fishes Keep Floating to surface

[Merduka]

Hi all,

I just se up a 2 ft AQ where I am using a Eheim 2222 and 55W light. Trying to balance between some fishes and fauna.

My first bstch of fishes died and I cleaned the water only with the substrate and ferns intact. The first bstch was terras and now the 2nd bstch of mollies looks like the same.

Never had this problem during by small 30cm tank.

Need help.

Thanks
Merduka

[ahhian]

Hi Merduka,

did you add water conditioner? checked the water parameters?

[Stormz]

Did you using any form of air pump to input air into your tank?

[Rokerites]

Do you mean they swim towards the surface to breath or are you talking about them floating to the surface when they are dead???
I believe you are not a newbie, so you should have no problem setting up a tank properly.
You may have to strip down your tank and wash the gravel thoroughly and give your plants a few good rinse. Soak them over night and start all over again. I suspect there may be some toxin in there. Just my opinion.

[Aquanoob]

Merduka, did you seasoned or matured your tank water before adding the fishes? It will take at least a week or so to season the water and it will help if you plant heavily from the start. From my experience, terras if you mean Cardinal or Neon do not make a good first time fish as they are sensitive to the water parameters. Molly should be quite hardy but if even they can't survive in your tank then you may need to check the parameter again. You need to provide more information like the substrate that you are using, water temperature, etc then others can help.

[vinz]

Is this the filter that we recently helped you to prime? If so, the tank and filter is probably not mature yet and still need to go through the nitrogen cycle.

Fishes breathing at the surface is also symptomatic of an un-cycled tank as the ammonia/ammonium or nitrites will affect their gills and thus their ability to breathe.

[Merduka]

Hi Vinz and all,

Yes, left for CNY hols and I did not season it.. and yes to that the fishes are not dead ... it seems they just go to the surface to gulp air. This morning the tank was clearer and fishes some went down to the bottom with a few still gasping.

The substrate I bought from coluorful at West Coast is a mixture on sand and light brown pellets.

Potentially I hope this is due to the un-cycled thingy you mentioned - dats why I bought from C326 Clementi a packet of mollies for 1.50. Plan to re-intoduce tetras when tank is settled.

Will keep you guys posted.

BTW - if anyone want to seel me a 2nd hand 5 Ltr CO2 with solenoid and valve - let me know....

Thanks everyone - its been a good learning curve.

Regards
Kenneth aka Merduka

[vinz]

Probably means that the filter is maturing fast, and the mollies are tough enough for the rough ride. Read somewhere that the bacteria colony in the filter can double in size every 24 hours. If you want to keep your mollies safe, go get a bottle of anti-ammonia/ammonium/nitrite. Anything similar to Seachem Prime or Seachem Ammo-Lock AmGuard does. Not a bad idea to have a bottle on standby for emergencies too.

[Merduka]

Ok if it doesn't improve will go get the anti amonia Seachem.

Thank you all for your hepl.

[Merduka]

Hi gurus,

Mollies are still trying to gulp air. Trying to link the photos to give you an idea of my tank set up.

[vinz]

It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for a tank to completely cycle and given the symptoms, I really think it is ammonia or nitrite poisoning. I really recommend getting the Seachem Prime or Seachem AmGuard (Not Ammolock. I remembered the wrong name earlier). Prime can be used for regular water change as well. AmGuard is a stronger one for emergencies. In your case, I think Prime is enough.

I recommend these two because they claim the ammonia/nitrite would still be bio-available, which means that while they are neutralised from harming fish, they are still available to the filter bacteria and plants. If you buy other brands, read the labels to find out if they do the same, otherwise the treatment will not allow the natural cycling of the tank to happen and you'll be stuck in this situation for a much longer time.

[ahhian]

Ammolock is an old brand from API I've used it before. Now no more already can't seem to find it anywhere.