Fish seem To be breathing very fast. What to do?

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WOODYKYLITE

Gambusia
MFK Member
Oct 4, 2008
115
1
16
DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
I was looking at my tank today and noticed that the fish are breathing very heavily. Why is this happening and is this dangerous for the fish. The fish are in a 135 gallon, I have a Fluval FX5 FOR FILTRATION. THERE ARE 3 FISH IN THE TANK THAT ARE ABOUT 6 TO 7 INCHES LONG ALONG WITH 2 REALLY SMALL FISH. THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOUT 85 DEGREES FOR THE RED MONKEY. MAYBE THE TEMPERATURE IS THE PROBLEM. I NEVER NOTICED IT BEING A PROBLEM BEFORE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. THANKS IN ADVANCE:)
[YT][video=youtube;6Ev0zW-hS3A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ev0zW-hS3A[/video][/YT]
 
Hello; 85 degrees seems high. Do your fish need temps that high?
Generally the higher the water temp, the less dissolved oxygen it can hold. Perhaps you can lower the temp. During hot weather I drop trays of ice cubes.
Check your heater. I usually have to adjust the settings down in the spring and up again in the fall.
I am not familiar with the filter you named.

Do you have air bubbles? Some air bubbles should add oxygen to the water.
 
do you have anything breacking the surface of the water to get oxygen to the fish??? always start with checking the param's... Then do a water change. can't hurt.
 
I GUESS I COULD TRY LOWERING THE TEMPERATURE,BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL AFFECT THE RED MONKEY . I COULD TURN IT DOWN ABOUT 5 DEGREES TO START .ur fish need temps that high?
Generally the higher the water temp, the less dissolved oxygen it can hold. Perhaps you can lower the temp. During hot weather I drop trays of ice cubes.
Check your heater. I usually have to adjust the settings down in the spring and up again in the fall.
I am not familiar with the filter you named.

Do you have air bubbles? Some air bubbles should add oxygen to the water.[/QUOTE]
 
If it's oxygen related then make sure you have some filter or pump agitating the surfacing of the water allowing gas exchange. Do a water change asap.
 
skjl47 said:
Hello; 85 degrees seems high. Do your fish need temps that high?
Generally the higher the water temp, the less dissolved oxygen it can hold. Perhaps you can lower the temp. During hot weather I drop trays of ice cubes.
Check your heater. I usually have to adjust the settings down in the spring and up again in the fall.
I am not familiar with the filter you named.

Do you have air bubbles? Some air bubbles should add oxygen to the water.
Click to expand...

good advice something that will kill your fish

Air bubbles make a minimal change themselves, but when large bubbles are hitting the surface of the water gas exchange can occur more readily and you'll have no oxygen problems. Lowering your heater is all you'll need to do. Set your temp at around 80 and do a water change, you'll be fine.
 
WOODYKYLITE said:
I ALSO HAVE AN AQUACLEAR FILTER THAT SITS ON THE TOP. THAT SHOULD BE BREAKING THE WATER CREATING OXYGEN.
Click to expand...

In that case it probably isn't an oxygen problem. What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings? How often do you change your water?
 
I CHANGE THE WATER ONCE A WEEK. THIS NEW FILTER I JUST INSTALLED IS FOR A 400 GALLON TANK AND RECYCLES 563 GALLONS OF WATER EVERY HOUR. IT HAS 3 CHAMBERS. TWO OF THE CHAMBERS ARE FILLED WITH BIOMAX AND ONE IS FILLED WITH CARBON. I KEPT THE AQUA CLEAR FILTER AS A BONUS FOR FOR EVEN BETTER QUALITY WATER. I GUESS I SOME HOW MADE IT WORSE. I TURNED DOWN THE TEMPERATURE. I WILL CHECK ON THESE GUYS TOMMOROW MORNING. IF NOTHING HAS CHANGED I WILL DO A WATER CHANGE.
 
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