Like the topic says, fish are gasping for air, and my bottom feeders(pleco's and catfish) are breathing very heavy. Just started today, its seems lack of oxygen, just don't know what caused it or what to do. Ammonia and nitrate are at zero, PH is at about 6.4 which is low but that been a problem of mine with this tank for about 6 months now. My theory for the low PH is the tank is overcrowed, I have 18 fish in a 36 gallon tank. The average size of the fish is about three inches, I do weekly water changes. The water is a little cloudy so a algea bloom might be coming, would that cause the fish to gasp for air? Any idea's?
Thanks
Fish gasping for air
21 posts • Page 1 of 3
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jdak702 - Posts: 382
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:26 am
How do you keep your nitrates at 0 with an overstocked tank? I'd just recommend larger water changes. You can raise the pH slowly with baking soda.
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Captainbabba - Posts: 10
- Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:53 pm
Thanks for the reply. Thats what I was kinda thinking with my theory of the tank being overstocked, if it was overstocked you would think the nitrate and ammonia would not be at 0. I just checked them both today and they were at 0, but thats all I got on the PH being a little low. I actually do the baking soda thing one day in between weekly water changes. I can try bigger water changes but I get nervous about throwing off the bacteria tank cycle.
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stingraysrule - Posts: 271
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:37 pm
You can use crushed coral in your filter to bring up the PH.
Good flowing water and an airstone will also help.
If this is a planted tank than run the airstone when the lights are off if you are using CO2.
CO2 will bring your PH down, but should not effect the fish. The PH is different with CO2, than the OTHER PH, which might be caused with driftwood.
Good flowing water and an airstone will also help.
If this is a planted tank than run the airstone when the lights are off if you are using CO2.
CO2 will bring your PH down, but should not effect the fish. The PH is different with CO2, than the OTHER PH, which might be caused with driftwood.
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myklein2 - Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 1:38 am
If your ammonia is at zero your nitrite is probably at zero. Your nitrate is not at zero. An overstocked and overfed fish tank will cause the water to become cloudy and have an increased nitrate level. Your biological filtration turns ammonia and nitrite into nitrate.
You have to do more water changes and try to cut back on feeding.
Your pH is not causing the lack of oxygen.
You have to do more water changes and try to cut back on feeding.
Your pH is not causing the lack of oxygen.
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myklein2 - Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 1:38 am
You can add aeration to your tank to increase the amount of oxygen in the water, but it is usually a minimal increase. You need an air pump with an airstone or bubble wand. The air bubbles they create does not add oxygen to the water. There is only a slight increase of oxygen from the popping of the air bubbles on the water surface.
The easiest way to increase oxygen in the water is to lower your water level. By having the water fall further into your tank from the filter it will agitate the water (like popping bubbles on the surface from an air stone) and aerate the water.
The easiest way to increase oxygen in the water is to lower your water level. By having the water fall further into your tank from the filter it will agitate the water (like popping bubbles on the surface from an air stone) and aerate the water.
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Captainbabba - Posts: 10
- Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:53 pm
Thanks guys. I actually tried a couple of those things yesterday. I put a air stone going, lowered the water a little when I did a water change and fed them less the last two days. Some fish still seem stressed but their not gasping for air anymore and thankfully no one died. Definitly have to work on finding new homes for a few of my fish.