Fish gasp for air when filter is placed underwater?

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J

Jamesy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 13, 2012
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I've had this problem for a while now. Basically If I put the filter output tube under the water I will see the fish gasp for air in a matter of minutes. So I've had to keep it above the water which annoys me due to the fact that the tank is full of micro bubbles. When I first started my tank this didn't happen when the output was underwater, just all of a sudden one day they started gasping and I lost a clown loach. Obviously this is something to do with oxygen in the water. Would adding an air pump help? I've read that they don't really do anything...

Thanks! :)
 
Whats the temp of your tank, and the PH level??? also tank size and stocking level, and size of fish??
 
Ideally it should be at the surface making a ripple to help circulate and filter the water properly also the surface agitation will oxygenate the water. Maybe you don't have enough oxygen in your water so when you put it under water it's like the fish are catching their breathe with fresh air.


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The higher the temprature the lower the level of disolved oxygen available. A tank kept at 80F would have more available disolved oxagen than a tank kept in the mid to upper 80's. The short answer is increase surface agatation by either adding an air stone, the addition of a small HOB filter that creates a current on the surface or as has been suggested point the out flow tube up to break the surface. Stocking levels and inadaquate water changes also effect the oxygen levels.
 
you go from breaking surface tension to not doing such. That will not allow as easy an exchange of gases.
Assuming all other parameters are correct (*assuming*), that is your problem. You need something to break that surface water tension.
Within minutes though seems abnormal.

Same reason why if you ever fish with minnows you see they do much better for much longer in a bait bucket with a pump/air stone compared to not.

In other words x3 on what has been said.
 
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