fish swimming at the top

[sweeper]

I have a SW fish tank and noticed my 2 small damsels and 1 clownfish are swimming at the top the past 24 hrs. I did a water change 25% 3 days ago...and I have no bubbler in there...are they out of air?

[HecticDialectics]

Do you have circulation and pumps and stuff?

[Trogdor447]

Seeing that this is your first post -

 

+1 to the circulation

 

Also did you measure your salt level?

[HecticDialectics]

And has the tank cycled?

[jimbro]

high ammonia could do it too

[sweeper]

high ammonia could do it too

 

first of all awesome site people actually respond quickly! thanks!!

 

I have filter heater etc but no air pump. It has cycled about 2-3 weeks now worth with everything being perfect, nitrate was slightly spiked but down before I put my clownfish in.

[altolamprologus]

first of all awesome site people actually respond quickly! thanks!!

 

I have filter heater etc but no air pump. It has cycled about 2-3 weeks now worth with everything being perfect, nitrate was slightly spiked but down before I put my clownfish in.

Are the fish breathing hard? Do they seem lethargic? What are your exact parameters?

[sweeper]

Are the fish breathing hard? Do they seem lethargic? What are your exact parameters?

 

my 2 fish seem to have their heads near the top of the surface for air or something...parameters meaning what?

[sstuckey]

my 2 fish seem to have their heads near the top of the surface for air or something...parameters meaning what?

 

Size of tank

 

Salinity/ specific gravity

 

Ph

 

Temp.

 

Ammonia

Nitrite

Nitrate

 

Cal.

Alk.

[Trogdor447]

my 2 fish seem to have their heads near the top of the surface for air or something...parameters meaning what?

 

*smacks forhead* you kinda gave 'nitrates are high'

 

you have a test kit - post what parameters that you have test for

Amonia - Nitrate - PH - Salinity etc etc - will help us out - photos of the fish may help as well - How big of a tank is this -

 

The more info you provide the more we will be able to advise you - don't panic just yet - that is the worst thing that you can to -

 

Please don't panic with giant water changes yet / dump chemicals in etc - listen to the advice given, though it may be harsh

[sweeper]

*smacks forhead* you kinda gave 'nitrates are high'

 

you have a test kit - post what parameters that you have test for

Amonia - Nitrate - PH - Salinity etc etc - will help us out - photos of the fish may help as well - How big of a tank is this -

 

The more info you provide the more we will be able to advise you - don't panic just yet - that is the worst thing that you can to -

 

Please don't panic with giant water changes yet / dump chemicals in etc - listen to the advice given, though it may be harsh

 

its a 10 gal tank and i dont have the #'s but I know when i took water samples to petco they said it was in perfect condition except for that nitrate part but he said partial water change iwll fix it.

 

I am now trying to go and exchange this tank for a 20-29 gal tank and purchase a bubbler if it is recommended. Question is this, how can I do this transfer the right way?

 

I am thinking of buying the new tank, putting the live rock in with heater, filter, and bubbler, let it cycle for about 3 days if the #'s look good put in the 2 damsels than about 2 weeks later put my clown fish in there and complete this transfer.

[jimbro]

don't do that. figure out what the problem is and fix it before exposing the fish to a tank transfer and the cycle that will go with it

 

my bet is that the people at petco are morons and don't really care how your tank is doing (they just don't feel like doing an outstanding job of testing your water for free) and that your tank isn't as cycled as you think.

 

buy some test kits, imo

[Trogdor447]

its a 10 gal tank and i dont have the #'s but I know when i took water samples to petco they said it was in perfect condition except for that nitrate part but he said partial water change iwll fix it.

 

I am now trying to go and exchange this tank for a 20-29 gal tank and purchase a bubbler if it is recommended. Question is this, how can I do this transfer the right way?

 

I am thinking of buying the new tank, putting the live rock in with heater, filter, and bubbler, let it cycle for about 3 days if the #'s look good put in the 2 damsels than about 2 weeks later put my clown fish in there and complete this transfer.

 

Hold the phone up right here - You need your own test kit - I have a sounding suspicion that the 'petco' tester is not doing ok.. And there is without a doubt ammonia in the tank or the salinity is way off..

 

Were these fish purchased at petco? There is a lot of information to learn - the 10 gallons for 2 damsel + 1 clown is really small.

 

DO NOT transfer live stock to freshly mixed salt - It has to settle for at least 24 hours - and make sure your temp is ok -

 

you 100% NEED a hydrometer at the very least This is your best way to know if your salinity levels are in check - I really think this is your problem

[altolamprologus]

OK, I know you're not going to want to hear this, but you are seriously making me think you shouldn't have an aquarium at all. Petco people don't know anything about fish and will tell you your water is fine even if it's not. Get your water re-tested and write down the EXACT numbers and post them here. You can't put an air pump in a saltwater tank. It will create a skimming effect(google it if you have no idea what I'm talking about). Rather than buying a new tank, you should figure out what you're doing wrong and fix it, otherwise you will still have the same problems, just on a larger scale. I apologize if I'm coming off as rude, but you really should have done HOURS of research before just jumping into this hobby. However, I do commend you for asking for help here rather than going back to petco or trying to fix it on your own with drastic measures.

[sweeper]

OK, I know you're not going to want to hear this, but you are seriously making me think you shouldn't have an aquarium at all. Petco people don't know anything about fish and will tell you your water is fine even if it's not. Get your water re-tested and write down the EXACT numbers and post them here. You can't put an air pump in a saltwater tank. It will create a skimming effect(google it if you have no idea what I'm talking about). Rather than buying a new tank, you should figure out what you're doing wrong and fix it, otherwise you will still have the same problems, just on a larger scale. I apologize if I'm coming off as rude, but you really should have done HOURS of research before just jumping into this hobby. However, I do commend you for asking for help here rather than going back to petco or trying to fix it on your own with drastic measures.

 

the salt is just under 1.025...

 

I am thinking of going into a bigger tank size so I can have my fish swim up to 4 at most without much issue as this 10 gal.

[Trogdor447]

the salt is just under 1.025...

 

I am thinking of going into a bigger tank size so I can have my fish swim up to 4 at most without much issue as this 10 gal.

 

What is the temp inside the tank? this you NEED to have as well - your basics are hydrometer and thermometer - your bare essentials

 

Your going to make the wrong decisions diving into another tank - not knowing whats going on - your fish should be fine for now until you learn what is really happening.

[sweeper]

What is the temp inside the tank? this you NEED to have as well - your basics are hydrometer and thermometer - your bare essentials

 

Your going to make the wrong decisions diving into another tank - not knowing whats going on - your fish should be fine for now until you learn what is really happening.

 

the water temp is 76

[altolamprologus]

the salt is just under 1.025...

 

I am thinking of going into a bigger tank size so I can have my fish swim up to 4 at most without much issue as this 10 gal.

I don't think you understand. There is obviously something wrong with your water. Ammonia or nitrite poisoning would be my educated guess. Your tank is probably not fully cycled. And get rid of that gravel, it's for freshwater not saltwater.

[sweeper]

I don't think you understand. There is obviously something wrong with your water. Ammonia or nitrite poisoning would be my educated guess. Your tank is probably not fully cycled. And get rid of that gravel, it's for freshwater not saltwater.

 

well I am being told this size is a bit small therefore I answered with I want a bigger tank for the fishes sake, doesnt' mean I dont plan on fixing this issue.

 

I would like to get a bigger tank with sand, not gravel, but not sure how to properly make the switch along with finding out if I have everything needed for these guys as I put gravel instead of sand.

 

I also have decoration plans, is that fine or I should take them out?

[altolamprologus]

well I am being told this size is a bit small therefore I answered with I want a bigger tank for the fishes sake, doesnt' mean I dont plan on fixing this issue.

 

I would like to get a bigger tank with sand, not gravel, but not sure how to properly make the switch along with finding out if I have everything needed for these guys as I put gravel instead of sand.

 

I also have decoration plans, is that fine or I should take them out?

A bigger tank is always good, but if I'm right and your current tank isn't cycled, then I suggest you take the fish back to the store where you got them.

 

If you set up the new bigger tank with live rock and live sand(assuming the rock is fully cured) you should be able to put fish in after 2 weeks or so. I have a hunch that your live rock wasn't fully cured, which produced a large amount of ammonia.

 

You can decorate the tank however you want, but if you are using fake corals or plants, be prepared for them to get completely covered in algae quite quickly.

 

 

Also, where do you get your water from, and what salt are you using?

[sweeper]

A bigger tank is always good, but if I'm right and your current tank isn't cycled, then I suggest you take the fish back to the store where you got them.

 

If you set up the new bigger tank with live rock and live sand(assuming the rock is fully cured) you should be able to put fish in after 2 weeks or so. I have a hunch that your live rock wasn't fully cured, which produced a large amount of ammonia.

 

You can decorate the tank however you want, but if you are using fake corals or plants, be prepared for them to get completely covered in algae quite quickly.

 

 

Also, where do you get your water from, and what salt are you using?

 

I am so mad at the lady who made #### up just so I would buy this and that ! made my damn hobby more difficult than it should be by lying ot me !!

 

I used filtered water to mix with premium marine salt mix.

 

I have a filter but it is a QuietFlow Power filtration.

 

I am thinking of exchanging this entire kit as I am sensing was only for freshwater and not salt water.

 

I don't think I will be able to return the fish?

 

I did get about 4 bristleworms from the liverock if that helps any in terms of being cured completely or not.

[altolamprologus]

I am so mad at the lady who made #### up just so I would buy this and that ! made my damn hobby more difficult than it should be by lying ot me !!

 

I used filtered water to mix with premium marine salt mix.

 

I have a filter but it is a QuietFlow Power filtration.

 

I am thinking of exchanging this entire kit as I am sensing was only for freshwater and not salt water.

 

I don't think I will be able to return the fish?

 

I did get about 4 bristleworms from the liverock if that helps any in terms of being cured completely or not.

It definitely seems like the person lied to you just to get you to buy the tank. It is definitely a freshwater setup. While you could still use the filter and heater, that filter isn't optimal and the gravel certainly won't cut it. When you get a new tank, I highly reccomend getting an all-in-one like a biocube or nanocube. These have built in filters that are better suited to marine fish.

 

I assumed filtered water means filtered tap water? If so, that could be where your problem is coming from. Depending on where you live tap water can have variuos forms of chlorine and ammonia as well as toxic heavy metals. You should find a fish store that makes their own Ro/Di water and use that. You can also get it from the grocery store, but I don't trust them to replace the filters and resins often enough.

 

Most places will take back healthy fish if you just explain the situation. You might have to settle for store credit, but you're going to end up buying fish again in the future so it's not such a bad deal.

 

The bristle worms don't mean much as far as knowing if the rock is cured or not. Basically cured rock is rock that the LFS cycles in a separate holding tank for a few months to ensure that all the die-off has decomposed. If you had a significant amount of ammonia and your water turned slightly yellow or had a bad odor, then your rock was probably uncured.

[sweeper]

everything in my tank was perfect/is perfect. Don't get me wrong, all teh fishes are diong great, the color of the tank is great hte water according to tests are great...only concern I have is my clown fish out of no wehre is jsut swimming at the top with his head on the top surface.

 

I would feel better if I somehow make a switch to a bigger tank with sand as opposed to gravel using the proper setup.

[altolamprologus]

everything in my tank was perfect/is perfect. Don't get me wrong, all teh fishes are diong great, the color of the tank is great hte water according to tests are great...only concern I have is my clown fish out of no wehre is jsut swimming at the top with his head on the top surface.

 

I would feel better if I somehow make a switch to a bigger tank with sand as opposed to gravel using the proper setup.

Then just keep an eye on the fish and they get worse then post on here again. It could be there's not enough oxygen in the water, but if the damsels don't look stressed, it could just be the clown being weird. Go ahead and set up a bigger tank with sand, live rock etc, and get the water tested 2 weeks later at a reputable LFS before transfering the fish

[sweeper]

Then just keep an eye on the fish and they get worse then post on here again. It could be there's not enough oxygen in the water, but if the damsels don't look stressed, it could just be the clown being weird. Go ahead and set up a bigger tank with sand, live rock etc, and get the water tested 2 weeks later at a reputable LFS before transfering the fish

 

I just spoke with the store they said they will work with me to get the switch to a proper tank wiht live sand etc.

 

this is great!

 

can you pleeeeeeeeeeeease help me do this the right way so they don't trick me again.

 

I am looking at a 20-29 Gal tank.

 

I need live sand (which he said is about $20), what filteration should I get (power head), the heater I have is a HT10 50w submarine heater (if its good id love to keep it has been working great so far), and I have 1 4lb live rock, but not sure how to transfer/when to transfer the live rock and fish.

 

they are allowing me to do a complete return exchange but I dont want the fish to die, so waht is the best way to take care of them while i get my new tank ready to go.

 

 

 

I just spoke with the store they said they will work with me to get the switch to a proper tank wiht live sand etc.

 

this is great!

 

can you pleeeeeeeeeeeease help me do this the right way so they don't trick me again.

 

I am looking at a 20-29 Gal tank.

 

I need live sand (which he said is about $20), what filteration should I get (power head), the heater I have is a HT10 50w submarine heater (if its good id love to keep it has been working great so far), and I have 1 4lb live rock, but not sure how to transfer/when to transfer the live rock and fish.

 

they are allowing me to do a complete return exchange but I dont want the fish to die, so waht is the best way to take care of them while i get my new tank ready to go.

 

can i use 50% of the current water to put into the new tank and use 50% new water to help the cycle?