Is it normal for new fish to breathe more heavier?

Miami Reef · Dec 1, 2021

I got some new fish in quarantine last night. A few butterflies and angel fish.

Ammonia: 0 (seachem badge)
Temp: 80F

The fish are breathing slightly heavier. It doesn’t look horrible, but it’s noticeable. They aren’t very active and appear to be pretty stagnant.

Is this normal new fish stuff? I used lots of bottled bacteria (rated for 80 gallon tank) 2 days before adding the fish in. They are eating and in a 20 gallon long tank.

Miami Reef · Dec 1, 2021

And yes, they are currently in copper. Tank does look slightly cloudy (white milky) it’s very mild cloudiness. Maybe the fish need more oxygen?

kittenbritches · Dec 1, 2021

Yeet that Seachem badge into the sun!! They can take several days to read ammonia and they aren't accurate.

Despite the general consensus about API tests, I have double checked them with other tests, and the results have been consistently accurate.

I'd grab one as soon as you can and test now, and once a week (or as needed) while the fish are in quarantine. I would probably plop an airstone in there as well.

Smite · Dec 1, 2021

Pretty sure copper throws off API ammonia kit which is why so many use the badge in QT? I believe the badge reacts quicker than that to ammonia, they claim 15 minutes. But will take a lot longer to register no ammonia once it's removed, like after a water change.

I second the air stone. Any medication I treat with, tank gets an air stone near the flow source in the tank.

Miami Reef · Dec 3, 2021

So last night the badge was showing a blueish yellow color. It used to be 100% yellow so I assumed it was .2ppm ammonia? I did an 80% water change last night. I’m checking in the morning and the badge is basically showing the same reading.

Around the badge look like alarm, but the inside is Safe…

Should I do another round of water change?

Miami Reef · Dec 3, 2021

As I’m looking back at these pictures, it actually looks like alert.

This is what the seachem website states:

In the absence of free ammonia the unit will assume a yellow or faint yellow-green color. It is normal for the dry sensor to have a greenish hue. It may take up to a few days for a dry sensor to equilibrate with the water.