Skittish and stressed fish

[Sillyfishies]

Ok, I used to have baby cichlids in this 30 gallon Bf tank and they used to be SUPER skittish. Once they grew big enough to go in my friends tank, off they went. I then bought these rosy barbs and 3 GBR 6 months ago. Ever since then the rosy barbs have been skittish and the GBR ALWAYS show their stress lines.
The rosy barbs also smack at the surface. Doesn't quite seem like their gasping though.
My params are
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
PH - 7.2
(Tested with API liquid test kit).

I have 2 large pieces of drift wood and quite a bit of plants. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Sillyfishies]

Bump. Not sure what to do.

 

[Sillyfishies]

Any ideas?

 

[vance1013]

Is there anything new in the tank or in a busy part of the house showing any symptoms of being sick or injured maybe try keeping the lights off for a day or 2

 

[Sillyfishies]

Is there anything new in the tank or in a busy part of the house showing any symptoms of being sick or injured maybe try keeping the lights off for a day or 2

They're in my room so very minimal traffic. And they've been like this for about 6 months and are otherwise healthy.

I think the problem with my GBR are the rosy barbs being skittish, which is stressing them out. Ill try to keep the light off.

 

[vance1013]

They're in my room so very minimal traffic. And they've been like this for about 6 months and are otherwise healthy.

I think the problem with my GBR are the rosy barbs being skittish, which is stressing them out. Ill try to keep the light off.

Hmm are they only ones in the tank

 

[Sillyfishies]

Hmm are they only ones in the tank

5 rosy barbs and the ram. Just added an angelfish but he spends his time nipping my floating plants.

 

[vance1013]

Hmm do you have room for more maybe a school neons might get the barbs moving

 

[Sillyfishies]

Hmm do you have room for more maybe a school neons might get the barbs moving

I was planning on it. I worry about the neons and the angelfish. I'm trying to find a tetra big enough for angelfish, but has a small bioload

 

[vance1013]

I was planning on it. I worry about the neons and the angelfish. I'm trying to find a tetra big enough for angelfish, but has a small bioload

How big is the angel now if its still small you can have the Angel grow out with neons without an issue

 

[Sillyfishies]

How big is the angel now if its still small you can have the Angel grow out with neons without an issue

About the size of a quarter. I'm thinking about rummynoses

 

[vance1013]

That's another good choice so are cardinals

 

[Sillyfishies]

Well I got the drop on my fish today. I sat from my door and say a bright blue male GBR. I go up to the tank and he immediately loses his blue sheen and shows stress lines. Yet he eagerly goes up to the top of the tank to eat.

 

[vance1013]

Well I got the drop on my fish today. I sat from my door and say a bright blue male GBR. I go up to the tank and he immediately loses his blue sheen and shows stress lines. Yet he eagerly goes up to the top of the tank to eat.

Hmm interesting how long have you had him

 

[Sillyfishies]

Hmm interesting how long have you had him

3-6 months. I don't really remember but it's been a while. I've always had this problem. Sometimes I walk in and they have stress lines but great me. Sometimes I walk in they all go really skittish and swim into a corner really fast. Which my old stocking list used to do that EVERYTIME I walked in.

My angelfish is really chill though

 

[vance1013]

3-6 months. I don't really remember but it's been a while. I've always had this problem. Sometimes I walk in and they have stress lines but great me. Sometimes I walk in they all go really skittish and swim into a corner really fast. Which my old stocking list used to do that EVERYTIME I walked in.

My angelfish is really chill though

How many hiding spots are in the tank you said you had plants is it heavily planted maybe a pic of your tank too

 

[Sillyfishies]

Here's the tank. Tommorow I can get a more recent one. It now has more plants but the hard scape is the same.

 

[vance1013]

Hmm maybe adding some rocks to make caves might make em feel better

 

[Sillyfishies]

Hmm maybe adding some rocks to make caves might make em feel better

What type of rocks would you suggest.?There honestly isn't much room left. There's about 3-5 inches behind the driftwood. And the front is going to be covered by hydrocotyle sp. Japan pretty soon.

 

[vance1013]

What type of rocks would you suggest.?There honestly isn't much room left. There's about 3-5 inches behind the driftwood. And the front is going to be covered by hydrocotyle sp. Japan pretty soon.

Maybe small slate stacked to make caves gbrs are more bottom fish correct maybe put half a PVC pipe into the sand or Terra cotta pot if not that much room and you can cover it with your substrate to hide either one