Fish Breathing heavy and might die

[kiwis]

I have 3 fish in a tank, tank was cycled for 45-50 days. 2 added 2 weeks ago, one 2 days ago.

Today I have all 3 fish gasping for air, last water change 2 weeks ago.

Nitrite, nitrate, ammonia all show close to zero, ph is 8.0 and gravity is 1.025

Just did a 10L water change. (120L system)

Any recommendations, all are breathing heavy sometimes at the top

 

[Rakie]

Nitrite, nitrate, ammonia all show close to zero

If you have ANY ammonia, or ANY nitrate, your tank is not cycled.

You are burning your fish's gills potentially.

Make sure the water is heavily oxygenated. Maybe add a little bacteria or PRIME if you have any. Make sure you do quite a bit more water changes because your tank is not cycled.

 

[kiwis]

Yeah I said basically zero as I’m using API kits which don’t show very good readings but in saying that is almost a perfect match against the chart for zero.

Was going to do a water change tomorrow.

Might do another anyway and move them to weekly.

 

[Skep18]

Good gas exchange?

 

[ZhiYung]

did you buy a wave maker for the tank ? If not, then the tank is lack of dissolved oxygen for the fish to breath.

 

[kiwis]

Re the wave maker; yes I had one but turned it off yesterday so been off 27 hours max

 

[eatbreakfast]

Re the wave maker; yes I had one but turned it off yesterday so been off 27 hours max

That seems to be a correlation. Less flow=less gas exchange=less O2 in the water=fish gasping.

 

[kiwis]

Okay, wave maker back on. Just got home and could see two alive just. 3rd May have been behind the rock.

Recommend another 10L water change tomorrow if they’re still alive ??

Any other advice?

Can put an air bubbler in th sump to help oxygenate the water if that will help?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Can put an air bubbler in th sump to help oxygenate the water if that will help?

Yes this sounds like a good idea. Do you have a skimmer?

 

[Brian1f1]

Why did you turn off the wave maker? Are they breathing better now? Did you put any meds in there recently?

 

[kiwis]

Why did you turn off the wave maker? Are they breathing better now? Did you put any meds in there recently?

Fish weren’t coming out so thought it was too strong of a current, it was only a test.

No meds

 

[jelazar]

An airstone will help. Try putting the airstone at the intake to your powerhead or pump. That will help even more.

I placed an airstone just under an MP10 once when I had a low oxygen problem, so that the air bubbles when into the MP10 propeller. The difference was incredible. It turned the whole tank milky white with bubbles like a protein skimmer.

 

[EmdeReef]

I would also add Prime or Amquel to detoxify ammonia, nitrites are not a concern, then should start adding bacteria.

Any spots on fish?

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Water temperture? High water temps lower the oxygen capacity of the water. Cooler temps higher oxygen! Check that water temp right away. Is the tank in a temperture controlled environment? If not, make sure to move it to a room with a controlled room temperture.

 

[kiwis]

So I've lost two Chromis but have a Dottyback which made it through the night.

Don't believe water temp is an issue.
No spots on any fish.

My Dottyback initially looks to be breathing lighter today, so I'm about to do another water change but expect to lose her also.

Gut feeling is.

1. I've left water change too long
2. Having Power Head off slowed water rate aiding to the slower gas exchange at a critical time.

Would really like to know if this is the case before I start to restock. 2 days ago they were swimming around with no apparent issues.

 

[EmdeReef]

You shouldn’t restock until your ammonia and nitrites are at zero in repeated tests over several days. How long was the powerhead off for?

 

[kiwis]

You shouldn’t restock until your ammonia and nitrites are at zero in repeated tests over several days. How long was the powerhead off for?

as above, nitrate and ammonia are zero and powerhead off 27 hours max.

 

[Brian1f1]

We don’t have enough information to definitively tell you what killed them. We need all your parameters.

The best working hypothesis is O2 deprivation, 27 hours is more than enough, especially if you don’t have a overflow/sump, but could be over things.

Exactly what is and was the tanks temp. What’s the salinity after all the water changing. Have you done any cleaning around it or in the house lately? Post a pic of the dottyback.

 

[kiwis]

We don’t have enough information to definitively tell you what killed them. We need all your parameters.

The best working hypothesis is O2 deprivation, 27 hours is more than enough, especially if you don’t have a overflow/sump, but could be over things.

Exactly what is and was the tanks temp. What’s the salinity after all the water changing. Have you done any cleaning around it or in the house lately? Post a pic of the dottyback.

Let me know what do you need and I'll try to provide it.

I can't give you an exact reading but is about 25-26. Salinity is 1.025

I have a overflow and sump

I'll try get a pick of the Dottyback

 

[eatbreakfast]

If the tank is cycled there should be at least some nitrates.