Fish Staying Near Bottom?

[Jonj1611]

Hi,
 
I have a new aquarium, well it was second hand but the fish are new, have a few tetra's, pleco, platty and Guppies. I have noticed for the most part they main stay near to the bottom of the tank, is this normal? 
 
Was just wondering if the flow from the pump maybe too strong?
 
 

 

[Shaddex]

Did you cycle your aquarium ? (Beginners guide in my sig). If not, you could have huge amounts of ammonia in your water which will make your fish very sick, very quickly.
Do you test your water ? Ie, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate etc ?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Lets talk about cycling. How did you cycle your tank? That behavior is not unusual in an uncycled tank where ammonia is accumulating. It is possible, if the tank is cycled, that the fish are just still a bit stressed from being netted moved and put into a strange place. If this is the case they should become more active fairly quickly.
 
As for flow, most fish can handle it to some extent. If the fish do not appear to be blown around the tank, its probably not too much current. Plecos are designed to live in strong current. However, your other fish should be swimming about in the open water a lot of the time.
 
Please let us know the status of your tank in terms of cycling.

 

[Jonj1611]

The aquarium was second hand, had about twenty fish in it when I went to view it, the person had about 10 tanks in total so will take it they knew their stuff, tank was emptied that day, I took it home, filled it, left it for a few days with pumps running etc, added aquarium starter kit to sort out the ph etc, ph was exactly where it should be, according the box, and nitrates were clear. 
 
I will say I only added the fish yesterday.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

OK- here is what happened then. You got a cycled tank but you allowed it to back slide some because it had no ammonia source. This was combined with the likelyhood of losing some bacteria during the move. A lot of the bacteria would have been in the tank's filtration system, but also on other things in the tank itself. You did not indicate if you purchased the filters along with the tank or any of the other contents.
 
If you do not have your own test kits, you need to get a sample of your water to your local store for testing. You should also buy the kits for ammonia and nitrite testing. Ask the store to tell you your pH, hardness and KH. You need to know for sure what is going on in your tank relative to potential ammonia and nitrite. You need to do this right away, today. If there is a problem, it will likely get worse before it gets better. So lets get a good handle on what is going on in your tank by testing so you can figure out the best thing to do.
 
As soon as one adds fish to a tank, they are making ammonia. Fish exhale ammonia. The more fish one adds, the more ammonia. And then anything organic breaking down in a tank is also making ammonia.

 

[Jonj1611]

The filters are the same ones that came with the tank, they had been in the previous tank for 2 years, and whatever maintenance they had had in that time.
 
I have a nitrate test kit and the nitrates are clear, any nitrates give a pink colour but all ok is a clear result which mine was. 
 
The only other test kit I have is for ph. I will get the water tested today.

 

[Jonj1611]

Ok well back from the shop now, and they say the water is fine but the ammonia is a bit high. I don't understand how after having the fish in the water for one day it could go up like that.
 
Right, so the shop said water change would help. I have the tank and a bucket, do I do the water change with the fish still in the tank?

 

[HHH]

Do you mind telling us the size of the tank? Some fish like the pleco may need rehoming depending on the size and type of pleco
Oh and yes you do the water change with the fish in the tank. Just make sure you use a declorinator. It might also be handy to have them test the water (even if most fishstore tests arent the best)

 

[Jonj1611]

125 Litres

The pleco is a bristlenose pleco and currently is about 4cm in length

 

[Nordk]

Any ammonia is high. Fish breath out and excrete ammonia, so it can build up quickly.
Daily water changes of at least 50% are a must until the tank has cycled. You can read more on fish-in cycling in the Beginner's Resouce Center: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/
And yes, you should keep the fish in the tank. Syphoning the water out is less stressful than sticking a bucket in there.
 
Welcome to TFF, and I hope this situtation gets sorted out.

 

[Jonj1611]

Many thanks, I will do a 50% water change right now. Out of interest I have read that the temp should be matched, so is it basically filling a bucket with hot/cold water until the temp is about the same then adding stuff to the water and pouring in the tank?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

We need to get a better handle on things. Saying ammonia is high tells very little. It could be .5 ppm or 5 ppm under that definition.
 
The process of cycling means things normally get worse before they get better. However, in your situation you actually have some bacteria already there. The issue is more one of how much and what it takes to get them up to a level where they handle your tank and fish load. To that end it is important for you to purchase an ammonia and a nitrite kit. Also, use the pH kit and let us know the result.
 
Before  you do the water change you should know the ammonia and nitrite levels, not just that they are "alright" or a "bit high". Then, after the change, you test again to determine how much good the water change did you make sure it was enough. Without the test kits you are basically flying blind. To be safe do the water change. Be sure to add dechlor at the recommended dose. Temp match needs to be withing a few degrees, not dead on. Once you have done the change go out and buy your own kits.
 
While we strive to have undetectable levels of ammonia and nitrite in an established tank, there are different levels of danger when it is present. Lower levels and shorter exposure times are always better. But sometimes, when they are not a big threat, it is advisable to live with them in the expectation they will drop to better levels fairy soon and that leaving them alone will actually end the overall problems faster. The only chance we have to know this is by testing.

 

[Jonj1611]

I couldn't give you an exact figure as I don't know, the person in the shop said a bit high, he was using a test strip and the colour related to 1.5 and 2 for ammonia, however I do not know what that was measured in so I couldn't come here and say for sure what the exact measurements were. 

I have done the water change now and tomorrow will go and get a kit, in an hour I will do the ph and nitrite test, as I have a kit for those, the only one I don't have is for ammonia. 
 
Out of interest what type flow should the pump be giving out, a nice gentle flow, a strong one or in between?

 

[Jonj1611]

PH is 7.0 and Nitrite level is 0.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

OK- at 7, the pH is helping on the ammonia front. But if you are correct that it is 1.5 to 2 ppm, that is too high on any scale.
 
The nitrate kit is of little or no value at this time. Nitrite is important and ammonia more important. If possible, don't wait, get the kits today. In the absence of having kits, you should do another precautionary water change again today.