Alessa

As many of you already know I have a 28 gal with 2 mystery snails, 1 platy and 1 dwarf gourami. I plan on getting more fish (one or two) on friday but I have noticed the following behavior that I think means lack of oxygen in the water:

1: my mystery snails constantly go up the tank to breathe air
2: my dwarf gourami goes up too to breathe air...


I have a top fin 30 (came with the tank) and an air pump attached to a pirate ship decor (ill attch the pics)... but given this behavior I dont know f I may need a powerhead or something. I leave like around an inch between the water line anf the top of the aquarium lid (which has a hole in the back so air is getting in.

should I get the powerhead?

Edit: btw the tank is fully cycled

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outlaw

Do you have the water surface moving? From what I've read and been told that is where most/all of your gas exchange is done. The bubbles are mostly for "show". (please correct if wrong).

Alessa

well... its getting some movement from the filter... I just dont know if it is enough especially because of the behavior of the snails and fishes.

outlaw

Are they ok after water changes then gradually start doing it again?

Alessa

its like a really random behavior. Some days they do it some days they do it less often... but the always do it! Nevertheless they seem happy and my platy is really active... I am really freaked out because i am getting new fishes on friday or saturday and I dont want things to go wrong.

outlaw

I'm sure someone will come here soon and know what to do. I would say to get some more surface agitation.. a small power head would do that nicely and they aren't to expensive.

update:
HERE is a google search for "fish going to the top", the first link looks like it's the same thing and they suggested a pump (you already have) and power head too.

Alessa

thanks Ill check it out...

steveangela1

It might not be your o2 in your water, the snails when you have 2 of them like to come up to the top of the water to mate and lay eggs, and the gourami is like a betta which has a labryth (sp) organ which they will go to the top of the water to breath air. If none of your others are doing it, I wouldn't worry.

I would still test your water parameters w/ a test kit and make sure you nitrites are -0-, ammonia -0- and if it is, I will def say its the snails, and gouramis natural behavior.

Alessa

I have the api master test kit and i just finished cycling the tank. ammonia is 0 nitrites are 0 and nitrates are .5. but I have heard that the snails do this specially when there isnt much oxygen in the water (plus both the male and female snails are doing it)

sgould

An air stone or power head would help improve gas exchange. You could also bring the temperature down a bit. Higher temperatures corrospond to less disolved oxygen in the water. 78-80 isn't terribly high, but it is higher than is necessary. If temperature reduction is a problem because of outside summer temperatures, focus more on improving the water circulation with the airstone/powerhead idea.

COBettaCouple

I don't think you have to worry, but more aeration wouldn't hurt things any if you wanted to add it and/or going with a stronger filter.