Hi all,
Let me give you a brief background. I have a 90l Fluval Roma, had plants in for one week with everything running, it's quite a planted tank with four anubias, two java fern, some java moss, three hygros. Then added two tiger barbs. A fish-in cycle, but I didn't know any better at the time. After two weeks it seemed cycled, with 0 ammo 0 nitrite and 15-30 nitrate. Left it another 9 days, checked levels (they were fine again), and out went the tiger barbs (they were on loan) and in came 6 black neon tetras. This was yesterday.
But the tetras are moving their mouths open and closed a lot. Otherwise they seem well, fed voraciously this morning, and shoaling together. But the mouth moving is worrying me. They are not gasping at the surface, but are moving their mouths a lot. Perhaps a lack of oxygen? The filter is producing a strong current at the surface, although I removed the cap which produces bubbles as I read this is bad for CO2 retention, which is bad for plants.
Otherwise not sure what to do. I haven't cleaned the filter yet, as I wanted to let the bacteria settle in. But perhaps I should clean it now? Maybe it's clogged up and that is reducing water movement within the tank? But I've just upped the bioload, and so really don't want to disturb what bacteria there is! Generally when should someone clean a filter in a tank that is building bacteria capacity?
Could also do a water change, but reluctant to disturb the fish more since they've just moved in and will be settling into new water.
I could put the cap (venturi valve) back on for a bit? To increase oxygen before I clean filter later down the line? Or maybe this is just the fish getting used to new water? I remember the barbs did this a bit then seemed to stop.
Your wise words would be much apprecaited!
Let me give you a brief background. I have a 90l Fluval Roma, had plants in for one week with everything running, it's quite a planted tank with four anubias, two java fern, some java moss, three hygros. Then added two tiger barbs. A fish-in cycle, but I didn't know any better at the time. After two weeks it seemed cycled, with 0 ammo 0 nitrite and 15-30 nitrate. Left it another 9 days, checked levels (they were fine again), and out went the tiger barbs (they were on loan) and in came 6 black neon tetras. This was yesterday.
But the tetras are moving their mouths open and closed a lot. Otherwise they seem well, fed voraciously this morning, and shoaling together. But the mouth moving is worrying me. They are not gasping at the surface, but are moving their mouths a lot. Perhaps a lack of oxygen? The filter is producing a strong current at the surface, although I removed the cap which produces bubbles as I read this is bad for CO2 retention, which is bad for plants.
Otherwise not sure what to do. I haven't cleaned the filter yet, as I wanted to let the bacteria settle in. But perhaps I should clean it now? Maybe it's clogged up and that is reducing water movement within the tank? But I've just upped the bioload, and so really don't want to disturb what bacteria there is! Generally when should someone clean a filter in a tank that is building bacteria capacity?
Could also do a water change, but reluctant to disturb the fish more since they've just moved in and will be settling into new water.
I could put the cap (venturi valve) back on for a bit? To increase oxygen before I clean filter later down the line? Or maybe this is just the fish getting used to new water? I remember the barbs did this a bit then seemed to stop.
Your wise words would be much apprecaited!
