Please Help! Sunburst Platy Seems To Be Going Crazy!

I’ve had this sunburst platy since March 22nd and she was getting along great with every other fish in my tank. I have 2 mollies, 8 platies, and 1 albino pleco. This past week I decided to completely upgrade my tank to a 37 gallon tank and decided to add a few Gourami to the list. After the first day in the new tank, I noticed she was a bit stressed. It’s been about 4 days in the new tank and she still seems completely overwhelmed and stressed. I’m not talking about normal wiggling or glass surfing (she doesn’t glass surf) but she’s shimmying while swimming and when she stops swimming she still shimmies. She swims around the tank really fast sometimes and then goes to dark areas to de-stress but I notice her still shimmying. Can anyone give me any advice on what to do? I also have noticed some white blemishes on her back almost as if she has been hurt. She seems to be a bit fat so i’m not sure if she’s pregnant but I sure am scared for her due to her looking like she’s going crazy. Please somebody help my sunburst platy!

 

What are water parameters and how long did you cycle it

 

What do you mean by how long did I cycle it? But parameters are
Ph - 7.6
High range PH - 7.4
Nitrate - 0 PPM
Nitrite seems to be anything like .50 PPM and 1.0 PPM I can’t really tell
Ammonia is - .50

 

Do a water change your nitrite is high

 

Got you, any way to avoid nitrite and ammonia? I have been adding a little extra food due to adding new fish and them being almost starving so that could be a cause

 

Not a ton other than having good bb in the filter

 

You should look into the nitrogen cycle too btw

 

How do you filter it

 

Not a ton other than having good bb in the filter

Ah got you, I will see if I can find something even better than I have right now, thank you!

You should look into the nitrogen cycle too btw

Thank you! I just read about it and it seems to be similar to what i’m experiencing, I actually didn’t know you had to wait a few weeks to add fish. That could be the problem as well but I will definitely do water changes and follow every step!

How do you filter it

By how I filter it I believe you mean what steps did I take for filtering the water before I put the fish in? Pretty much I bought the tank Thursday and we set it up and added tap water and added conditioners to the water, then I let the tank run with the filter for about a day and added the fish in. I usually have the filter on about halfway because i’ve noticed that my fish struggle to swim due to the current of the air rock and bubbler I have in there so I put it to a tolerable level for them

 

Did you add any tank starter?

 

Did you add any tank starter?

No, I pretty much went by what the PetSmart employee told me, I had no idea this page existed so I went by their words. Pretty much I was told to fill up the tank, add tap water conditioner and stress coat, let it run for a bit and then I could put the fish in. I didn’t know about tank starter, this is the first time i’m hearing about it

 

Get it and use the recommended dosage you have no bb in your filter and even if your waters good there could be underlying problems. You can use apI instant start or tetrafin safestart.

 

Will do, i’ll go to the pet store later in the day and I will get it, I truly and honestly appreciate your advice, you’ve been such a great help!

 

No problem I had the same thing happen to me a couple of weeks ago oh and a little more advice do not replace any part of the filter and only rinse it of in tank water it will reset your cycle if you replace it or wash it off in tap.

 

Okay great, that is also something I didn’t know so you’re definitely teaching me a lot and saving a lot of fish lives! I appreciate your help so much