Mandarin struggling?

[elagstein]

Friends, I just took over my friends tank a week ago. I moved his entire well established setup to my house, water, live rock, rish etc.... Since this is so new, I don't know what is normal yet.

My mandarin seems to have been less active the last two days. I notice he is breathing hard, I think. Can you tell me if he looks to be panting? See the video I uploaded to my dropbox please...

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Anything I should do?

FYI, I got new amphipods into the tank 5 days ago.

Help and thank you!!

 

[elagstein]

I uploaded the video to my dropbox in case you can't view it...

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Thanks!!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yeah, this fish is laboring to breathe . Being that the tank is just set back up, are you able to test the ammonia and nitrate levels?
Are you able to add/increase oxygen with an air stone?
Did you use RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
What is tank temperature
Salinity
Ph?

 

[elagstein]

Yeah, this fish is laboring to breathe . Being that the tank is just set back up, are you able to test the ammonia and nitrate levels?
Are you able to add/increase oxygen with an air stone?
Did you use RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
What is tank temperature
Salinity
Ph?

Thanks for your help!

I transferred the original water from my friends to my house, 5 hour drive. On day 3 I did a 40% change per LFS suggestions because of ammonia/nitrite spike, I bought saltwater from my LFS. It's a week later and I just got ammonia and nitrite down to 0.

Tank total 44 Gallons- 35 for fish and 9 for sump
Ammonia 0
Nitritie 0
Temp 76-78
Salinity 1.023
PH. 7.8
NItrite 122
Calcium 533
Magnesium 1175
Alkalinity 7.4

Why would an air stone help? Thanks again!!

 

[DungSl1nger]

What other fish are in the tank? Are they acting different than normal or is this isolated to the Mandarin?

Also is that nitrate (122) a typo?

 

[elagstein]

Thanks all for your help and time!

Yes, Nitrate is 122. That is down from 160ish right after I moved the tank

After I moved the tank from my friends house, which was 1 week ago. I went to a knowledgable LFS, they tested water and suggested I first tackle lowering Ammonia and Nitrate. I did a 40% water change, added stabilizer and prime. Just yesterday Ammonia and Nitrite went to 0.

I'm open to any other suggestions to get this tank stable?!!

1. 2 Clown Fish
2. Purple Tang
3. Striped Damsel, maybe Zebra
4. Mandarinfish
5. Corel Beauty Angelfish
6. Blue Damsel
7. 4 Snails
8. 3 Mini Hermet Crabs

 

[saltybees]

If your nitrate is 122 you should be doing another 40% water change lol

 

[elagstein]

All, after the transfer, I did 30-40% water change every week. After 2 weeks Nitrate started to drop and I'm about to do another water change.

The Mandarin is doing great. I actually don't think anything was wrong with him, I just didn't know what normal was for him and his sluggishness was alarming.