Jonathan Wood wrote in message ...
RedForeman,

Other than your nitrates being perfect for a planted tank, I dont' think
you
even have a problem... Do you have plants?
Have you tested your water from the tap?? Reason is, if your tap water
is
significanly different, you'll know it's IN the tank... If your tap water
tests the same, then the reason it's worse in the tank is your starting
out
with waste water, and it only gets worse....

Another thought, unless it's an internal thing, like parasites, and
sometimes wild fish can carry them and never be susceptible to any
problems... then one day, it just flops over. My best guess would be, if
it's a new tank, it's just adjusting... if it's an old tank, and there
are
NO other obvious signs, changes or reasons you could think of.. maybe it
just had an itch, and had to scratch it... fish do feel..

I do not have live plants in the tank. I didn't quite follow your comments
about water being worse in the tank.

There are no indications of parasites and all fish seem to have the problem
equally. This tank is newer but I have an older one and things are pretty
much the same.

I guess I was just more curious of a more general question of if this is
normal, or there is simply something bad in my water. I'll assume by the
comments so far that you don't see this in your fish. I wonder if others
with the type of fish I have see the same problem.

Thanks.

Jonathan


My africans do this as well. It's not a normal thing though. having said
that there is no one particular cause for the problem. some people say it is
a result of a sudden change of water conditions, particularly hardness, but
I don't really agree with that in my case. others say it is due to a large
amount Iron and other heavy metals in the water, and others think that it's
due to plain old nitrite and ammonia presence. parasites will certainly
cause it, especially ich and flukes..

it's annoying and frustrating that I can't make the water conditions perfect
for my fish.

this is the treatment that I use on my tanks that seems to work for a while,
but the fish tend to return to scratching after a while:

1. treat with an anti-parasite medication.
2. add activated carbon to your filtration to get rid of any nasty heavy
metals etc in the water.
3. I add a product called "easy life filter fluid medium" that says it has
101 benefits, and it seems to make the fish a little happier.


good luck, and if you find a new cause/cure please let me know.