Can Someone Explain This Behavior???

[TETRALADY]

Hello All,

Here's the 411! I have a 55 gallon tank with two filters (Whisper 3), one 3" bubbler (airstone), faithfully perform 20-25 % water changes weekly, carbon is changed monthly and my readings are as follows:

Ph: 7.0
Nitrite: 0
KH: 2
GH: 6
Ammonia:0
Temp: 79


Fish Include:

3 Neons
4 Black Neons
5 Lemon Tetra's
1 Common Pleco

So why do my tetra's contiune to stay at the top of tank near the bubbler? :confused:

[ChilDawg]

A lot of fish like to play near the bubbler, especially those that come from river environments...you might want a stronger current through the tank as all your fish are riverine, I believe.

At some point, your Plec will likely outgrow that tank, so I figured that I would warn you on that as well.

[Tyler718]

It's sounds similar to my giant danios. All 4 of them like to get in front of the out put of my canister and swim against the current.

Dave

[Wulfy]

I have a small powerhead in my tank.

I bought it for two reasons.

1. To make my plants root system stronger.
2. To keep the fish entertained with a water feature.

My cardinals like it they spend a large part of the day swimming
against the current it creates.

Maybe they are trying to swim out of the tank. Hmmm.

[dbcb314]

this really had nothin to do with the topic, but why dont you get some more fish? you have a 55 gal, use it potential. plus tetras like to be in bigger schools

[ChilDawg]

Wait until the Pleco is re-housed, and then make that suggestion, dbcb314.

[dbcb314]

dude, it will take a while before the pleco gets it maximum length. you could add the tetras now before the thing got huge, and then move the pleco later. she doesnt have to re locate the pleco until it gets too big, and it will take a while ina 55gal

[pinballqueen]

Originally posted by dbcb314
dude, it will take a while before the pleco gets it maximum length. you could add the tetras now before the thing got huge, and then move the pleco later. she doesnt have to re locate the pleco until it gets too big, and it will take a while ina 55gal

I beg to differ on this one. I can purchase a pleco at 2" long, put it in a 55, and have to get rid of it within a year in a fully stocked situation. Sure, in an empty tank, it feels like it takes forever for them to grow, but in a fully stocked situation, plecos get very snitty over space and will tend to "hitch rides" on their tankmates once they reach 8 inches or so, which takes about 6 months with a varied diet and a healthy fish. Most large domesticated catfish species (of which hypostamus plecostamus is definitely a member) grow to the tune of an inch a month in a healthy tank. I keep a pleco in my 55 gallon gar growout tank, but I replace it about once a year. (I wouldn't keep one at all, except they are the only glass cleaner that will grow faster than a large native predatory species like gar, who have grown an average of 1-2" a month since I've had them...)

[dbcb314]

i keep mine in a 50 gal, and hes hardly grown at all. maybe he doesnt feel threatened. i too plan on getting rid of it when the time comes. but it will be a while before the time comes. now the one i had with african cichlid grew real quick. i think they only grow fast when they are threatened, at least that is my observations.