Help! Fish swimming at a nice tilt....

[beaker]

Well, I seem to have a nice problem in my 75G fishtank... most of the fish have started to swim at a nice tilt (30-45 degrees to their side.) I'm at a loss other than some sort of disease. The water's normal, ph around 6.8, no ammonia, or nitrites, nitrates around 50, hardness is really low. I'm about to do a pretty big water change, but beyond that, I'm at a loss. The fish types are barbs, some tetras, and a couple gouramis.... the danios don't seem to be effected (yet?)

(fyi, its also a planted tank...)

Any suggestions?

 

[Jawz]

nitrates are tooo high, i try to keep mine at 10 or lower

 

[adamj]

Thats a sign of the beginnings of nitrite/nitrate piosioning. Barbs are famous for doing head stands when these levels get to high. How often do you do water changes? Do about 20% once a week. Seems that you've let it go for a while.

 

[catfisharecool]

It might have something to do with the lighting. I think i read in my Biology book that fish without something will swim on their sides or at an angle if there is a light source somewhere else besides above them. When i turn off my tank light at night, my fish swim at an angle and i think it may be because of my bedroom light coming in from the side of the tank. I'm not sure but it could be that.

Jordan

 

[shakedown]

A water change is abso in order!

Jordan,
Mine do the same when my lights are off.... well the terta does... But I figured he was sleeping and his sideway movement was not the light from the tv, I thought he was just sleeping. My other fish just sit on the bottom and sleep.