Tiger Barbs acting weird

[bookseller]

I have a new 10 gal tank about a week old that I'm taking thru the "cycle". All's well but my Tiger Barbs (two of them) are acting completely different today. Previously, they've been very active and they have been "attacking" food when I feed the fish. Not today.

This morning they BOTH ignored the food. They have been "floating" mid-tank (vertically) facing the front and staring "out the front" all day. I swear, the one has not moved (hardly even turned) an inch all day. They both look healthy and are "breathing" normally.

What's up?? Ya think they are getting sick.? All tests show OK (ammonia, etc, etc, etc,)

 

[H2O]

What other fish do you have in the tank?
If the tank is only a week old the Ammonia/Nitrite tests should be anything but okay. If they are showing as zero when you have had fish in the tank feeding them for a week then the tests are not working!
Yes, there is something wrong with your Tiger Barbs. They are being stressed by the Ammonia/Nitrite in your tank. This is what happens to fish when you use them to cycle a fish tank.

 

[bookseller]

When I say "alls OK" I mean I think it's under control considering the poor guys have to endure this cycle. "Jungle" brand test strips show "stress" so I've been swapping out 25% of the water each day and using ACE brand ammorinia eliminator.

Got six fish in all.. the two barbs, two peppered catfish, two neon tetras. cats and tetras seem to be very good as they are constantly very active and big eaters.

Al other test show "normal" (Nitrates, hardness, etc, etc)

 

[impur]

Well your first problem is your tests suck. Get the kind from aquarium pharmasuitcals(sp?) where u fill the vile with water and drop the solution in. Next problem is you are doing water changes. A small WC may be advisable to save the fish, but 25% each day and eliminating the ammonia will never work. The ammonia needs to get to a high level to help beneficial bacteria grow that will then feed off the ammonia. This will keep ammonia levels minimal while creating nitrites. Soon bacteria will grow that will eat the nitrites converting it to nitrates. The nitrates are removed by regular water changes. Stop the ammonia eliminator, get some real tests, and stop the water changes. See if you can get some gravel or filter media from a lfs and put that in your filter to help seed it.

Here is a article on cycling that will help you in your process. Cycling linkage

 

[CFC]

Give that man a cigar,well said impur.