Really worried about my little clown

[hardcoralsash]

Hi, I was offline overnight -

Yes, an ammonia test (not with an API kit) is pretty important at this point...you need to figure out if the rapid breathing is caused by disease or water quality issues. The tank's aeration looks good, and since this issue developed over time, it is either a disease, or a build up of ammonia.

I see 2 clown, a royal gramma and a black molly? Any other fish? Have you had issues with any of the invertebrates? Is the other clown breathing/acting off?

Jay

what’s wrong with the API test kit?

 

[dedragon]

what’s wrong with the API test kit?

pretty much all api tests suck for accuracy or precision

 

[vetteguy53081]

what’s wrong with the API test kit?

Very well known for false readings Often showing lower readings than are actual why I suggested to take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at
I will never trust a $7 badge or $25 master kit to sustain hundreds of dollars in livestock.

 

[hardcoralsash]

Very well known for false readings Often showing lower readings than are actual why I suggested to take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and compare readings- then you'll know
I will never trust a $7 badge or $25 master kit to sustain hundreds of dollars in livestock.

what is a good test kit i can go pick up at a pet or local fish store so that i can get this figured out today?

 

[hardcoralsash]

Very well known for false readings Often showing lower readings than are actual why I suggested to take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and compare readings- then you'll know
I will never trust a $7 badge or $25 master kit to sustain hundreds of dollars in livestock.

and if the problem is ammonia, how do i fix it?

 

[dedragon]

what is a good test kit i can go pick up at a pet or local fish store so that i can get this figured out today?

salifert or red sea pro are pretty trustworthy for most test kits, but i never really test for ammonia as it isnt really necessary to do so after the tank is done cycling

 

[vetteguy53081]

and if the problem is ammonia, how do i fix it?

Water changes, regular filtration maintenance and monitoring

 

[vetteguy53081]

what is a good test kit i can go pick up at a pet or local fish store so that i can get this figured out today?

Hanna and salifert
Red Sea at times hard to read

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

what’s wrong with the API test kit?

It is really difficult to read. The color intensity doesn't really match the chart and people often misread the results - either low or high.

Jay

 

[Piscans]

flip your return up, i see absolutely no surface agitation. you need it for your tank to survive. that clown is next to the pump so what little oxygen in the water is going over his gills

 

[MnFish1]

you have to be on a laptop i think

I am on a laptop

 

[MnFish1]

It is really difficult to read. The color intensity doesn't really match the chart and people often misread the results - either low or high.

Jay

I'm going to give the counterpoint (as usual) - The errors seen with API tests - are the same as the errors seen with other tests - based on my use of several tests. There are also a number of videos/etc comparing the visual tests - I personally can absolutely not see the differences in some of the salifert tests (unless the results are 0). Most errors with all the tests - again IMHO - relate to testing error. To me - the issue with API - is that if you want an alkalinity measurement of 8.4 - you will not get that - you will get 'something between 8 and 9'. I only use API tests now - perhaps I'm biased. I was lucky to sell my Hanna checkers on eBay.

 

[MnFish1]

pretty much all api tests suck for accuracy or precision

No - they do not. Unless you have some data? Precision - meaning - taking 3 samples of the same water and testing it - API results are consistent IME. Accuracy - if you follow the directions - and read the results according to the instructions as compared to intuition - are as good as other tests. Again - only my opinion

 

[MnFish1]

It is really difficult to read. The color intensity doesn't really match the chart and people often misread the results - either low or high.

Jay

People often misread the color - true. They also do not read the tests the way they are designed to be read. I.e. Hotizontal vs vertical, etc.

 

[hardcoralsash]

flip your return up, i see absolutely no surface agitation. you need it for your tank to survive. that clown is next to the pump so what little oxygen in the water is going over his gills

i flipped it up last night as per @killer2001 instructions and he seems to be doing a lot better. still not eating, but taking a water sample to my LFS for a proper reading. will update

 

[hardcoralsash]

turns out my nitrites are super high..

 

[hardcoralsash]

turns out my nitrites are super high..

@MnFish1 i also added a powerhead that’s aiming back at the return. any other suggestions?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

turns out my nitrites are super high..

Nitrites are not toxic to marine fish, only freshwater ones. Salt neutralizes the toxicity to fish.
The 0.4 ammonia is slightly toxic, but at a pH of 7.9, it is actually less toxic.
Jay

 

[hardcoralsash]

Nitrites are not toxic to marine fish, only freshwater ones. Salt neutralizes the toxicity to fish.
The 0.4 ammonia is slightly toxic, but at a pH of 7.9, it is actually less toxic.
Jay

so just keep monitoring things?

 

[hardcoralsash]

Nitrites are not toxic to marine fish, only freshwater ones. Salt neutralizes the toxicity to fish.
The 0.4 ammonia is slightly toxic, but at a pH of 7.9, it is actually less toxic.
Jay

he already seems so much better today. thank you all so much for all your help