This is a perfect example of a tip that is learned early, but often forgotten when passing on information. Nice catch, and thanks.

Thank you for discussing your mistakes. Losing my fish made me feel the worst. I started blaming myself for being careless or less than capable of taking care 😪 These videos make me realize its a learning process for all

Rock solid advice. I've suffocated fish before. It always a heartbreaking experience. I'm happy I love the way good air stones are effective and add visually appeal. +1 on the surface agitation with FX6s. If you want plants try floating ones like water sprite. Super fast growing and most fish leave it alone. Great refugium set up plant for sump too.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Great points Miguel

If you are doing a "fish in" cycle, oxygen levels in the tank is very important. The ammonia, nitrite and nitrate conversion process affects oxygen levels a lot. I always recommend to keep hydrogen peroxide handy for emergency situations if your fish are gasping or going for the top of the tank even though you have surface agitation working. Hydrogen peroxide instantly turns into pure oxygen when it comes into contact with water. It could save you from a bad situation where you may lose your fish.

@catsailor8621

Жыл бұрын

This is Super Helpful Advice, GP! What amount per gallon is recommended for the Peroxide?

@conman20000

Жыл бұрын

How much, and is there any cons to doing this?

@bethmccracken8192

3 ай бұрын

Is a sponge filler enough, I’m looking for a filtration system with oxygen, any recommendations?

@GSP-76

3 ай бұрын

@@bethmccracken8192 What size is your tank? Are you strictly using a sponge filter? Things you should have handy are Seachem Prime or Safe to neutralize ammonia if you're doing a "fish in" cycle. That will be of the utmost importance. If you are trying to get set up with a "lot" of fish, I would strongly suggest having hydrogen peroxide on hand in case you see fish going to the top of the water gasping for air. Hydrogen peroxide is instant oxygen that will benefit the fish in an emergency situation.. but if you are just starting out a new tank with a sponge filter, have Prime and Stability on hand. Seachem Stability will give you the bacteria needed to quickly start your cycle. Do NOT change any water in the tank for at least the first three weeks. If you have fish in from day 1, just dose Prime and Stability daily for 2-3 weeks. Do NOT overfeed.

@bethmccracken8192

3 ай бұрын

@@GSP-76 thank you so much I currently have a ten gallon tank that I clean weekly, I use a filtration system, with betta , tetras and shrimp they seem to be doing fine but I want them to flourish❤️

Nice informational video Ben.

Hi Ben, I can’t thank you enough for this video! I’ve already had one sickly betta jump out of the tank through a tiny gap then my new one became unwell within days. I was baffled until I watched the video! I made the changed to my badly designed tank and now the new betta, after several worrying days, is happy again. Thank you so much. 😊 🐠

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

Ben, another great video. I could've used this information years ago during the early 90's when I kept wondering why my piranha was breathing like Darth Vader. Unfortunately, I had to learn the hard way and he would be one of several fish I lost because of not knowing how important oxygen is in the aquarium. I think this topic is extremely underrated. Anyway, thanks again. I love listening to your videos while I telework. Have a good one.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

We can run with partial O2 and the fish can get by struggling for quite some time, but one slip up, like a filter not running, and the fish have no margin and die quickly.

@happilysmpl

10 ай бұрын

@@BenOchart Can you pleass elaborate 'partial O2'. Meaning air pump turned on for some time and off for some time?

Great advice. Having a backup plan for oxygenation is important as well. I was recently without electricity for 34 hours and no losses.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Battery back up?

On all of my bigger fresh water tanks (29g and up) I'm running a power filter with a sponge filter backup. The 10g tanks are only running sponges (bettas). Nothing breaks up the surface like bubbles, in my opinion.

Hi Ben! From Ontario Canada, I have a spray bar under water pointing up and at an angle for agitation but still had some fish at the top gulping air now and then. I did notice a film on most of the surface (135 gallon tank) so I purchased an Oase 600 surface skimmer, it worked great at clearing the film plus it took care of a far end dead spot in the water flow and the fish never surface for air anymore. The skimmer is a great little tool (maybe a future product review) I am also running the Oase 850 thermo Filter which I an very pleased with and the internal heated keeps up with a constant temperature. Keep up with the great videos!

@BenOchart

6 ай бұрын

I'm hearing great things about OASE and saw some of their products at Aquashella. Their products look well built and thought out. I hope to do a review on one of their canisters someday.

Hi was hoping you can help me figure this out. I have 3 shubunkins in 110g mini pond and all they do is pipe at the top the mini pond is currently in my basement so water temps are holding around 60-64. I have a waterfall, also the water from their filter pours in so that also creates a lot of water breaking/oxygen and a 3" airstone, so I know they have plenty of gas exchange and oxygen from those 3 things. they arent hanging by the air supplies so that right there tells me its not from lack of oxygen otherwise they would be by the turbulent water or bubbler. Ive treated for gill flukes with 2 different meds, aqua prazi and also fluke M. So im sure they dont have gill flukes. What else could this be? Could there be another parasite causing this? I could shotgun treat with terminate (a Malachite Green & Formalin med) but that will kill all my BB and will have to cycle all over again. So if you can think of something else, please let me know. Ty Also, there has been ZERO flashing/darting.

Great information was unaware oxygen was so important to the biological filter.

Ben great video and topic. I could be completely wrong I don't know, but I have always assumed that tap water is low in oxygen due to being in pipes for so long. After water changes I immediately get filtration and surface movement going just based on the assumption that oxygen could now be critically low. Again I might be totally wrong, I don't know. I might just call the water utility now and ask the technical section out of curiosity and explain I'm a fishkeeper. I live just north of chattanooge and we have great water also. Ph is stable at a little above 7 by my tests but I need to verify that also. Thank you again for sharing with us.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

I think you’re right. Check out Whip’s comment. If the refill hose is above the water line creating a splash, then the water would oxygenate while being added. But most have that hose in the water which adds no oxygen to the new water. Good point😀👍🏻

Great advice Ben, my African cichlids started to make their mouths work harder so I added another wave maker to my 345 litre tank. After about 15-20 minutes, They seem to have settled down a little now which is a huge relief. Like you, I too lost about 30-40 large 😅African cichlids due to the lack of oxygen. The night it happened I was out with my two military veterans friend, having a few beers and catching up of the gossip, when I arrive home at 2am I was devastated to see all my beautiful fish floating at the top of the tank . I remember only saving one small cichlids. The cost and heartache was unbelievable painful. Your advice on fish keeper is excellent. I guess the more fish I have in my tank, the more oxygen they will require. I already~ have a spray bar in my tank from my external filter , plus two small sponge filters, and now two wave makers. It is always a worry seeing fish breath heavily. Hopefully the issue with niw be quickly resolved. I hope you will reply and give me some more advice of African cichlids. Take care and stay well. Happy fish keeper. From dennis, 73 years old ex army veteran

@BenOchart

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching and commenting. When they are all, or the majority of them, are working their mouths, it’s a low oxygen issue for sure. When it’s just one doing it, it might mean that that particular fish has something going on, like gill parasites. It’s a hard lesson when we lose fish that way.

Sir 2 of my 3 inch oscars started breathing very fast and they are staying down at the bottom but in the time of feeding they became active..im using 2 bubblestones and one sponge filter

My tank has a hob filter and an airstone. I replace the airstone every two weeks and the check valve every 5 months. I keep the water with a high aireation. Specially now because where I live Summer is coming, and temperatures may raise up to 86°F/30°C

Late response , caught the first play on device I was not logged in on (no like or comment available) 🤣 All joking aside this very message saved one of my tanks several months ago. Sprung a mild case of ich. Raised heater setpoint from 80 to 85 (over 24 hour time) once the tank reached 85 and was late at night , about half of the fish were loosing color & gasping at the surface. Raised the wavemaker all the way to the surface water line , and directed the canister outputs all the way up. Within 15 minutes their breathing settled down , started to get color back , and started swimming normal. Was a bit of a scare , however lost zero fish in that event 😎

I recently inadvertently starved out a group of 7 electric blue acara, a rainbow shark, a senegal bichir and a fire eel. I even took out a female guppy and an albino cory. But Whip, how did something like that happen, you may ask. Well, see... what happened was, After a rather large water change (at least 80%), I was in the process of refilling the tank when I was called to dinner. I wanted to finish refilling before I went to eat, but in my hurry to get a hot meal, I failed to turn the system back on. After eating, I watched a little TV. I was gone for no more than a couple hours. I came back down to feed them before going to bed and, all the above fish were floating on their sides. While I have certainly lost power for longer periods of time, I believe the combination of no gas exchange taking place coupled with a large water change that removed much of the already oxygenated water from their living environment, spelled their doom. Since that day, I have added a small sponge filter that runs independently from the rest of the system so that, should that particular scenario play out again, the result won't be the premature demise of a dozen fish.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

We’ve both been through a hard oxygen lesson. That safe guard you put in was a wise move!

I'm currently having this problem. Saw that my ammonia and nitrates were very high so did a 20% water change and added as the prime bottle says " in emergency up to 5 times the dose. I added 4 times the dose. The fish have been constantly working their mouths for 2 days. They are all in the mid section of the tank and now the water looks kinda murky. I got plenty of agitation any idea what idk how to fix it

One question i have is does the aquarium lid or the top cover reduce the exhange of gases when compared with the one with no top cover?

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

I imagine oxygen can still get in there but when a lid is real tight I usually throw an air stone in the tank like I’m doing with the 90 gallon. CO2 is escaping and I imagine it could fill up the top area of a tank with a tightly sealed lid.

I need a video that helps me ASAP. Fish are are dying as you talk. Catch you on the next video geez

Had this happen on 40 breeder. My marineland 400 HOB stopped working. Replacing it with the 450 Pro

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Let me know what you think of the Pro

@paulneuman6021

Жыл бұрын

@@BenOchart have 2 other 400s and never have problems with them oh well. I'll let you know how 450 is once it arrives and I give it a try.

hey Ben, New Subcriber here... i have 30 gallons tank with denison and congo tetra and some Cory/whiptail catfish. Just added 4 more denison so theres 6 in aquarium, but the new one is gasping for air... ive alredy did water changing 2-3times a week. What can i do to fix it? PS: the denison is fine

@BenOchart

11 ай бұрын

You can take a couple actions, assuming it is an oxygen issue. Lower temp (gradually) a few degrees. O2 doesn't dissolve as effectively in warm water, and, of course, add an air stone or anything that will break up surface tension and allow the exchange of CO2 and O2. This should resolve the issue if it's actually O2. The fact that other fish are not gasping might mean that there's something going on with that particular fish. It can be anything from stress to gill flukes. Make the changes above and if he doesn't improve right away I suggest that you put him in a hospital tank and treat with something like API General Cure or Fritz ParaCleanse. Good luck.

Both my kids have a beta in just over a 1 gal tank. I ordered them a sponge filter and heater. I was not aware until today I needed them. The fish guy at our pet store didnt know what he was talking about. We have had them now a month. I had the water tested today. I am noticing that they are both hanging out at the top of the tank. gasping for air. Our pump will be delivered in two days. Is there anything I can do to create oxygen in the meantime? I hate the idea that they are suffocating. I did recently cleaned both of their tanks. so I just poured out some of the water and then poured it right back in to break the surface to hopefully get some oxygen in there but that’s not going to do much. I don’t think?

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

They have the ability to breath air. That’s how pet shops keep them in cups. Something else might be setting. Ammonia, temperature and over feeding will cause distress.

I just lost two mollies within a week, I had 3 mollies and 6 tetras. Slightly overstocked but kept a strict maintenance routine. Tested the water no ammonia no nitrates, ph was a little hard for the tetras but good for the mollies. All I can figure is lack of oxygen or the mollies were Ill from using them to help cycle the tank. I’ve added an air stone . Any feedback would be great

@BenOchart

11 ай бұрын

I’ve had mollies and platys for off. Some are not that strong. Replace the mollies and see how they do would be my advice.

One more thing I forgot to share is, fish start gasping for air when there is passage of current in the aquarium water (static current). This current sometimes comes out from the electrical equipments submerged inside the water, like the water pump, wave maker, heater etc... when fish start gasping heavily for air inspite of oxygen being provided then I would test the water for electricity and if found would try turning off the equipment which is causing it until fish start breathing normally. Did you ever come across this or have heard others share this with you Ben?

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Fortunately I’ve never experienced this and until now never heard of it.

@awesomenesss

Жыл бұрын

@@BenOchart Maybe the grounding at your place is perfect.

Great recommendations for a fish only tank. Plants need CO2 and you can rob the plants of CO2 with too much aeration. Plenty of examples on KZread of successful planted tanks without any aeration or even filtration.

Hi. I need your help please!! Don't know what to do. My cichlids are swimming on the top gasping for oxygen. I have a air stone and a wave maker. Water test, amm-0, Nitrate-40, Nitrite-0,Hardness-25(very soft),Chlorine-0,Alkalinity-180,PH-7.8,Temp-82. Thx in advance. Did 25% water change...

@BenOchart

4 ай бұрын

Sounds like they’ve experienced some stress or ammonia burn. The only other possibility I can think of if parasites like gill flukes making it hard to breath. Hard to guess without seeing them.

@benjamins15779

4 ай бұрын

@@BenOchart thank you for taking the time to answer

the fish started to gasp for air as soon as we turned on the filter even though the filter was doing well a couple of days after

Wont be surprised if this goes unseen but having a breathing issue with one of my frontosa just moved 4 of them to a 125 from a 75 3 look great one isn’t eating and breathing heavy past few days haven’t done anything different from the 75 had them awhile very odd

@camski13

9 ай бұрын

2 hob 450 penguins (90gallons each) plus wave maker and put in air bubbles 2 days ago didn’t change anything

@BenOchart

9 ай бұрын

Might have stressed out while already weak from being near the end of a normal life span.

@camski13

8 ай бұрын

@@BenOchart I really appreciate your response unfortunately the fish passed very shortly after I posted this comment the frontosa couldn’t have been older than 2 years old so it wasn’t age not sure other 3 continue to eat and look great bummer it died

I bet many of us have less than optimal O2 levels if checked. Thanks

Hydrogen Peroxide: As a (very) last resort you can add oxygen to the aquarium by dosing Hydrogen- Peroxide, which most people have in their first-aid cabinets. When Hydrogen-Peroxide (H2O2) mixes with water (H2O) it releases its extra oxygen molecule. The net result is added oxygen in the water. AS A GENERAL RULE: Adding 1 teaspoon (5ml) of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide for every 10 gallons of actual water in your tank, (tank capacity less decorations, equipment, gravel, etc.) will produce oxygen for an appropriately stocked tank for about 12 hours. This should be done by adding the H2O2 to a gallon or so of water scooped out of the tank, mixing same and then pouring the mixture into the tank from 6” or so above the tank. NOTE: THIS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE AS A LAST RESORT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF YOUR FISH. IT CARRIES WITH IT ITS OWN SET OF RISKS AND OVER-DOSING CAN BE TOXIC. THE EXACT DOSAGE TO BE USEFUL DEPENDS ON YOUR EXACT TANK, ITS VOLUME, HOW MANY FISH YOU HAVE, THEIR SIZE, ETC., ETC. MAKE SURE THE H2O2 IS 3% SOLUTION. IF IT’S 6%, USE HALF AS MUCH. 9%, ONE THIRD AS MUCH, ETC. BETTER TO START WITH A LESSOR DOSE AND OBSERVE THE FISH FOR SIGNS OF DISTRESS, BEFORE USING A FULL DOSE. (DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY NEGATIVE AFFECTS THAT THE ABOVE REGIMEN MAY CAUSE.)

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Great info. I put out a video a few years ago on how to use hydrogen peroxide and a potato to make an air pump. It actually worked, LOL! Thanks!

Ben ..not all gasping is gasping for air ..sometimes its gulping/drinking water ..freshwater fish drink extra water if their bodys mineral levels are incorrect ..they are trying to gain certain minerals . ..saltwater fish sometimes do it too but they do it to try and flush certain minerals

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Good to know

What if there at the bottom doing it?

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Under stress or too weak to be at the top. Are they eating?

@conman20000

Жыл бұрын

@@BenOchart nope they all died, had them shipped in they were lemon cichlids

fix it fast* takes 6.5 minutes to get to the suggested fix...... big brain time air pump and diffuser stone....

Can you have too much oxygen?

@BenOchart

15 күн бұрын

Don’t know if too much oxygen is possible. The fish will use what they need,

@Mitchie.the.kidd.

15 күн бұрын

@@BenOchart I guess I should ask can your bubbler be more than what you need