fluval 405 in 54g, arowana breathing fast

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2songbirds

2songbirds

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2009
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It's a well established tank. In the last 4 months or so I replaced the aquaclears with one fluval 405. the tank isn't anywhere near capacity. In the last couple of days the arowana's hanging out at the surface and can see him breathing fast.

stock: 5" arowana, 5" adonis pleco, 3-4" rtc, 2" three beacon pleco, 4" gold dojo loach, and 3 small red tetras.

I was thinking of adding airstone bubble wall. I don't want to add the aquaclear back in as the arowana's a jumper.

Is this a common problem with canisters? I'm thinking about putting the outlet stream just above the water line for more surface agitation, but that noise

parameters are good. no other signs of disease
 
that many fish and that small of tank?...that Aro is just waiting to flip out!!
At 5" he is going to be a darter anyway, and then add all those other fish below him, and he is really gonna fly!

Besides getting him in a larger tank, I guess you can provide him with some cover to cruise into and around, like floating plants...but with all that activity underneath him and such a small tank it is only a matter of time before he bails... :(
 
Any ammonia, nitrite spike when changing one filter to the other. When I see a fish breathing fast at the surface, I always think of ammonia that burned the gills. Are the gills red and swollen ? Does the new filter contain old bio media ?
 
tableau;4120604; said:
Any ammonia, nitrite spike when changing one filter to the other. When I see a fish breathing fast at the surface, I always think of ammonia that burned the gills. Are the gills red and swollen ? Does the new filter contain old bio media ?
Click to expand...
Ammonia would affect all the fish, no?
 
zennzzo;4120618; said:
Ammonia would affect all the fish, no?
Click to expand...

That depends on sensitivity.

Simple answer, check ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

if you simply swapped one filter for another then you did not give any time for the filter to mature.

Make sure that the new filter is heavily rippling the water on the surface and if in doubt do a big water change.
 
Just Toby;4120635; said:
That depends on sensitivity.

Simple answer, check ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

if you simply swapped one filter for another then you did not give any time for the filter to mature.

Make sure that the new filter is heavily rippling the water on the surface and if in doubt do a big water change.
Click to expand...
I was going by the OP's 2nd to the last sentence of the original post...
I wasn't asking, more of pointing out last 2 sentences...
besides the Dojo Loach would be more sensitive to N2N3 than an aro...
 
ok, ph is 7.2 ammonia is in safe range, non detected. Haven't tested the oxygen level, as I have to find the kit. Temp is 76*

as for it being too small, not for right now. At the most, there's 20" worth of fish in the tank, including the tips of their tails. There's hardly any activity going on underneath him as the bottom dwellers all hide. The arowana only jumps when I walk past him quickly. He's 5" at max, to tip of fin. He's actually the only fish you see in the tank.

I took off the long outlet hose for the uv sterilizer powerhead yesterday afternoon. It goes straight down, about 2" just above the water so there's a stream of bubbles in the water from it, which is near the fluval and that sucks up some little bubbles.

I've read that airstones don't do too much. I can't put another outside filter on for fear of him jumping.

As for the newer filter....it was set up four months ago, if not longer. I did use the same water and put in some of the old media from the old filters when transitioning. However, this is happening now without any new changes. the gills aren't red or swollen.

he almost looks like he's trying to choke something out.

He's the only fish affected, and the redtail catfish is more sensitive to bad water being a bottom dweller...same goes for the dojo loach.

Im still wondering about the oxygen levels, esp with having a canister. On my 125g, I have a fx5, submersible fluval, and a AC110. I wasn't happy with the fx5 by itself as my fish were in distress, but that tanks loaded. This one isn't

so, should I bother with adding bubble walls? I will find my O2 test and post the results.
 
Does he look like he is trying to clear his throat? like stopping backing up with his mouth wide open? Maybe does this 2-3 times then starts swimming normal again for a while?
I have always kept my Aros in 82-84*F.
 
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