Why are some of my fish breathing so hard?

Byron

Posting photos I can help with. When you type the post, in the section below headed "Additional Options" you click the "Manage Attachments" button, then in the pop-up window click "Browse" and find the photo on your PC and double click it.

Bluydgrl

What is the best PH to have in my 36 gallon?
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beaslbob

whatever makes the fish happy.

Actually IMHO there is not one value of pH for your tank or anyone elses'.

for instance pH increases with decreasing carbon dioxide. Which would hardly be harmful to any fish.

So a lot depends on what else is happening in the tank with resulting differences in pH and everything else.

In my (what people consider wierd) tank with no mechanical circulation or filtration, I consistantly see a pH of well over 8 with the api high range test kit. Usually peggin that kit at 8.4-8.8. And for both FW and marine and even FW tank with 1" of peat moss under the substrate. Yet with those "extreme" values even fish like neon tetras and hachetfish that are reported as needing ph values of 7 or less, live for years and years.

But those tanks are fully balanced out with plants (FW) and algae (marine) which makes the tank a net sink of carbon dioxide and source of oxygen each 24 hour period. Again, hardly a dangerous or unhealthy environment for any fish.

My concern with your low pH was that the tank was not fully balanced out resulting in high carbon dioxide causing the fish to breath rapidily.

But you tank could be different.

And mine is still only worth at most.


.02

Byron

Earlier in this thread, the pH of your tank was given as 6.6 and the tap pH was 7.6. I mentioned then that the 6.6 was fine for the fish named, so there is no need to mess with this.

But, I was curious about the GH and KH since the pH in the tank does lower a fair bit. This is natural (the lowering as the tank becomes more acidic from biological processes) and fine so long as it is not going to continue to extremes. Test the pH prior to each water change and this will tell you if there is any significant fluctuation from week to week.

My article on hardness and pH in the freshwater aquarium (in the Freshwater Articles section of this forum) may give some insight into all this.

Byron.

Bluydgrl

I will read it.I just went to the LFS and got 3 more plants and some flourish comp supplement.I was using the Excel.The guy at the fish store said I could use them both together.Is this true?
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Byron

Yes, but I must caution you on the Excel. This is a liquid carbon supplement, and the ingredient (besides water) is polycycloglutaracetal, apparently a trade name for a product developed by SeaChem, which appears to be an isomeric form of glutaraldehyde. The Material Safety Data Sheet for Excel list glutaraldehyde as the active ingredient, and cautions on its use.

This chemical is a disinfectant used in hospitals to kill bacteria, it is used in embalming, and in anti-freeze. It can irritate skin on contact. Some plants (Vallisneria is one) will melt when Excel (or APIès similar CO2 Booster) is used. If it happens to be overdosed, it may kill plants, fish and bacteria, depending.

There should be sufficient CO2 naturally occurring in the aquarium to avoid using such a risky product. But if you do, recognize that the light and other nutrients may need to be increased to balance. Plants can only photosynthesize fully if all their requirements are met.

Byron.

Byron.

Bluydgrl

Doesn't sound good.I wont use it then.Thank you again.

Byron

I reviewed the video you sent me (Kelli) and have now re-read this thread. As I mentioned in my PM, the rams and gourami do seem to be respirating a bit faster than normal, and one gourami is actually down at the substrate behind a plant, obviously stressed by something.

I'm not suggesting any one of the following is the cause, though each may contribute.

I assume the Excel is not being added, so that gets rid of one toxin. The temp at 78 is low for the ram, but I would not expect this to cause the fish trouble getting oxygen, rather the opposite. But again, too low a temp is stress.

I am puzzled by the low pH. A decrease of more than a full point from 7.6 down to 6 when the KH is as high as it is here is not normal. This could be affecting the ram, not sure about the gourami. The ram is very sensitive to water parameters and needs to be maintained in water very close to that in which it was raised. As these are likely tank-raised fish, and not wild caught, the params for the breeder would be important. This presumably we do not know (?) but assuming it is close to your tap water then the lower pH could well be doing this.

My advice would be more frequent water changes. About 1/3 of the tank, daily, using only the conditioner (Prime). Do a vacuuming of the substrate where it is open with the first and second WC. Monitor the pH by testing it just prior to each WC. This should raise it up slowly. Aside from the WC's, don't do any other disturbance in or near the tank, to provide the fish with quiet time to further reduce stress.

Keep us posted on how this progresses.

Byron.

Bluydgrl

Ok..I have been rearranging plants in the tank.I'm rehoming Dojos tomorrow. Getting big
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Bluydgrl

I have been doing my 50% water changes and they still are breathing the same.I still feed them everyday but they eat all there food.It's hard for me not to feed them when i have these little eyes following me every time i walk by the tank.They know there feeding schedule.If feeding them every other day will help them,then i will do that:(
Should i start buying RO water?