Getting Air?

[jammydodger]

Hi,

This is our first fish tank, mainly for the kids - but it has become quite addictive?
We have had it for three months since xmas.

So far we have had 12 of platie babies, (2 which have made it through)
only one fish has died (a white molly)

We have quite a few questions as nebies!
But here are the tank details:

Location Edinburgh
60l tank
3 adult platies
+ 2 month old platies babies
2 mollies
6 neon tetras
2 cories

built up gradually over the past 3 months.

O.K. so here is the questions:
The mollies and platies seem to be spending alot of time at the surface, they look like they are sucking in air? They are not there all the time but i dont remember them doing this before.

Any ideas what this might be?

Where is the best place to buy your fish in edinburgh or central belt?
The current LPS I am using has a mixed service.

Thanks in advance for your help,
24 has just come on!!

Thanks.

 

[docbanzai]

Hi,

Sounds like your tank is right on the edge of the stocking rule-of-thumb (1" per U.S. Gallon [60L = 15.85 U.S. Gal]) if not a little over-stocked, so it's possible that you may have a problem with oxygen and/or bio-load. Do you use an air-pump and stone to aerate the tank and do you have any live plants in there?

This can also be a sign of raised Ammonia or NitrIte levels. Could this be the problem? If you've tested your water recently then let us know your results. If not then I would strongly recommend testing for Ammonia and NitrIte, just to be on the safe side. If your LFS is any good then they should be happy to do this for you if you take a sample of your tank water to them.

Question; Is it a biOrb 60 by any chance? If not, let us know what type of filtration you're using, or better yet the actual manufacturer and model.

Can't help with the location of a decent LFS 'cause I'm a sassenach

All the best,

DB

 

[fitzyboy]

i also had this problem all of my fish where gasping for air so i tested for ammonia etc and i had high ammonia levels i would suggest if you have high ammonia do a 25% water change regualary
hope it helps

 

[jammydodger]

Thanks Doc, Thanks Steven

I have just tested for amonia using nutrafin tester but it is less tha 0.6 which seems fine. Will however do a water change when we get a chance.

The tank is an Aquaone aquastart 500 and it is a 65l tank (apologies got that wrong before)
The filter came with this and is an under gravel filter.
I do not have a stone, not even sure what this is - will check it out.

We have 2 plants (one which has grown a bit too much perhaps) but which provides a safe haven for a new baby platie!

let me know if you have any other advice,
Will not put any more fish in !

Thanks again
Jammy!

 

[docbanzai]

Hi again,

Your ammonia levels don't sound too bad, but I would get your nitrItes checked out as well. Supposedly nitrite has the same effect on fish as carbon-monoxide does on us i.e. it blocks the absorbtion of oxygen. Again, try your LFS they should be able to check your levels. If really needed you can add products like 'Prime' to lower you ammonia and nitr*te, but get your LFS to advise you as other things need to be considered like your pH.

An air stone is like a marble sized piece of ceramic or stone that connects to an air pump via a plastic (usually 6mm diameter) tube and produces fine bubbles. As you have an undergravel filter the surface of your water won't be disturbed and this is the primary way that oxygen dissolves into the water. An airstone will probably help a great deal (I think they look nice too !) A small Rena pump + tubing & airstone shouldn't cost more than about a tenner.

Hope I haven't bombarded you with too much info. It doesn't sound like your tank is in immediate danger, but it's worth checking things out just for your own peace of mind!

All the best,

DB.

 

[jammydodger]

Thanks Doc

Will check nitrates and look into the air stone,
Will let you know how i get on, thanks again.

Cheers
Jammy