Molly & Sucking Loach Problem

[i3lade4life]

I have 3 SL's and a mollie in my tank which are all acting odd. All 4 of them keep on swimming up and over my internal filter. This isnt really new behaviour as they have been doing this since I bought them approx 5 weeks ago.
I read somewhere that boredom could be an issue, but I dont believe this is the issue as there are plenty of plants & decor.
All 4 fish do this in sync and it looks like they are chasing each other.
All of my other fish seem fine.
Any help is appreciated

 

[the_lock_man]

Can you give us some water stats, please?

 

[soybean]

We really need to know how large your tank is - capacity and dimensions - and your readings for ammonia and nitrite at least, and nitrate and ph if you can. This is to rule out any obvious problems with water quality.

Can you post a picture of your sucking loaches or find a picture online? 'Sucking loach' isnt a species.

 

[i3lade4life]

Tank is approx 150l and has been running for over a year. Sucking loaches are probably Chinese algae eaters.
I will get a water reading asap

 

[the_lock_man]

Tank is approx 150l and has been running for over a year. Sucking loaches are probably Chinese algae eaters.
I will get a water reading asap

I don't like "probably", especially because my assumption on sucking loach was a Gastromyzin sp. hillstream loach.

 

[i3lade4life]

Here is the wiki page for them http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrinocheilus. I didnt mean that they are probably CAE. I meant they are probably more commonly known as CAE.

 

[soybean]

CAE:

http/nas.er.usgs.gov/XIMAGESERVERX/2007/20070409165013.jpg

Is that what you have?

 

[Blubble37]

yep, thats a CAE...

 

[soybean]

Water stats too when you get chance.

 

[i3lade4life]

Ive just done a water check and my PH is slightly higher than normal at 7.2 and my ammonia is high on 0.5mg/l. Nitrates and nitrites are acceptable.
So I'm going to do a big water change tonight and see if that brings it down and calms down the fish.

 

[Blubble37]

not tonight... NOW please

 

[soybean]

Remove enough water to just leave the fish enough swimming room, about 90%. Do a good gravel vac too. See how they are tomorrow.

 

[the_lock_man]

my ammonia is high on 0.5mg/l.

In a tank that's over a year old, you shouldn't be getting a spike like that. Something must have caused it - have you added a lot of fish recently?

 

[i3lade4life]

50% water change done. Ammonia levels are back to 0, but my PH is still high. Just checked my tapwater though and that is slightly higher than 7 too.
The fish seemed to have calmed down too. I will be keeping an eye on this making sure it doesnt spike again.
I added 2 flying foxes last friday. But thats the only thing Ive added recently.

 

[soybean]

A ph of 7,2 isn't exactly high.