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

[cmsbthebest]

I'm betting the temp is too high

 

[treldib]

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.

You don't know what an FX5 is?

...



On topic...I would check for Ammonia again...it sounds like some kind of irritation affecting their gills. ie Ammonia Burn...

 

[WOODYKYLITE]

Thank you

 

[muffywrx]

Sometimes when hooking up a new filter, I have heard of a bacterial bloom or mini-cycle starting. Not sure why. However, if this happened, it would cause the increase in ammonia as suggested. Definitely test and do a large water change!

 

[typicalalex1]

This happenes to me once in a while. There are many possible reasons for this.
Not enough movement in the water - Is the top of the water still or moving?
Not enough air in the water - Turn up the air pump or add another one
Temperature could be too high
There could also be too much nitrate in the water

I find a simple water change tends to solve the problem.

 

[skjl47]

You don't know what an FX5 is?

Hello; I have never used an FX5 filter, so do not know how they may or may not aggitate the water surface.

 

[skjl47]

"]something that will kill your fish[/COLOR]

Not sure what you mean by this. How long does it take? I have been droping ice cubes into tanks for decades.

 

[smitty03281964]

I do not think the temp is your problem. As long as water moves it is oxygenated. When was the last time you did a water change.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Time for more agitation

 

[Mystus Redtail]

get an air pump and an air stone. Or a powerhead that has an air tube on it. I agree that the high temperature will reduce the amount of dissolved O2, so it won't hurt to kick it up a notch.