Fish Swimming At Top?

[Hoveringpie]

Hi I recently added a fluval co2 20g kit to my fluval edge which is heavily planted my tank stats are

ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 0ppm
kh 3
ph7
co2 10ppm

my co2 drop checker is also green so both co2 tests are ok

now I had this a few days ago aswell so I turned the co2 down and the fish where all ok

but when the co2 is in the optimum range the fish seem to swim at the top gasping for air?

Just wondering what anyone thinks?

Thanks in advance

james

 

[Tizer]

the fluval edge is a horrible tank because the small opening at the top doesn't allow oxygen to diffuse into the water column easily as the surface area is so small. with the co2 being pumped into the tank, i would imagine the oxygen in there is so saturated your fish are struggling to breathe. I would turn it down until your fish recover and find a happy balance. co2 will also reduce your PH, so be careful when doing water changes, nothing too big. How long do you have the CO2 injection running for per day? it might also pay to drain an inch of water out, this will drop the water level and give you a much bigger surface area. What is your stocking?

 

[Hoveringpie]

I havnt put the co2 on today and the fish are swimming around ok though one neon did die which made my nitrite sky rocket over night just waiting for them to go down now looks like I will fill the co2 canisters once per day from now on. (its a fluval co2 20g kit)

I currently have

1 plec

4 neons

4 endler guppies

the pH also changes from 8 to 7.5 per day while the co2 is on I was going to get some api 7 buffer but thought I would rather see if I can get it to stableize naturally without adding un needed chemicals have I made the right choice?

Thanks

 

[Tizer]

you should only put the co2 in while the lights are on and the lights should only really be on for 5 to 6 hours a day. You are right not to add anything else to mess with the PH.

What plec have you got? I cant think of a single one that can be housed in your tank for long. Most Plecs like fast flowing oxygenated water and you cant do that in a edge...might be wise to return him to the shop and look at something that can survive happily in there? Sorry, i know its not what you were asking about, but it does link to oxygen in the water and a plec will suffer more than any other fish if its low. gluck!

 

[Hoveringpie]

Ye I know about the plec my plan is to get a bigger tank soon for him I think he is a clown plec.

At first that is what I was doing with the co2 but lights are on 9 till 6ish but I bought a drop checker and it was blue so I tried to boost it up by keeping the chambers full for a full day it turned green then the fish where gasping.

Today though the drop checker is green and the fish are swimming around happy.

I have never used co2 so it's a valuable lesson learnt I'm lucky I only lost one fish which sad is better than loosing my whole stock.


Thanks for your help.

Will the pH be ok slightly shifting like that or will it cause problems?

Thanks

james