heavy breathing fish , please help

[salesdog]

Hey there I am new here, although I have been reading a lot the last few months. I just joined and need some quick advice. I have a 150 tank and have a few fish. They are all breathing heavy. I have 5 damsels and a volitan lionfish. I also have a naso tang. The water levels are perfect and salinity is .19 . I have no idea what is wrong , all filters are working perfectly and havent had any problems. I have a lawnmower blenny and he too is breathing hard. ANY THOUGHTS ?/? Please help G

 

[alyssia]

What are your exact water parameters? Did you do any work in the tank today?

 

[salesdog]

thanks for the help. I didnt do anything. I did move some of the rock around last night. It was just moved. I didnt add anything to the tank. I just checked and my nitrites are zero and ph is 8.4. My ammonia and nitrates are zero. My salinity also checked out. I had ick and was using rxp (i know I know) because I didnt have a qt and it was working well . I havent had any problems at all. Oh, I did add some RO water from my lfs last night but watched them a bit long after and they were all good. Ideas ?

 

[salesdog]

checked levels again and nothing. I have had two scooter bleenys die already. The lionfish is discoloring and lying on the coral bed. The Naso seems disturbed, breathing heavy but ok. Anyone please have any ideas ?

 

[whitebird]

iwould put more power heads in fot wanter movement i had the same thing happen when 2 of our power heads got unpluged

 

[alyssia]

IDK...did you check for stray voltage?

 

[adamc1303]

I read a few posts earlier today about stray voltage so I just went on to a site an ordred this thing does anyone know anything about it?
Ultra-Ground Titanium Probe
* Safe and easy-to-use titanium aquarium grounding probe
* Helps eliminate fish health problems associated with stray voltage
* Non-corrosive solid titanium probe ideal for saltwater applications
Pumps, powerheads, chillers, and other electrical devices may emit stray voltage that causes fish health problems -- Lateral Line Disease, fin erosion, and gill deterioration. Just place titanium grounding probe in your aquarium or sump and hook it up to a grounded outlet. Includes 9" titanium probe, suction cup, 10' ground wire, and attachment eyelet.
Features:
Non-corrosive solid titanium rod
Insulated transition joint
10 foot grounded lead

 

[salesdog]

threw my other powerhead in and threw in a little prime just possibly rid something from the tank that didnt somehow show up in the water tests. It has seemed to have helped. My Naso has slowed his breathing down and the lionfish although still nestled on the coral bottom seems a little more relaxed. The damsels seem to have slowed a bit as well. How does one go about checking the voltage leak ? I have absolutely no idea abou it. I do however have a power strip under my cabinet (with a drip loop ) that is loaded up . I have no open spaces for any additional plugs. I appreciate everyones help. Any other suggestions ? Thanks Again, I am so glad I found this website. I have read on here a lot and everyone seems to be so kind and helpful to newbys like myself.

 

[salesdog]

For anyone interested. I was having serious problems with my fish last night. I did like suggested and threw an additonal powerhead in the tank and also added some carbon in my filter. I had an ick outbreak and had removed my carbon for that reason. I also added some prime for the heck of it and got up this morning and they are all breathing easily now. I havent a real clue what it was that was in the tank, possibly I contaminated it by accident when I was moving rock the night before. I washed up very well and didnt do anything unusual. Anyway, thanks everyone that offered up advice and helped me !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[alyssia]

Their is an article in the archives about stray voltage.
BTW, what is prime?
I'm glad they seem better!

 

[salesdog]

Prime is just a declorinator and helps neutralize contaminants in the water. I just added it thinking that somehow I contaminated the tank with my hands when I was moving rock, Thanks for the kind word

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by salesdog
Prime is just a declorinator and helps neutralize contaminants in the water. I just added it thinking that somehow I contaminated the tank with my hands when I was moving rock, Thanks for the kind word
not only does prime dechlorinated the water it nuetralizes the toxins in ammonia and nitrate changing its chemistry to make the water safe again for fish.I would do a water change though to bring it back to a good water.you may have also had not enough water movement causing lack of oxygen

 

[alyssia]

So prime is something good to use if you are having trouble with nitrates?

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by alyssia
So prime is something good to use if you are having trouble with nitrates?
yes it is good to reduce nitrates also if you use tap water its best to use before adding new water mixture to your tank.it does remove these chemicals but detoxifies them making the water safe until you can do a water change.nitrates and amonia will still be detected with some test kits.