Labored Breathing

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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Read this before posting!!

Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.

While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.

Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
signnet
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

First, is it ok to use the Marine water mixed at All Fis Emporium?????

My hydrometer registered 1.004 IS THAT BAD?????

Second, I suck at math, so can you explain below:
The trick is to not raise things more than .002 per week. So, based on a 50% water change, the SG of the first batch of water you mix should be 1.004. Now the question is what is the next one and how do you figure it out? I use the formula:

(a+b)/2=c.
a= your current SG
b= what you need your next mix to be
c= your target SG

So if your tank is at 1.002 and you want to raise to 1.004 the equation should look like this: (1.002+b)/2=1.004
I'll let you do the math.....
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by Pufferpunk »

I suck worse at math.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

Ok, so now that we have determined we both suck at Math, maybe you can tell me about the other two questions:

First, is it ok to use the Marine water mixed at All Fish Emporium?????

My hydrometer registered 1.004 IS THAT BAD?????
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

Ok, so now that we have determined we both suck at Math, maybe you can tell me about the other two questions:

First, is it ok to use the Marine water mixed at All Fish Emporium?????

My hydrometer registered 1.004 IS THAT BAD?????

Also, readings right now: Ammonia=0, Nitrate=0, Hydrometer=1.004
sevenyearnight

Re: Labored Breathing

Post by sevenyearnight »

The premixed water should be fine.
Does your hydrometer read plain tap water at ? 1.004 or 1.000
Google saltyzoo, they have calculators to do the math.
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by Pufferpunk »

I know nothing about that shop or how they mix their SW. It's probably OK though. 1.004 is good for now.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

My tap water is 1.004. I just tested it. I als tested the nitrates and ammonia of my tap water. The are both at 0
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by Pufferpunk »

What are you using to measure SG? It might be calibrated incorrectly.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

So if the hydrometer is ok and the ammonia is zero and the nitrates are zero; do I stll change the water again?
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

What is SG? I have an "Instant Ocean" Hydrometer, Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Ammonia NH3/NH+4 test Kit for Saltwater and Freshwater as well as Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwaer/Saltwater Nitrate Test Kit (Reads 0 to 160mg/L or ppm of nitrate)
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by J-P »

Sg is specific gravity; the amount of salt you have in your tank.

also see:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=170
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

As I said, I have NO salt in the tank. I have been rying to fid out how much I am suppoed to change at a time. It is still FW
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by Pufferpunk »

Then your hydrometer is faulty. FW is 1.000.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
signnet
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

My tap water registers the same
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Re: Labored Breathing

Post by signnet »

Should I still do a 50% water change tonight
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