Fish breathing really heavily/rapidly

[edenholly]

It's been ages since I've posted here but I'm at a loss about what to do with my fish.

Yesterday afternoon I came home and noticed that the fish (a red forest jewel, 3 small clown loaches, 2 adult bristlenose and a bunch of their "babies" - 2-5cm) in my 3ft tank were all breathing very rapidly. The bristlenose were lining the walls up high and the jewel was hanging near the surface. The loaches were hiding.

I changed out about 25% of the water and they seemed to improve, they were a lot more active. About 6 hours later things were still looking bad so I tested the water. All parameters were normal = pH 6.8, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all at 0. I did another 25% water change and addded an extra filter (just a small 500lph one as it's all I had).

Today things have not improved at all and I have no idea what to do. I can't think what it could be. My partner went to the LFS and the guy recommended some parasite treatment (some broad-spectrum thing) but he won't be home until later with it.

Does anyone have any other ideas as to what it could be or what I could do? I initially wondered if maybe some chemicals had gotten in there but I don't spray or use anything around the tanks at ALL and certainly haven't recently.

[Tyler]

has the tank got enough air?if you have a spare air pump and sponge filter/air stone put that in and see how that goes mate.

[relle]

I found this lovey, have a read through and see if anything helps. Theres some good info in there

http://www.qldaf.com/forums/diseases-fish-care-water-discussion-12/fish-top-tank-brething-38552/

[goneself]

has the tank got enough air?if you have a spare air pump and sponge filter/air stone put that in and see how that goes mate.

Tyler beat me to it- there's not enough air in your aquarium. Do you have something breaking the water surface (filter with spray bar)?

[DeadFishFloating]

check the temperature, is it too high?

Get water surface rippling to get maximum oxygenation in aquarium.

Check that dechlorinator was added with last water change

dont feed for at least 24hours

[edenholly]

Sorry, I meant and forgot to add in the temperature. It's about 26-27 which is normal for that tank as it's up quite high. I thought about the oxygen too, I already have a 30cm airstone bar in the tank and have put a tube on the outlet of the internal filter to aim it at the surface so that's rippling now too. I'll steal an airstone off another tank just in case.

Thanks for the link relle, I'll have a look!

Oh and I definitely added dechlorinator and I also haven't been feeding them. Thanks all!

[DeadFishFloating]

have put a tube on the outlet of the internal filter to aim it at the surface so that's rippling now too.

excellent, thats how we roll in this game!

[goneself]

WOW- someone wanted advice, got it, and followed it. No name calling, arguing, or abandoning the thread 5 seconds after creating it. I was told this happened sometimes, but I'd never believed, until now.

[edenholly]

Haha

I replaced the internal filter with a sponge filter as neither it nor the airstone were doing much and I figured if the water quality is not otherwise bad it probably doesn't need the extra filtration. Sponge filter is bubbling away madly so hopefully I'll see some improvement!

[relle]

make sure you update us tomorrow!

[Brengun]

If they still aren't improving look very closely for signs of velvet. It is a rotten disease which just wiped out all my 6ft marine fishes and it comes in freshwater as well.

Apparently new freshwater will alleviate symptoms but the free swimmers will reattack the fish immediately. It sits in the fish' gills eating them away and only later you find out they have a filmy layer or tiny dust on them which is velvet.

Get the parasite meds in the tank fast!