Help Damselfish laying on sand all day

David Esparza · Jul 9, 2020

Heavy breathing as well

andrewey · Jul 9, 2020

I have to run, so I can't stay long to help you through this, but I'll summon some experts that can.

#reefsquad

GaryE · Jul 9, 2020

What are your parameters?

Flippers4pups · Jul 9, 2020

Is your tank cycled?

David Esparza · Jul 9, 2020

Yes it’s been up for about 6 months now

David Esparza · Jul 9, 2020

Tested like 10 min ago
High range ph- 8.0
nitrate 0
Nitrite0
Ammonia 0.25

GaryE said:
What are your parameters?

Flippers4pups · Jul 9, 2020

Ammonia is likely a false positive.

New damsel? How did you acclimate it?

GaryE · Jul 9, 2020

What are you testing with?

Ammonia should be 0.

If it is infact .25, that's the cause.

GaryE · Jul 9, 2020

What else is in the tank and how long has the damsel been in it?

David Esparza · Jul 9, 2020

Been in tank for about 3 weeks to a month now I have to other clowns that have been in tank for 5 months now and never had any problem plus a camel shrimp a turbo snail 3 hermit crabs a Pom Pom Xenia, Bleeding apple favia, and a zoanthid

Flippers4pups said:
Ammonia is likely a false positive.

New damsel? How did you acclimate it?

David Esparza · Jul 9, 2020

GaryE said:
What are you testing with?

Ammonia should be 0.

If it is infact .25, that's the cause.

I’m testing with API test kit

GaryE · Jul 9, 2020

API is notorious for false ammonia readings.

Get a Seachem Ammonia badge.

Crabs McJones · Jul 9, 2020

API is well known for false ammonia.
Any other fish acting weird or just the one?

GaryE · Jul 9, 2020

But first, just to be safe, I'd dose with Prime. If it is ammonia, that will neutralize it.

David Esparza · Jul 9, 2020

David Esparza said:
I’m testing with API test kit

Crabs McJones said:
API is well known for false ammonia.
Any other fish acting weird or just the one?

No everything is fine just that one :/

vetteguy53081 · Jul 9, 2020

Automatically in a scenario like this- Change water. I agree on comments about API test kit reliability.
I suggest water change and verify your readings on API kit by taking a sample to a trusted LFS and have them test for you to see what they come up with and to compare with your readings.

What is your water temperature and salinity right now? heavy breathing ??

David Esparza · Jul 9, 2020

1.025 salinity and 76 tempature it was very weird because right now when I came back and checked don the tank my damsel fish was in the back corner laying on its side not moving at all so I thought it had died as soon as I got it with the net it swam a little bit then went back to sitting on the sand

vetteguy53081 said:
Automatically in a scenario like this- Change water. I agree on comments about API test kit reliability.
I suggest water change and verify your readings on API kit by taking a sample to a trusted LFS and have them test for you to see what they come up with and to compare with your readings.

What is your water temperature and salinity right now? heavy breathing ??