water change problem

[ele]

Hi everyone!

I have a strange problem (maybe not, maybe it is obvious, but I can not figure out why)
It happens sometimes after a water change. My Pictus laying down on the bottom or swimming not higher than 2 cm above it. When it tries to swim higher, it looks like it berns itself by upper water and it hurries to swim back to the bottom.

the ammonia and nitrite - 0, ph - 8 (usual water from the tap - 7.8), nitrate - 4

 

[necronomicon]

This might be too obvious

so please ignore me if it sounds patronising... it isn't meant to...

Do you make ssure you use a water-purifying chemical and match the temperature of the new water to the old? If not, then it could be that this fish is sensitive to the temperature/chemical gradient that is introduced when re-filling.

Sorry if this is too basic an answer

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Probably just spooked by all the commotion from the water change.

 

[ele]

maybe...
I warm the water using the heater and add some conditioner. Do you mean that I should match the chemical composition of new and old water? But how? I mean Ph of the new water is lower than the of old due to waste, no...?

 

[necronomicon]

no,

you can't match everything (well, i suppose you could match pH ect, but not worth it). Sounds like you are doing everything OK, but you fish is just a little sensitive.