is my aquarium experiencing health issues

[Flynight9]

I just set up a new canister filter for my 125 gallon tank, it's rated for 175 gallons. My cichlids are acting really weird now. Three of them keep swimming down to the ground, turning on their side and running along the substrate. This has been going on for a week and I'm getting worried. I've checked all my water levels and they're good, no signs of disease or anything else wrong with them. I also have some barbs in the same tank and they're doing the same thing, running into the ground. Does anyone know what's going on with my fish?

[finnleyes]

I just set up a new canister filter for my 125 gallon tank, it's rated for 175 gallons. My cichlids are acting really weird now. Three of them keep swimming down to the ground, turning on their side and running along the substrate. This has been going on for a week and I'm getting worried. I've checked all my water levels and they're good, no signs of disease or anything else wrong with them. I also have some barbs in the same tank and they're doing the same thing, running into the ground. Does anyone know what's going on with my fish?

Dumb question, but was the filter cycled before you set it up, and did you remember to add dechlorinator?

[Flynight9]

I did have it cycled before I set it up, and when I do water changes, I always add Stress coat and Stress Enzyme.

[finnleyes]

I'd keep a close eye on them for the next couple of days, just to be safe. In the meantime, I'd do 10-15% water changes to see if that helps. If things don't improve, I think it's worth trying a general cure for illness - you can find something like that at the LFS, Petsmart, or online at Dr Foster & Smiths.

[finnley4]

Have a close look at them, it could be Velvet. If so, that could be flux. They're swimming along the gravel, they're trying to scratch themselves. You may need a magnifying glass if your eyes aren't too good. Velvet will present itself as a very fine gold dusting which can be hard to see in its early stages. If it is Velvet, you will need a copper-based medication to treat it.

[lentoa]

I just set up a new canister filter for my 125 gallon tank, it's rated for 175 gallons. My cichlids are acting really weird now. Three of them keep swimming down to the ground, turning on their side and running along the substrate. This has been going on for a week and I'm getting worried. I've checked all my water levels and they're good, no signs of disease or anything else wrong with them. I also have some barbs in the same tank and they're doing the same thing, running into the ground. Does anyone know what's going on with my fish?

When you see your fish rubbing and scratching themselves against rocks or gravel, it's likely a sign of a problem. In my experience with African Cichlids, they often scratch due to water conditions or a change in their environment. I've seen this behavior even in young fish, just hours after they've left their mother's care. In most cases, it's not a parasite that's the issue.

African Cichlids need very hard water, with a KH of 14 to 17. If the water doesn't have a stable buffer, the minerals that make it hard will start to precipitate out after about a week. This can cause the water to become softer over time, leading to scratching. Another common cause is a drastic water change with a change in temperature, pH, or hardness. Even if you're restoring the water to ideal conditions, you may still see an increase in scratching for a while as the fish adjust to the new osmolarity.

If you notice your fish scratching heavily, it's a good idea to check your pH and hardness levels. If they're not within the ideal range, it can cause irritation and discomfort for your fish. If left unchecked, this can lead to more serious problems, like infection and even death.

[swiftfly]

To better understand what's going on with your fish, can you please provide some more information. What are the names of the species you have in your tank, and what are your current water parameters - specifically ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. Also, what's your dKH and dGH, and what temperature is your tank at. Additionally, what additives do you put in the water, and what's your water change schedule like. Rubbing is often a sign of parasites or osmotic stress caused by changes in dissolved solids. For Tanganyika and other rift lake cichlids, a KH of 7-12 is usually sufficient. In my experience, as long as your KH is above 6dKH and pH is above 7.8, you should be fine - just make sure you keep these levels consistent, that's the key to keeping your fish happy and healthy.