Swordtail and Platy Issues

markpelly

So recently we lost 4 guppies in our tank...very randomly. The two platies and Swordtail are fine and are having the time of their life. The only issue is that one of the platies and the Swordtail have been getting into some crazy fish brawls. I am not sure if they are mad about the other tank mates not being there anymore..or that they just are not compatible. They have never done this before.

For a little back ground as well, we just got our ammonia level down significantly. It is now stable .5 or 1.

Tank size is 20g and we have a 20 gallon Aqueon pump. We personally think we need a bigger pump but that is in the future.

I have also noticed that the two platies seem to hide more lately. And all the fish seem to like to sit near the top of the tank. Which seems like they are going there to get extra oxygen or something. Could this be possible?

chevysoldier

The only acceptable ammonia level in an aquarium is zero. You need to be doing daily water changes, 25%-50% and treating with a conditioner, I uses Prime. The fish being at the top of the tank is probably due to high ammonia and low oxygen. Get a bubbler and that should help with oxygen. What is your stocking?

Also, research the Nitrogen Cycle, you need to understand it.

Hanky

Yea ammonia levels of 1 should of killed all the fish you have, My guess is tank is not cycled yet, keep up with water changes to keep them below .5, eventually when it is cycled there should be no ammonia.
High ammonia can effect fish behavior.

markpelly

I agree, it should be below 1. But the tank has been above 3 for a long time now. I finally have it below 1 and the fish die? A little weird.

I do not want to do more water changes however because the water has a highlevel of chloramine and kills my bacteria quickly. I treat the water everytime I add it with ammonia detox and water conditioner. It has been slowly bringing down the ammonia.

markpelly

I understand the the nitrogen cycle, the tank has been up for a few months now.

I am not going to do lots of water changes as this will continue to bring my ammonia levels up.

Any other suggestions?

markpelly

I have been using this information for cycling: Link here

1077

Amquel plus, or Prime would eliminate the need for ammonia detox which may leave chlorine but detoxify ammonia.
Other water conditioner's may detoxify chlorine but leave ammonia.
The two product's i mentioned will detoxify chlorine,chloramines,and ammonia.
if products don't clearly state that they detoxify all three ,then they don't.
Prime would be my choice for water conditioner.

If as you say,,ammonia was at one time 3.0,then damage has been done and fishes could die slowly from the exposure to these levl's or slowly over a few weeki's month's.

1077

My apolgies for horrific spelling above.
Couldn't edit in time

markpelly

Haha no worries.

I am using:

Aquenon Water Conditioner
AmQuel Plus

Every time I add water to the tank.

Hanky

Thats actually a neat little article with the graphs and all, I cant believe your fish lived in such high ammonia, I guess its possible they got so used to it that the drop in ammonia stressed them.
I've havent used any of the conditioners you use but I can also recommend Seachem Prime, should be all you need.