Fish not moving/swimming on the bottom - oxygen issue? 55g

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J

JPC22

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2011
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West Chester, PA
So I have been having an issue with my fish not moving or swimming around the bottom of the tank but once I do a water change (25%, once a week) they are more active.

I have a 55 gallon tank with 2 burundi julies, 3 yellow labs, 1 synodontis, 1 calvus and a para pleco, all under 2 inches. I have two maxijet 1200 powerheads and Aquaclear 55 filter along with a fluval 205.

Anyone know if this might be an oxygen issue? I don't want to get anymore fish in case it is.
 
Usually if you have low oxygen the fish will avoid the bottom, and constantly swim to the top for air. Mine however were still active - in my experience anyways.
 
Wow that is a lot of water movement for a 55g. It looks like if my calculations are right that is about 1000 gph of water movement. I know you want high turnover for cichlids but typically 8-10x is a good goal you are approaching 18-20x. I would take a few power heads out and see if they become more active. My 75g has about 700 gph and my bio load of 5"+ adults is high so low oxygen shouldn't be your issue. Also what is your water parameters and water temp? Those can affect activity too.
 
Well, there's nothing wrong with too much filtration....as to the oxygen question, I doubt that's the problem. I'm not sure how you are doing your water change but if you are doing the old fashioned, bucketing in the new water, then you are definitely aggitating the surface where the oxygen exchange happens. You might want to try adding a powerhead with a venturi tube and mounting it in your tank so that the output of the PH points right at the surface which will provide maximum surface disruption. On a side note, remember, the higher the temp in the tank, the % of oxygen in the water decreases.

I would check your water parameters, high nitrate levels will cause the fish to become lethargic and not move.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. I checked the water parameters and all were normal, the PH is right around 8.2, so I turned off on of the powerheads and the fish are swimming around more.
 
sounds to me like they're just trying to avoid the current. nothing appears to be wrong. also, most of those fish prefer to stick close to rocks anyway, so that combined... not much activity near the top. maybe a peacock (or a trio, one male two females) would add more activity? \

Good luck and have fun!
 
I would agree that it's probably the strong current, either remove some filters or point them towards the glass to reduce the flow. It's definitely not an oxygen issue as if there is a lack of oxygen fish tend to go near the surface and avoid bottom as someone previously stated.
 
JPC22 said:
So I have been having an issue with my fish not moving or swimming around the bottom of the tank but once I do a water change (25%, once a week) they are more active.

I have a 55 gallon tank with 2 burundi julies, 3 yellow labs, 1 synodontis, 1 calvus and a para pleco, all under 2 inches. I have two maxijet 1200 powerheads and Aquaclear 55 filter along with a fluval 205.

Anyone know if this might be an oxygen issue? I don't want to get anymore fish in case it is.
Click to expand...

check tank temps.
 
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