Are my fish sulking?

tbh I've not properly done my homework on the ph, kh, gh, ro water thing so I'm gonna stay well away from that lol, I just check it to make sure I'm in the guidleines of the fish tolerance to that level :wink: (I rely on my test kit (API master for my precise results - and as the kit is reccomended by practical fishkeeping I'm certain it's worth the price tag)
I would however disagree regarding the ammonia, any level of ammonia be it 0.5ppm - 10ppm is going to be toxic to the fish - varying levels of how soon the effects of it are going to be felt granted but still toxic none the less.
aww it's great to hear another plec owner out there, beautiful grumpy fish. I havent a clue how old my common is as he was a rescuee, but hes seriously put on some size since I've had him

 

I agree that no ammonia is the ideal situation but in cases when something goes amiss (a choked filter, pump or power failure etc) the PH and temperature could mean the difference between life and death for the fish :wink:
here`s a chart showing how ammonia toxicity relates to PH and temp..its quite striking.

 

Many thanks to all who've replied, and particularly Claire for her skills at taking dictation

I did try taking the temperature today - according to the thermometer (that was in the inherited filter) its about 5C. Now I KNOW this summer's been dire, but really???? So I took it into the kitchen, where I was happily baking in a hot oven and feeling warm in a teashirt - also about 5C. Methinks I need a new pond thermometer, but in the meantime the fish might be on a bit of a diet just in case.

We're almost certainly going to put in a pond safety grid this winter to make sure Small Child doesn't try and go swimming, but in the meantime I'll try and string some netting around: I've got a big roll of pea netting - will that do? And do I need to cover the entire pond, just around the edges, or all of the shallowest shelf (about 30cm deep - next one is about 50cm)? The pond has little brick walls about 9" above ground level with paving slabs about 6" deep, if that makes a difference.

Once the heron's can't physically get in, will the fish get more confident? Or would they like some shelter as well? And if so, what kind of shelter can anyone suggest that would work in the winter with 4-6" clearance between water level and safety grid?

Thanks again :o

 

Tangle I have pea netting covering the whole pond (no little ones to worry about) certainly put a safety grid over if there are small children about,my fish actually follow me when I walk around the pond constantly wanting to be fed.
Here's a diagram explaining the Nitrification cycle.