Bluegill gilling like crazy

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boojumsnark25

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Aug 13, 2006
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I have 10 bluegill in a 125 gallon planted tank. The fish have always gilled this rapidly, 2-3 times per second, but I was just wondering if this was out of the ordinary. I tested this morning right when the lights kicked on, and O2 was 4ppm, and CO2 was 25ppm. The fish weren't gilling at the surface, in fact they were mostly in the mid-low level. I tested a little bit ago, and oxygen was climbing and CO2 dropping a bit, so naturally the 4 and 25 are the extremes. If 4ppm is too low during the night, should I put in a bubble bar or something during the night? I know it would ruin the efficiency of my co2 system though.

Thoughts?
 
I agree with H about tank size / stocking. Adding an airstone may help short term.
 
Not sure what you guys are talking about, ten 4 inch fish that max out at 6-8 inches (around here) is not overstocked at all. But that's a different post, because I wasn't asking about that.

That would ruin the efficiency of my co2 system at night tho, correct?
 
First of all Bluegill do not max out at 6-8" inches. Second the reason I brought it up is because it could have a very direct relationship to the low O2 problem. I am also curious what the tank temperature is and what the water parameters (NH3, NO2, and NO3) are when you test them?
 
I was wondering the same thing because I have a few northern bluegill that are babies and one is already over 3 inches ... with max somewhere around 16" if I'm not mistaken
 
H has a very good point. With that many fish and running Co2 you are bound to not have a lot of O2 in the tank. Also if ammonia and/or nitrite are present their gills may be burning which will inhibit O2 take.
 
I'm not going to argue the max size (10 inches) or how many would fit in a 125 gallon tank ( Think Oscars,just as messy).

I think you're main problem is O2 because your tank is to hot. Bluegills prefer the mid 60s. Lower water temp holds more O2. If you do plan on keeping them then either kill the CO2 at night,plants don't use it at night. Use a pH controller so its not on all night. Or add a bubble wand to add more oxygen and run it 24/7.

Since they are rapidly breathing during the day its obvious they aren't getting enough O2 which is because the water is warmer then they are accustomed to having.
 
OK guys. The keywords are AROUND HERE. I have fished for 15 years and I have never, ever, caught a bluegill over 7-8 inches. Sorry, but I'm gonna have to go ahead and trust my fishing experience on this one.

I'm sure in some parts of the country and get very large. However, in the ponds I catch them in, they don't. I've seen bluegill that have been on display for years in massive tanks that never cracked 8.

Here is my test from this morning:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 15
pH - 7.1
Temp - 70.5
 
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