Weird angelfish behavior?

[Bbateman03]

In my community tank, my angelfish have slowed down eating, and when I turn my aquarium light on, they start bumping into objects in the tank. None of the other species of fish in my tank are having a problem. I am in the process of cycling the tank. This change has occurred over the past two weeks (after treating the tank for ich).
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Rbishop]

First of all, if you haven't, please read...

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

Some questions you could answer to help us help you..

How long has this fishy cycle been going on?

What size tank?

How many and what kind of fish?

Do you have a good liquid test kit?

What are the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates on your tank and tap water?

Are you using a dechlorinator that handles chlorine and chloramine?

What kind of filtration?

What temp are you maintaining?

How did you treat the ich?

How often are you doing water changes?

 

[Star_Rider]

:iagree::iagree:

we need more information.

you mention "in the process of cycling "
with angels.. that is not good.

 

[Bbateman03]

Answers for weird angel fish behavior

How long has this fishy cycle been going on?
Started about 5 days ago

What size tank?
55 gallon

How many and what kind of fish?
2 angels, 2 mollies, 2 guppies, 3 chinese algae eaters, 5 bleeding heart tetras, 1 neon tetra

Do you have a good liquid test kit?
I use jungle labs test strips, I have a liquid pH test kit

What are the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates on your tank and tap water?
tank: nitrite 0.5ppm, nitrate <20ppm

Are you using a dechlorinator that handles chlorine and chloramine?
Yes, I am using start right liquid

What kind of filtration?
I have a 55 gallon aqueon filter along with a ten gallon small filter

What temp are you maintaining?
82-84

How did you treat the ich?
With quICK cure, salt and increased temp

How often are you doing water changes?
Right now I am doing about 1-2xs a day (25-30%) depending on the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels - this is what I was told to do in my previous post about how to cycle with fish

 

[Rbishop]

Thanks for the reply!

You didn't post an ammonia reading, but since you have nitrites, your tank definitely isn't cycled.

Glad to hear you are doing water changes on a regular schedule. Keep them up so that ammonia and nitrites are kept as close to zero as possible. Even at a zero reading, there will be some present and the bacteria will grow.

Get a good liquid test kit like the one by API. The test strips are quite unreliable. Test your tap water also to see if you have an ammonia issue to begin with. The tap pH should be on a sample that has set out over night in a shallow dish.

I prefer to use Prime as the dechlor, as many folks here will recommend. It also will bind the ammonia to a non-toxic form that won't harm the fish and still leave it for the bacteria to consume.

The high heat and table salt treatment of ich should continue for a full week after all visible signs of ich are gone. Then lower temp slowly to 76-78 degrees. Ensure any new water you use for the water changes has the same salt concentration as the tank. Once the ich treatment is done, regular water changes will bring the tank back to normal.

Add some air stones with the current high temp. Warm water will hold less oxygen.

If you are cleaning your filter pads, be sure to just rinse them in old tank water to prevent killing any bacteria.

Angels, especially juvies can be very sensitive to water quality. Even when the ich is gone and the tank is cycled, do at least a 30% change per week.

It may take a while before they are not skittish when the lights come on.