tropical fish emergencies

[poopsy]

I have just finsih my cycle and my cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras and tiger barbs are breathing rapidly. My Platies seem ok. my tank size is 60 x 24 x 19 inches. They are staying at the bottom of the tank. There not going up the surface for air. They are all swimming around the tank nicley but why are they breathing so hard.

My readings are gh 12, kh 8, ph 7.2, CO2 20mg/l, nh4 0.25mg/l, no2 0, no3 10mg/l, po4 10mg/l, fe 0.

 

[gaya]

You still have some ammonia in there. I’d do a water change and put an air stone in. Don’t keep the temp to high because that makes ammonia more toxic.

 

[poopsy]

if i put an airstone in there I think my plants won,t get enough CO2. NH4 ammonium is 0.25. NH3 ammonia is 0.

 

[gaya]

Well I wouldn’t worry so much about your plants. Plants can be pretty hardy and a few days without a lot of CO2 shouldn’t kill them. Also I imagine that your levels should go down fairly quickly if your tank is already cycled.