fresh water fish swimming at top

Question
QUESTION: Hi
I have a 55 gallon aquarium and have had it set up and running for about 7 years. Right now I only have about 15 guppies and a catfish. I had two Discus but they died within a month after buying them. I keep the temp at 80, my ph is 60 and i can't seem to get it higher. Right now all of my guppies are swimming at the top of the water in one corner. I don't know what i am doing wrong.

ANSWER: Hi Cindi,
This sounds like you guppies are lacking oxygen.  Make sure that your filter splashes the water back into your tank, causing movement in the water.  Never fill your tank to the top.   Add an air stone, and do a water change.  Also check for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.  Your ammonia should be zero, your nitrites should be zero, and nitrates should be safe.  If you do have ammonia, or nitrites, do water changes everyday of 20% until you are rid of it.
To bring your PH up, buy a small bag of crush coral, and a pair of white nylon stockings.  Wash the coral well, and nylons with warm water.  Make a bag out of the nylons, and put three small handfuls of coral into the bag.  Tie this, and put it into your filter letting the water run through it.  The next day check your water.  It will bring your PH up.  Do this slowly, add coral again, and wait a day, check again, until you have the right PH.  Never bring the PH up quickly, as this is deadly to fish.
I hope this will help.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Lynda,
I did what you said, water change and adding a air stone. The fish were still swimming at the top as of this morning, i could not find crushed coral so I bought a piece of coral and washed it off and put it in the aquarium this morning. I am hoping that this will help with the ph. Would baking soda work? And also I want to know anything about discus, I really want to put a few in my tank however the two I had died.

Answer
Hi Cindi,
I don't see any other reason why your fish are swimming at the top besides lack of oxygen.   Are you nitrates high?  Have your water checked by your local Pet Store.  Keep doing water changes everyday of 10%.  Never add chemical like baking soda to your water.  You will eventually find things to make your water more alkaline.  One trick is if you live near a river is to buy a bottle of PH Down.  You take this little bottle, and go down to the river, and pick up rocks.  Put a few drops of PH Down on the rock, if the rock sizzles, make bubbles, then it will make your water alkaline.  Be careful not too add too many of these rocks as your PH could shoot way up.  Add them one at a time.  You could also add sea shells that we sometimes find at the dollar store.  Wash them well, and they would bring your PH up also.
The most important thing to do now is find out what is wrong with your fish.  The best thing to do is have your water checked, and get back to me with more information on your water chemistry, so I can help you more.
Discus Fish are very hard to keep.  They need acidic water, and soft water.  Their water must be clean at all times, water changes are very important.  If they get stressed, they stop eating, and sometimes die, so it is better to keep them alone.  They need warm water of 84-86 degrees.  I could write a book on Discus fish, but do not have the space here to write all about them.  The best way for you to learn about discus fish would be to buy a little book which subject is on Discus fish only.  There are also sites on the web that talk about Discus fish, forums, etc.  They are not a beginners fish, so we must read up on them, know exactly our water conditions before putting these fish into our tanks.
Lynda