Fish surfacing for unknown reasons

[Alshain]

The Story:

I had a business trip in CO for a week (dismally cold place, good to be back in Texas). Anyway, I get home to find my filter not pumping. After investigating I found the filter was clogged, my pre-filter fell off and some of my swordtail's were stupid enough to get sucked in. Thank god it was a Rena cause any other filter motor would have burned up. So I cleared the dead fish and started the filter and went to bed because it was an exhausting trip. I wake up in the morning to 1 more dead swordtail in the tank this time and
the water was cloudy white. (I couldn't see more than an inch into the tank) So I thought my bacterial colony died. So I did a full filter cleaning and replaced 75% of the water carefully and the fish went back to normal and stopped gasping, the water was also less cloudy. 4 hours later they are back at the surface but test results show no problems, the water is not as cloudy as it was I can see the whole tank.

The Tests:

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: I lost my card but its orange, not red (AP test kit)
PH: 6.8
Temp: 78.7
GH: 6 dGH
KH: 4 dGH

I can't figure out what is wrong. Some help please!

 

[Zagz]

Do you have an airstone in the tank. It appears to me like an oxygen problem. Possibly from an ammonia spike. Lower your water level a bit to create a bit more surface splash or add a bubbler or another one if you have already have one.

 

[Alshain]

Lost a glowlight, a shame... he and one other have survived almost a year after the rest of their school died out.

I'm lowering the water level now. I usually keep surface movement down to avoid outgassing CO2 but I will worry about that later. I have a pump, I can run over to petsmart and get an air stone.

 

[Zagz]

I agree it isn't worth worrying about the CO2 right now. Good luck. I hope it does the trick.

 

[Alshain]

The fish dropped down almost the instant the water level lowered enough to start pounding the surface. That may have been the problem. I lowered it about half a foot from where I usually keep it, I will leave it there for a while so the tank can recover. I also added some Pimafix/Melafix as a precautionary measure to stave off infection while the fish themselves recover. I will keep you updated

 

[Zagz]

I hope so, it's a good sign they dropped down further in the tank. Crossing my fingers for you.

 

[Alshain]

24 hours later, all is well... except the fact that my tank is 75% full and the water is cloudier than the peaks of the Rockies were but the fish are happy anyway. Thanks for all your Zagz, now its just a waiting game.

 

[Zagz]

Tomorrow start raising the water level again. Did you get a bubbler?

 

[Alshain]

Not yet but I have to go to the LFS tomorrow for excel anyway. Petsmart doesn't carry it, but the only LFS is clear across town.

 

[Alshain]

Well, it looks like the water has already started clearing up. That went a lot faster than I expected. I went ahead and filled it to its normal spot, the haze is very minimal now and if I didn't know it was there already I probably wouldn't notice it.

 

[Zagz]

Glad to hear it, get a bubbler as soon as you can so as to avoid having to lower the level again. Once again, I am glad everyone is doing well.

 

[Dark Okime]

One of my White Clouds does it too. Thankfully i picked up a leaflet about common diseases at pets at home.
-External Parisites
-Slime Deisease
-Velvet
HE MAY NOT have a disease.

Theese are posible diseases.
I think it goes after a while

:: Dark

 

[Alshain]

I think you got the wrong thread Dark

 

[Zagz]

The fish are still doing well? I love a happy ending.

 

[Alshain]

Yeah the fish are doing fine, the water is back to crystal (or whats left of it) but my problem now is a bit more severe

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/center-brace-cracked-100492.html

 

[Zagz]

I read your thread about the crack. I wish I could offer you some concrete advise. I'll be praying for your tank though.