Skittish fish in my 180

[Gourami Swami]

Looks like a very bright tank with no cover in the upper reaches. For adult fish it may be fine but young fish are naturally scared of beccoming bird food, cichlids like the P.bass especially, are not likely to be very outgoing in this type of setup. I bet you would see a night and day difference if you added plants/branches etc in top half of the tank and dimmed the light a bit. Lowering light would also help with the algae, looks like a lot of LEDs in your fixture, probably meant for plants etc. But with no plants, will just fuel the algae growth. I don't mind algae on back walls personally though.

Here's a tank of mine. Notice how the cichlids are all hanging out on the side of the tank with the branches on top. They feel more secure from predators when they are not in open water.

 

[anzo1993]

I like the algae. At least it’s mostly green. I grow it like that on the back on purpose. The fish like to snack on it. Even my robertsoni seem to enjoy it.

It’s funny you say that my flagtail tetra loves eating the algae lol

 

[anzo1993]

Looks like a very bright tank with no cover in the upper reaches. For adult fish it may be fine but young fish are naturally scared of beccoming bird food, cichlids like the P.bass especially, are not likely to be very outgoing in this type of setup. I bet you would see a night and day difference if you added plants/branches etc in top half of the tank and dimmed the light a bit. Lowering light would also help with the algae, looks like a lot of LEDs in your fixture, probably meant for plants etc. But with no plants, will just fuel the algae growth. I don't mind algae on back walls personally though.

Here's a tank of mine. Notice how the cichlids are all hanging out on the side of the tank with the branches on top. They feel more secure from predators when they are not in open water.

View attachment 1450222
[/QUOTE thank you for the advice, I’m gonna try picking up some branches and things I can use as cover and I’ll see if that helps, along with a good algae cleaning lol

 

[anzo1993]

Looks like a very bright tank with no cover in the upper reaches. For adult fish it may be fine but young fish are naturally scared of beccoming bird food, cichlids like the P.bass especially, are not likely to be very outgoing in this type of setup. I bet you would see a night and day difference if you added plants/branches etc in top half of the tank and dimmed the light a bit. Lowering light would also help with the algae, looks like a lot of LEDs in your fixture, probably meant for plants etc. But with no plants, will just fuel the algae growth. I don't mind algae on back walls personally though.

Here's a tank of mine. Notice how the cichlids are all hanging out on the side of the tank with the branches on top. They feel more secure from predators when they are not in open water.

View attachment 1450222

I just checked my led light and it has 3 rows of led that are very bright, it’s a cheap light from the company nicrew so there’s no adjusting it other than the blue night setting, I’m trying to find company that only has 1 strip of leds to help with the algae cause I cleaned it the other day and it’s already coming back with a vengeance lol

 

[Toiletcar]

It’s funny you say that my flagtail tetra loves eating the algae lol

Nice, nothing like free food for your fish ??

 

[duanes]

It's not surprising to me that cichlids become skittish over night, kids and teens often feel invulnerable.
Same with fish, only its instinctual, but as they age they become increasingly more aware, and even large cichlids are seldom open water swimmers unless they are 2 or 3 feet long, but then they are usually at depths where bird predation is minimal.

And Cichla until quite large feel protected by being in large shoals, hardly ever as loners.
I agree with others the tank is very stark and open, and to make cichlids feel safe, plenty of cover is needed, and dithers ould help temporarily (at least until they become (as Toiletcar alluded) expensive feeders).
This type excess vegetation may seem a bit over the top, but how I keep cichlid tanks (its also a 180).

and add to that, I like aimless and paranoid dithers that the cichlids watch to gauge the threat of impending danger.
If they are unconcerned, and clueless, so the cichlids will also be.

 

[ryansmith83]

Has lighting changed over the tank or in the room? Shadows cast over a tank will often make fish skittish as it’s their natural instinct to be wary of predators from above.

Also check the tank for stray current from a heater or filter because this will make fish jumpy.

 

[anzo1993]

Has lighting changed over the tank or in the room? Shadows cast over a tank will often make fish skittish as it’s their natural instinct to be wary of predators from above.

Also check the tank for stray current from a heater or filter because this will make fish jumpy.

As far as I know nothing has changed in the tank I’m thinking it’s just the fish developing making them more skittish