Blue Gouramis Gasping For Air

[AstonN24vantage]

hi. i have 2 blue gouramis and i just noticed they're gasping for air at the surface which is wierd because i have a pump. any suggestions?

 

[glolite]

How long has the tank been set up?
Can you post your water stats ie ammonia nitrite.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

tank has been set up for a year. nitrate 20, nitrite 0, hardness 120, alkalinity 80, ph 6.2, ammonia 0.20

its only the gouramis

 

[Truck]

gouramis are anabantoids and have labyrinth organs which enables them to breath atmospheric air...are they lethargic? or breathing normally?

 

[joel.uejio]

tank has been set up for a year. nitrate 20, nitrite 0, hardness 120, alkalinity 80, ph 6.2, ammonia 0.20

its only the gouramis

Maybe ammonia poisoning? I believe any ammo > 0 is not good.

EDIT: I'm pretty new, but I would think: BIG water change, Maybe something like Ammo-Lock to protect the fish...?

 

[AstonN24vantage]

they're breathing normal. not hard. i don't get it. they've never done this before. it just started.

 

[joel.uejio]

Regarding what to do now: I would still suggest steps to get the ammo down.

Regarding the "huh?": Have you been consistently at ammo = .20 or is that new? Any changes to the tank recently? New fish? New decor? Changed feeding schedule?

I have a dwarf gourami and I sometimes find some bubble nesting, but I've never actually seen him at the surface breathing (even though he's a labyrinth). Only had him a few months though..

 

[AstonN24vantage]

ammonia has always been like that. my ph is 6.2 so my ammonia is really ammonium

 

[AstonN24vantage]

well problem gone now, hopefully. i haven't seen them do it in a while but if i do i will tell you guys.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

there gasping again

 

[keenonfish]

tank has been set up for a year. nitrate 20, nitrite 0, hardness 120, alkalinity 80, ph 6.2, ammonia 0.20

its only the gouramis

Maybe ammonia poisoning? I believe any ammo > 0 is not good.

EDIT: I'm pretty new, but I would think: BIG water change, Maybe something like Ammo-Lock to protect the fish...?

While Ammonia loses it's short term toxicity at lower ph it should not be ignored! Putting plants in your tank should process that ammonia as obviously your filter isn't ever going to do that at 6.2.

The only other thing I would say is that it could be ph shock? If there has been an unnoticed swing?

 

[AstonN24vantage]

my tank has always been 0.20 ammonia with ph 6.2 or less. the fish were fine. its been like this for six months

 

[Truck]

tank has been set up for a year. nitrate 20, nitrite 0, hardness 120, alkalinity 80, ph 6.2, ammonia 0.20

its only the gouramis

Maybe ammonia poisoning? I believe any ammo > 0 is not good.

EDIT: I'm pretty new, but I would think: BIG water change, Maybe something like Ammo-Lock to protect the fish...?

While Ammonia loses it's short term toxicity at lower ph it should not be ignored! Putting plants in your tank should process that ammonia as obviously your filter isn't ever going to do that at 6.2.

The only other thing I would say is that it could be ph shock? If there has been an unnoticed swing?

why wont the bacteria process ammonia/ammonium at PH 6.2?

some black water set ups have a PH as low as 3 and they still function properly.

most planted tanks will be at around PH 6 anyway if they have CO2 injection because when the CO2 disolves into the water it creates carbonic acid which lowers the PH by normally about 1, and it will rise again in the evening after it is switched off.

 

[pippoodle]

what size is the tank and what filter do you have on it
how often do you do water changes - what other tank mates are in there

 

[keenonfish]

tank has been set up for a year. nitrate 20, nitrite 0, hardness 120, alkalinity 80, ph 6.2, ammonia 0.20

its only the gouramis

Maybe ammonia poisoning? I believe any ammo > 0 is not good.

EDIT: I'm pretty new, but I would think: BIG water change, Maybe something like Ammo-Lock to protect the fish...?

While Ammonia loses it's short term toxicity at lower ph it should not be ignored! Putting plants in your tank should process that ammonia as obviously your filter isn't ever going to do that at 6.2.

The only other thing I would say is that it could be ph shock? If there has been an unnoticed swing?

why wont the bacteria process ammonia/ammonium at PH 6.2?

some black water set ups have a PH as low as 3 and they still function properly.

most planted tanks will be at around PH 6 anyway if they have CO2 injection because when the CO2 disolves into the water it creates carbonic acid which lowers the PH by normally about 1, and it will rise again in the evening after it is switched off.

I appreciate that truck but I was always under the impression Nbacs started to become drowsy and even sleep under about 6.5 (and certainly don't multiply!), and actually die under 5.5 - surely that is why we buffer the water so much when we perform a fishless cycle?

Also it sounds like the OP has been to a fish shop that suggests ammonia levels are irrelevant when the Ph is below 7ish, which seems to be the attitude with my local place. In fact most places who only test ph probably think the same!