Fish Swimming Near Surface

[timmystood]

I did a water change on my community tank about an hour ago and now my barbs, head + tail tetra, betta and platies are all swimming near the surface. My neons are still in their normal mid-lower range of the tank.

The oxygen levels are still the same (i.e. there is still the same amount of movement on the water's surface).

Any ideas what could be causing this??

THANKS

 

[WILDER]

Any chemicals got in on the water change, what was the temp of the water.

 

[timmystood]

Yes, the temp raised slightly to 28c, so i've turned off the heater until it drops again, but it has done this before and this didn't happen.

Unless there is hidden chemicals in the water then no, i've added no extra chemicals and surely my neons would act the same?

 

[WILDER]

Right increase aeration in the tank, to see if they go down again, with the temp hot weather might not be enough 02 in the water.
My hubby spray fields alot at this time of year, do you live near a field, have farmers been spraying.

 

[timmystood]

I live in a rural area, so there is a possiblilty that a farmer has been spraying?

I have no spare pump so how can I increase aeration, both my filter inlets (I have 2 filters) are at the top of the tank.

 

[WILDER]

Did you have any doors or windows open during the water change, i think i would preform another water change, add some black carbon just to be on the safe side, but match the temp this time, is it possible to turn filter up.

Has anyone been using your bucket for cleaning the house with.

You say there near the top of the tank, are they gasping.

Swimming by the surface
Lack of oxygen


I need a fan sitting at the computor as it really hot today.

 

[timmystood]

Nope, no windows or doors where open while I was performing the water change.

I don't have any black carbon

I always siphon off water into the same bucket. It only really get's used for my fish. The container I add new water into ONLY get's used for my fish.

There is sign of rapid breathing. The barbs, head + tail tetra are kind of more in the middle of the tank now but the platies are still right at surface and there isn't much movement from them.

EDIT - also, the tank water is a tad cloudy. It may just be the sunlight in the room, my eyesight going bad or me being paranoid but it is a little cloudy I think.

EDIT 2 - also, my Cory Catfish keep darting up to the surface to get air - I'm worried.

 

[andywg]

sounds like a dissolved oxygen level problem. The higher temp water will hold less dissolved oxygen, and thus cause some problems.

Increased surface agitation and a water change with very cold water should help out.

 

[timmystood]

I just remembered something. When I did the water change earlier I also did some aquascaping. The tank is heavily planted and I removed a few plants and cut back many others because they where getting over-grown. Would this have this drastic, instant change in oxygen levels??

 

[WILDER]

Could of done. but not to sure, have you done another water change, i would go and get an air pump and airstone tomorrow as you really do need them in this hot weather.

 

[timmystood]

I'll do another water change now! (I'm fed up of water changes! LOL!! Back and forth to the bathroom!!) - It's the only problem with living in a big house!!

The only problem I have is that I have no sockets for an airstone/pump. I already have two extension leads, each with 10 sockets on them coming out of my main sockets, I have no more room for electrical goods.

 

[WILDER]

All i suggest then is buy a battery one and just use it in hot weather so it won't be so expensive.

 

[WILDER]

Just thought of another option, get a very long extension lead, plug it into a hall socket and put it in your room to run the air pump, try and make the cable tidy so you don't trip up.
I sometimes unplug the light switch on the tank and use that for an airpump.

 

[timmystood]

I sometimes unplug the light switch on the tank and use that for an airpump.

The problem is the tank is heavily planted so the plants would suffer and the pump would only able to be used during the lights 'off' period at night.

 

[madmom]

Sorry I'm a little off topic here. Instead of extensions maybe you could try a computer surge protector. They have several outlets and could be labeled so as not to mix up which plug is which.