fish disease?

[m.at.the.w]

one of my clownfishes is behaving weirdly. its mouth is breathing harder than it normally does and does not swim around that actively anymore. the mouth cannot close as well while breathing...kinda like lockjaw ... the last time my damselfish displayed such a behaviour, it died. any one knows why ?

[KaLiB]

What are the water parameters? Breathing harder might be a sign there is nitrite in the water, resulting in poisoning and the fish finding it harder to get oxygen.

[m.at.the.w]

i just did a 50% water change...realised my nitrate level is too high ...

[flame angel]

i just did a 50% water change...realised my nitrate level is too high ...
How long u been running the system, fish stock level & water parameter would be helpful here? u should schedule a water change maintainence, instead of making large changes when problem arises.

[KaLiB]

I don't think the problem is a result of high nitrates unless your referring to levels above 100ppm then it could be a problem. Unless a little more details like water parameters, anything unusual that you did are posted, its not easy to pinpoint the exact problem.

[m.at.the.w]

I don't think the problem is a result of high nitrates unless your referring to levels above 100ppm then it could be a problem. Unless a little more details like water parameters, anything unusual that you did are posted, its not easy to pinpoint the exact problem.

the nitrate ppm was indeed above 100ppm ...haha ....didnt change water for a loooong time ..ammonia and nitrite level were 0 ....other than water changes ...what else can reduce nitrate levels ? does the skimmer actually help?

[m.at.the.w]

one more thing ...there is a disease in which a fish's mouth appears locked rihgt ? ...like he's unable to close it ....

[KaLiB]

Yes, there's such a problem, if i'm not wrong its called lockjaw. I can't remember if its a disease or not.

SKimmer would indirectly help by attacking the root of the problem by removing dissolved organics before they breakdown.

There are many other ways to attack nitrate problem, i won't elaborate much so readup more to findout more on the methods:
- DSB
- Plenum
- Using alot of large pieces of dense LR
- Macroalgae refugium
- Control feeding, avoid overfeeding and/or feed less
- Usage of dense filter media that encourages anaerobic bacteria to grow like biohome
- Denitrator

Water changes is definitely a costly and not a good long term solution to your nitrate problem.

[m.at.the.w]

anyone out there know of how to cure it - lockjaw ? i've tried finding out on the web ...cant get anything productive ..and it only happens to the fish i buy from a particular store ....tried dosing those general parasite solutions to the infected fish...but they cant survive ...