fish swimming at the top

[bom19]

all my fish seem to be swimming at the top of my tank. i have
2 guppies
i fighter fish
5 neons
1 plec
2 black widdow
3 mollies
3 platys
and two baby mollies

 

[BettaMomma]

What size tank?
It sounds like oxygen starvation to me...
Can you add an airstone?

What do you have in there for filtration, airstone, etc?

 

[bom19]

2ft long by 2ft high 1 ft wide.
just found a dead tetra at the bottom could this be why? my fighter and the plec are fine and swimming aroud everywher just the others seem to swim along the top. never had any probs before. i added 5 barbs yesterday could this be why ?

 

[WILDER]

Can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, I would do a water change.

 

[bom19]

will post them tommor when i have done tests. what % water change do you recormend. the fighter and the plec are still swimming everywher just the rest tah seem only to swim at the top of the tank.

 

[WILDER]

Try a 30% water change.

 

[bom19]

ok thanks i will try that. they were fine till i brought the barbs yesterday.

 

[jflowers]

I would follow wilders advice to the letter, and if you have one, put in an airstone for now, as BettaMomma said, that will help with depleted oxygen.

Do your water change, then get your water tested.

The dead fish could be the cause, or be an effect of bad water. Do you do weekly/bi-weekly water changes? Lack of maintenance can lead to a high concentration of nitrAte, not as toxic as ammonia and nitrIte, but still bad.

The water change and airstone should show an immediate improvement with your fish, but don't think thats it, still test your water.

Also, is your filter output still strong? If it has become clogged, then the agitation on the surface will have decreased - along with the oxygen content of your water.

Jon

 

[WILDER]

Do you no your water stats before you added them as your tank bacteria colony might of not been able to cope with the new fish.

 

[bom19]

i dont know what the stats were befor but all fish were ok and swimming everywhere. it seems since i have put the barbs in they are at the top. my tank has been fine and is useally healthy. i have had a baby platy witch is now full grown and two baby mollies