Help! Fish Gasping! Surface agitation issue?

cruelladeville · Jun 7, 2024

Hello! Help! I noticed today that my fish are all breathing heavy. They ate, and aren’t completely lethargic, but are staying closer to the top of the tank and gasping/breathing heavy.

I have a 2 month old 37g reef tank setup. I have one small BTA, a small coral beauty, a small clown goby, small engineer goby and two small clowns. All added slowly over the 2 months. I also have a bunch of soft corals. (Tank was started with cycled live rock and live sand)

Ammonia is .25, nitrite is 0, phosphate is 0.7. I know i need to test the other parameters as well. Regardless, i am planning on a water change tomorrow.

Corals look fine. Anemone is moving a bit, and a little less “fluffy” but not bad.

I realized that i had been using a HOB filter until two days ago, when we installed a canister filter. I also have a small wave maker about two inches below the surface. I’m wondering if the switch to the canister filter caused the issue?

I also realized my surface agitation is basically gone with the canister filter since it’s a spray bar that is about 1-2” below the surface. Same with the wave maker.

I also noticed my water was cold this evening- i think the heater is malfunctioning, so i put in a different heater and water is back up from 74 to 78/79. ( I couldn’t remove the old heater since it’s buried behind a big rock. ) This has not improve the breathing. (I do have a grounding wire)

I moved my wave maker up to add some agitation, and then added a power head slightly pointed to add agitation as well.

Anything less i can do?

CocoReef · Jun 7, 2024

What kind of test are you using for your ammonia? Sounds like your tank is still cycling

You need surface agitation for gas exchange Im sure the powerhead will be enough

Did you add media from HOB filter to new canister? Your bacteria population could have dropped and will need to reestablish in the canister. Might be the cause of the detectable ammonia with your bioload.

Definitely think a water change would be beneficial. Your phosphate is pretty high, Im willing to bet your nitrates will be up there too

Dom · Jun 7, 2024

cruelladeville said:
Hello! Help! I noticed today that my fish are all breathing heavy. They ate, and aren’t completely lethargic, but are staying closer to the top of the tank and gasping/breathing heavy.

I have a 2 month old 37g reef tank setup. I have one small BTA, a small coral beauty, a small clown goby, small engineer goby and two small clowns. All added slowly over the 2 months. I also have a bunch of soft corals. (Tank was started with cycled live rock and live sand)

Ammonia is .25, nitrite is 0, phosphate is 0.7. I know i need to test the other parameters as well. Regardless, i am planning on a water change tomorrow.

Corals look fine. Anemone is moving a bit, and a little less “fluffy” but not bad.

I realized that i had been using a HOB filter until two days ago, when we installed a canister filter. I also have a small wave maker about two inches below the surface. I’m wondering if the switch to the canister filter caused the issue?

I also realized my surface agitation is basically gone with the canister filter since it’s a spray bar that is about 1-2” below the surface. Same with the wave maker.

I also noticed my water was cold this evening- i think the heater is malfunctioning, so i put in a different heater and water is back up from 74 to 78/79. ( I couldn’t remove the old heater since it’s buried behind a big rock. ) This has not improve the breathing. (I do have a grounding wire)

I moved my wave maker up to add some agitation, and then added a power head slightly pointed to add agitation as well.

Anything less i can do?

I would suggest slowing down a bit. Five fish and an Anemone over the course of two months isn't slow.

It appears that you choose not to quarantine. This isn't a bad thing; there are many member here that have thriving tanks without doing so.

74 degrees is a good temp. Personally, I don't let my temp get beyond 76.

Agitating the water surface is a good move; it certainly won't hurt.

Can you provide some pictures of the tank (full tank shots)?