Aro sitting at cottom of tank

[Mantra0112]

ok so I recently got 2 arowanas(6-7 inches) in a 125 gallon tank with a little oscar(1-1.5 inch) water temp is about 80 PH is 8 ammonia is really low on the charts so are nitrite and nitrate so water seems good. when i first put them in they were swimming around fine now today one is swimming fine the other sits at the bottom of the tank sometimes comes up and swims a little then goes back down.


i have the lights off in the tank and the back is blackened

 

[Adamrhh]

Surprised a 7 inch didn't try eating a 1 inch oscar haha

 

[probassfisher010]

ANY ammonia is bad, any nitrite is also bad, you want nitrates to be below 40. If your showing ammonia or nitrite at all, I'd guess this to be your problem


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[Mantra0112]

to what i could see on chart ammonia and nitrite is basically 0 i just said low cause it goes off the color char but it looks almost identical to the 0 reading now the nitrates are low tho but i was thinking that had to do with so few and little fish in a 125 gallon tank(could be wrong and if so how would i fix this?)

and ya the little oscar is staying away from them at the moment lol

thanks for any advise

 

[Redbellypiranha]

Your ph is too high too it should be 7.6 max


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[Mount_Prion]

Your ph is too high too it should be 7.6 max


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+1 aros and oscars like lower PHs. I somehow missed that when I read OP.

 

[F1 VET]

8 is fine as long its not altered all the time, they'd appreciate a stable level. Prlly need oxygen cuz of warm temps

Go S. Vettel #1 rb8

 

[Mantra0112]

we ended up putting a sheet completely over the tank for a few hours and now they are both swimming around, but still not eating... I've read that it is normal for them not to eat for a bit after you first get them, is this true? and if it is how long should I be expecting about before they will eat?

Thanks

 

[JV_Z06]

My 7" Silver Aro is displaying similar behavior. It has been settling at the bottom of the tank, noticeably more so when the light is off or when there is nobody around the fish tank. I would usually see it in the morning just sitting at the bottom. Once the light is turned on, it starts to swim around. In so far as diet, it is feeding well so that somewhat alleviates my worry. My water parameters are all good, with pH at 7.6.

 

[Bderick67]

At a high pH level as 8.0 your little bit of ammonia is about 10x as toxic as it would be at 7.0 pH. Your fish are suffering currently, you need to get the ammonia down to zero.

You also may want to have a divider ready, once the arowana get settled they will likely start fighting.