Tank Crash - Fish Breathing Heavy..

[ScubaSteve]

When you stir up the tank such as you have you can release a lot of trapped organics and nitrates, all of which will fuel a bacterial bloom which consumes oxygen. I think this might be your problem. Surface agitation doesn't mean much of you aren't getting o2-rich water down to the bottom. Get a powerhead down low and aim it up. Get an airstone in there to help aerate the water until your have a skimmer up.

[Seamazter]

Also there are cases where ich collects on the fishs gills, this causes them to have heavy labor when breathing.
Did you have a case of ich that went away lately?
Sometimes the ich is still in the gills.

[BlueWorldAquatic]

when the yellow tang dies, what color were the gills?

First and formost, did you move the sandbed? or use new?

Stability is your friend, for the next 7 days at least dose the tank with approx 1 capcull per 50 gal.

Heavy breathing is more than likely 2 things, a parasite in the gills, or low O2.

if it is O2, run a bubbler, and more flow.

Hope this helps.

Ken - BWA

[Wayne]

Wow lots of people all with the same answer Any new updates from the OP?

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Wayne

Wow lots of people all with the same answer Any new updates from the OP?

if it helps any wayne knows fish cpr....what to soon?? crap lol

[Pinchy]

Wow thanks all for the response, what a great community you guys have here. Much appreciated! I have added two different additives to the tank Seachem for new tanks to reduce nitrates ect and another one that reduces ammonia. I tested my levels again tonight and was prepared to do another emergency water change however the parameters read as follows:

PH: 8.2
Nitrate: 10
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0

I will continue to add the two above chemicals until everyone seems happy again.
Skimmer will not be operational until tomorrow as i need time for the silicone in the joints running from sump to display to seal.

Flame angel / cleaner shrimp and all other fish are now eating and appear to be breathing slower. The flame also came to welcome me at the front of the tank

All power heads are facing the surface in addition to the 304.

The sand bed was old and brought from a previous tank.
The rock was out of water for about 25 minutes while the display was setup.
The tangs gills were white when he died..
Ich (have had a slight issue with this however it has dissipated for well over a month)

Hopefully the tank is on the mend only time will tell.

Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

[Pinchy]

i should mention that ich was never present on my yellow tang and he was fat as ever. Fed nori/mysis/brine enriched with garlic/nls ect hands down the healthiest looking tang i have ever seen and probably the happiest fish in the tank.