Problem - fish hanging around filter vertically...

[Hoontar]

Hey - my barbs seem to be spending an awful lot of time motionless vertically next to my filter intake at the surface of my new 20g tank. Why might this be?

Test kit indicates nitrite/ammonia levels are zero
Tank holds 1 small cichlid, 4 barbs (not overstocked)
Temperature is fine
Filter is a 20g aquaclear, running fine

 

[Chris_A]

Nice looking barbs. Are those Odessa's?

What's your temperature at? and what do you have for decorations? Also, what is the species of Cichlid?

Chris

 

[Monoxide]

Maybe the temp is to low? Just make sure your take is at the right testing, and make sure the water changes are being done.

 

[Hoontar]

They are odessa barbs, decorations are minimal right now, since I just moved everyone over from a small 5g tank, it's a yellow lab cichlid, (juvenile around ~2 inches). Do they tend to hang out at the surface if it is too cold? or is there not enough oxygen or something? I've been using a big piece of cardboard to cover the tank while I wait for the hood to arrive...

 

[jo3olous]

they might not like the water, is the tank cycled?

 

[PCFishGuy]

I dont know, they look pretty shifty to me, tell them to go get a job and quit hanging around waiting on a free hand out

 

[LadyLail]

Yeah, that's what I was wondering jo3olous... Your levels may be at zero because there's nothing there yet to read... Do you have a heater or are you keeping them room temp??