Odd Behavior After Wc

[goin_all_out]

I'm getting some strange behavior from my fish, they seem to be huddling around the bottom of the tank. i experienced this last week when i did a 20-30% WC, i attributed it to high tank temperatures (spiked at a steady 84!) that were out of my control as we were experienced a huge heat wave. after a day or two they went back to normal behavior. and so i did a water change last night, treated my water when once tank was full, add my Nutrafin NPK as normal, changed my mix in my co2 bottle. unfortunately i cannot test my water as the only test kits i have are a good 3 years old and i believe they expire. i also cannot afford to get more as I'm flat stinking broke. any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[Cubby]

I'm getting some strange behavior from my fish, they seem to be huddling around the bottom of the tank. i experienced this last week when i did a 20-30% WC, i attributed it to high tank temperatures (spiked at a steady 84!) that were out of my control as we were experienced a huge heat wave. after a day or two they went back to normal behavior. and so i did a water change last night, treated my water when once tank was full, add my Nutrafin NPK as normal, changed my mix in my co2 bottle. unfortunately i cannot test my water as the only test kits i have are a good 3 years old and i believe they expire. i also cannot afford to get more as I'm flat stinking broke. any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

When you added the water did you try match the temp? If you just added cold water then the water at the bottom of the tank will be slighty warmer.

 

[goin_all_out]

heat rises.

 

[Corleone]

Heat rises, but water doesn't move as quickly as air. Either way, it could also just be the excitement. My fish usually huddle at the far end of the tank after a water change, not at the bottom, but they don't like to be around it by any means.

 

[goin_all_out]

true, i just find it strange that water temperature would cause something like this. i did the water change last night. around 12am and now its 1pm here. i don't think it takes 12 hours to heat up water.

 

[goin_all_out]

any other ideas out there?

 

[Amunet]

A sudden change in temp can cause fish to go in to shock. So it could definitely be b/c you didn't make sure the temp of the water going in to the tank was close to what it was.
It doesn't have to be exact, but you can't just go and dump in some cold water in to a warm tank.

 

[andywg]

it could definitely be b/c you didn't make sure the temp of the water going in to the tank was close to what it was.
It doesn't have to be exact, but you can't just go and dump in some cold water in to a warm tank.

I think you are wrong on this. Many many keepers do just dump cold water into the tank without ill effects. Almost anyone with a large tank will fill straight from the cold tap. Water temperatures in the wild can also change fairly swiftly. 20-30% changes from just cold water have (IME) only ever caused the fish to play in the cooler water or induce breeding.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

what species of fish are we talking about here, my Oscar was terrible for sulking after a water change, he'd always skulk off and sometimes he'd be in a mood all day afterwards

some fish just don't like having their tanks messed with!

 

[goin_all_out]

thier in my sig, quite the list. this is only the second time iv seen this. this is why im a little concered. i havent lost a fish *touch wood* yet.

 

[Amunet]

it could definitely be b/c you didn't make sure the temp of the water going in to the tank was close to what it was.
It doesn't have to be exact, but you can't just go and dump in some cold water in to a warm tank.

I think you are wrong on this. Many many keepers do just dump cold water into the tank without ill effects. Almost anyone with a large tank will fill straight from the cold tap. Water temperatures in the wild can also change fairly swiftly. 20-30% changes from just cold water have (IME) only ever caused the fish to play in the cooler water or induce breeding.

I'm gonna have to disagree. Some fish yes like the cooler water being added such as cories? (i think )
But with the temp at 84 or whatever it's at now.. I just can't see how adding cold tap water could be anything healthy. It COULD be stressing them out. Am I positive? Of course not, but it still should be something to consider.
Maybe next time, they could try to see about getting the temp closer to the temp of the tank. And if the odd behaviour still occurs, then well.. it's obviously something else

 

[andywg]

I'm gonna have to disagree. Some fish yes like the cooler water being added such as cories? (i think )
But with the temp at 84 or whatever it's at now.. I just can't see how adding cold tap water could be anything healthy. It COULD be stressing them out. Am I positive? Of course not, but it still should be something to consider.

Then I suggest you speak to pretty much every single keeper on this forum who will fill his tank up from the cold tap after water changes, and rays are generally considered a little bit more sensitive to water parameters thatn the OP's fish.

 

[goin_all_out]

the temp of 84 was last week, this week its 77 right where i want it. many people do add cooler water into thier tanks. i go a couple degrees lower to induce breeding. and it has worked for me. but i however do not go directly from my cold water. the water is always close to tank temp.

but back to my tank, as with last week, the behavior is gone. the fish are all back to swimming around the tank like nothing was ever wrong. i have noticed i have lost 2 fish, 1 cardinal tetra that i will account to old age as this is one of my first fish. and an otto cat.

i'm starting to believe this related to my tap water. my city water comes from three rivers that flow through our town. in the past couple months we have recieved a massive amount of rain. could this directly effect the tap water?

 

[andywg]

i'm starting to believe this related to my tap water. my city water comes from three rivers that flow through our town. in the past couple months we have recieved a massive amount of rain. could this directly effect the tap water?

It could very well be. IIRC Tolak's water is sourced from one of the larger lakes in North America and after inclement weather the water companies pump extra goodies into the water to combat some of the crap that the rains dredge up in the lake.

A similar system could operate near you. I believe Tolak usually uses Prime and double doses in bad weather.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah agree with Andy and have heard the same comments/advice from Tolak