suggest moving your filter so that it aggitates the surface and do more water changes.

 

[onebto]

Definitely what dipsydoodlenoodle said get loads of water agitation on the surface

 

[crazychris]

Hi. How many fish do you have? You mention several species so how many of each? I'm wondering if your fish have grown so that now your tank's a bit overstocked hence them not having enough oxygen. Also what's your temperature at? The warmer the water the less oxygen it holds. For your fish about 25c, 77f is fine.Your filter outlet should be just on the water's surface so the maximum agitation of the surface water is achieved.

 

[johnboi]

ok thanks for you help i will move my filter up! i dont have that many fish in there but the mollies have just had babys

 

[WILDER]

How many fish of each type do you have in the tank?
What type of loach and plecs, as your tanks sounds overstocked.

The shark really needs at least a 40 gallon tank.

Immediate water change, Increase aeration.
Check water stats.

 

[johnboi]

the fish all seem fine now thanks everyone! do you think my tank maybe over stocked then? its about 110 litres, i have, 6neons,2barbs,4 mollies but theyve just had babys,1 albino shark,3 algae eating loach and 2 plecs. the biggest is probably 7cm long?

 

[BethK]

Common pleco or bristlenose plec?

 

[johnboi]

common

 

[crazychris]

It'll grow too big for your tank. You sound to have probably a 3ft tank or similar. If I were you I'd take your plec to an lfs and look around for a bristlenose one as they stay relatively small. I'd to get rid of my common plec at 12" long. They grow that big and bigger!