Ruby Tail Shark Swimming Abnormally

[apollo0681]

I have recently purchased a ruby tail shark (48hours ago). along with 4 peppered cory.
 
This morning i noticed him swimming upside down and then vertically. I say swimming buts its more like hanging.
 
 
At the moment i have put him in a breeding tank within the current tank to keep him away from the other fish in the tank. My intent is to keep him in this but change the water every few hours.
 
Tank size: 200L
Tank has been running for around 3 years.
Last fish death was a clown loach around 2 months ago. (he was around 8 years old and had no noticeable marks or show signs of illness)
Last new fish added before the fish mentioned above were 10 black neon netra around 3 weeks ago.
 
i have done the Tetra 6in1 test and everything is as it should be except NO3(nitrate). I have been told i live in a high nitrate water area by a local fish shop so it has always been slightly high but this is the highest i have seen it when testing
 
I will do a water change and although there are a number of live plants i think i will invest in some moss balls.
 
What im wondering is there anything i can do to save the ruby tail shark?
Does this sound like something caused by high nitrate levels or could there be something else wrong with the tank.
 
No other fish are showing any signs of sickness
 
 

 

[TallTree01]

There are two different species of ruby tailed shark. Does yours have all red fins or all black fins with a red tail? Clown loaches shouldn't be in a 200 liter tbh. What are the exact readings that the test showed? What is the total stocking of the tank?

 

[apollo0681]

It has all red fins. I thought the ones with the red tail were called red tailed sharks rather than ruby sorry for nto being clear.
 
Why shouldnt the clown loaches be in a 200 litre tank? maybe i have been incorrect in calculating the size of it. the tank is 40Lx16wx20tall. (inches) Surely this is big enough for a 5inch fish? is it not?
 
The test was very high the colour was somewhere between 100-250 on the top end of the test in the water change section. I know this is far to high and intend to solve the problem immediately. Im just wanna be sure this is the problem and it isnt something else thats caused the sickness
 
The tank has a total of about 35 fish and the majority are tetra sized fish

 

[TallTree01]

The clown loaches are 5 inch now but can grow to 12 inches long so they need a 300 gallon. Loaches grow slowly so you have plenty of time to upgrade your tank. What's the exact stocking? How many fish? What type of the fish?
You definitely need to get that nitrate down. There's an 80% chance that's the problem. You'll need big water changes and lots of plants to get that below 50 ppm.
Most people call them rainbow sharks these days rather than ruby so just wanted to check.

 

[apollo0681]

Well the clown loaches are 8 years old now and im sure havent  grown for years.  (12inchs really wow!!
 
8 neon tetra
10 black tetra
8 harlequins.
2 common pleco (i know probably should only be one but these are 7 years old and were purchased as babies and have always gotten along and dont bother each other.)
3(orginally 5) Clown loaches
4 peppered cory (unsure if these should be kept in bigger groups was considering investigating and getting more) obviously wont while i have this issue.
1 Humbug Catfish (aka the Striped Talking Catfish or Striped Raphael
 
and the ruby tail would make 37 fish

 

[TallTree01]

The common Plecos grow even bigger than clown loaches and also are unsuitable for your tank. The Plecos make a lot of poop so will be contributing to the high nitrates. Id give up the Plecos and loaches unless you fancy investing in a 300 gallon tank for them.

 

[apollo0681]

The plecos are also 8 years and have been considering giving at least 1 away for a while. I had no idea that cloach loaches got that big. But did realise the plecos would get large and always intended to either purchase a bigger tank at some point or give them away.  they also seemed to have stopped growing (8inches) I have already spoke to a local pet store who is happy to take them. My thinking had always been if they start fighting or got to a size where they were to big for the tank i would give them away. I have seen many pictures of plecos being almost as long as there tanks and had decided if they got to a quarter of the length of the tank 10inchs they would have to go. Im not sure why they have stopped growing. I had always assumed it was a myth they grew to the size of the tank.
 
I understand they will eventually out grow the tank. Is there a set rule for inchs in length of a pleco for the size of the tank.
 
So is the only way to potentially save this ruby tail to get the nitrates down. Or is it to late for him. Should i set up a seperate tank. i have a tiny tank.

 

[TallTree01]

They won't grow because they are stunted. Stunted growth means stunted lives. Lowering nitrates will help a lot. If you get them below 30 and there's no change then I will begin exploring other pssible causes. The clown loaches are probably also stunted. Return the loaches and Plecos to the fish shop.

WAIT... I meant 300 liters not gallons for the clown loaches. The pleco will need a 100 gallon.

 

[apollo0681]

Ok. thanks for your time.