So my FH freaks out when I start adding water during a water change. Help?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

MrCardholder

Feeder Fish
Jun 1, 2013
2
0
0
United States
He is with a BN pleco and a rainbow shark in a planted tank. He is the only fish in any of my tanks that does this, and only when I'm adding water. This is regardless of whether I add it straight from the tap with Prime treating the whole tank, or pretreating a bucket of water and pouring it it. After I'm done he'll hang out in the corner above my circulation pump hiding, then be fine after an hour or so. What the hell is going on? I don't want to keep stressing him out like this.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K2HuacWVWc
 
From the way he's breathing, looks like he's adjusting to the new water being added. I've noticed the same mouth movement when I add new water into a tank too quickly. Try adding little at a time slowly with a pitcher & away from the fish. That's what I do...one pitcher (gallon) at a time...time consuming tho.

BTW...first time I've ever seen a flowerhorn in a planted tank. Does he dig up any plants?
 
Nope, he pecks at the anacharis, but otherwise loves hanging out in the plants. He's still pretty small (about five inches) so I'll see if he keeps up his nice behavior.
 
He doesn't seem to be "freaking out" on purpose. It looks as if he is coughing or he's doing all that because his gills are burning. Either way its not because "fresh" water is added. So I would say it has to do with the amount of conditioner you are using(not enough or too much). I used to have this problem until I started using API. The only time I see my fish do this now is when I forget to add the conditioner... Silly me. They would come around after an hour or so. But you have plants so I'm sure you know how to keep your water up. I also want to add I have no experience with Prime but I've heard its good. Did this just start happening and have you always used Prime?
 
If you use prime there was a thread about bad bottles of prime. Someone had losses from it. The bottle had flakes in it and didn't smell like it usually does. It may not be working just a thought

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check your water parameters prior to putting it in the tank without treating it. the water could be heavily chlorinated.
 
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