FISH DYING AND BREATHING HEAVY

[daniella3d]

+ 1 on that. No skimmer and a greasy fil at the surface is probably pushing it. At first I was shutting down my skimmer at night because I thought it would help my fish to sleep better because it is a bit noisy in the water when the skimmer is running, but after seing my fish breath very fast in the morning I resumed running the skimmer 24/7. I have not seen my fish do that since then.

Originally Posted by Nate

I'd put money on you having an issue with a protein film on top of the tank. This prevents oxygen exchange and tends to happen in mature systems running a cannister filter (205) and no skimmer ( or a cruddy skimmer)

It's not the powerheads.

Take both powerheads and point them at the surface of the water, from About 3 inches under the surface to agitate the waters surface and break surface tension .

3 hours later, when normal oxygen levels are reached and maintained, fish will act normal

[reefcat]

im just wondering why they all started breathing heavy when I introduced the powerheads, thats why i am hesitant to put them back in.

[kien]

Originally Posted by reefcat

im just wondering why they all started breathing heavy when I introduced the powerheads, thats why i am hesitant to put them back in.

It could be an unfortunate coincidence. The fish death may have happened even if you had not added the powerheads. If death by powerheads was a common thing there would be a lot more threads and discussions about it. I've searched and can't find anything (other than the thread you linked) about death by powerhead. Well, aside from the usual fish swimming into powerheads and getting chopped up.

Film on the surface of the water is definitely not a good thing though.

[kien]

Actually, if we go with Nate's suggestion about poor oxygen exchange (which I would agree with btw) this could explain the heavy breathing and death. It could be that your fish were just barely getting by with the poor oxygen level in the tank. Then one day you add a powerhead which introduces more flow which forces the fish to swim more which causes them to breath heavier consuming more precious oxygen which is already lacking in the tank and releasing deadly CO2 and suddenly you have a series of unfortunate events

[reefcat]

I agree, I think I'll set up the skimmer and once the film isnt present ill start the powerheads up, thanks for all the advice, I'll update as the whole situation unfolds

[cwatkins]

You could try throwing an airstone in there on an air pump until the skimmer is all setup and running.

[daniella3d]

how old is the aquarium? if it is old, it could be the "old tank syndrom" as you added a power head and it might have steared underneat the sand and released some toxic gas?

Originally Posted by reefcat

I agree, I think I'll set up the skimmer and once the film isnt present ill start the powerheads up, thanks for all the advice, I'll update as the whole situation unfolds

[reefcat]

That is a very good assumption because it is almost two years old now, but how can I prevent that from happening again when I put them back in.