stressed out fish!!

[sgomes77]

all of my fish are swimming at the surface gasping for air,one a day is dying. i already did a 50% waterchange but nothing has changed....please help!!

 

[joephys]

What size tank? What types of fish do you have and how many? Did you cycle the tank before you put the fish in it?

My guess is that the tank is new and you didn't cycle it, its usually the most common problem in that situation.

 

[sgomes77]

its a 65g , cycled for about 2 weeks. i now have about 10 fish.
4 angels
2 bala sharks
1 red tailed bala
1 butterfly ppleco
1 bn albino pleco
1 blue guorami

 

[Roan Art]

We need to know your water parameters or we can't help you:

Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH

How often do you normally do a water change and how much water?

While you are getting the readings, put an air pump/stone in there for now to help with the gas exchange. Once we get the readings we'll be able to help you further.

Roan

 

[sgomes77]

i found out that that i just needed to add an air sytem to the tank. i thought that the bubbles were mostly for looks.as soon as i installed the air in the tank the fish started to act normal.

 

[Teelie]

You don't need an "air system" so much as surface agitation to allow gas exchange at the surface of the water. Air wands and those ornaments that blow bubbles don't add oxygen by the obvious looking method but by disturbing the surface of the water when the bubbles pop. A good filter outflow or wave maker can achieve the same results.

 

[IceH2O]

The air supply as you call it is just masking the problem. There is a reason your fish are gasping, most tank owners don't use airstones/wands and our fish aren't gasping at the waters top. Since you're cycling you have high ammonia and nitrites which cause the fish to not be able to use the oxygen in the water as efficently. You need to test the water and find your levels. Do water changes to keep the Ammonia and Nitrites below .5

The last link in my signature will help you get to the cycling thread, read it....

 

[sgomes77]

i just did a 50% water change friday. i just tested for ammonia and it was
0. the nitrite level is between 2.0 and 3.0. should i do another water change,
if so should it be 50% or just 25%?

 

[Teelie]

Do another water change. You should have zero nitrites as well.

 

[IceH2O]

Since you're still cycling I'd do daily water changes of 50% to keep those nitrites at .25 or lower. What are the nitrate readings?

I seeded my tanks with established filter media and had Am 0 Ni .25 NA 7.
So my tank didn't instant cycle, but after a week or so of waterchanges my Nitrites finally hit 0.