What is causing stress

[Hockeyben51]

In my 75 gal tank all my params are ok except Ph but i buffered wuth seachem reef buffer and my fish still seem stressed becasue they are breathing faster than usual and are very easily frighten and hide. Ammonia wasn't undetecatable in my test but still not very high or high at all for the matter but the only thing that seem way to high was my phosphate which was a 1 on my fastest phosphate test. Is that wat is causing it? if not what is?

 

[SeanT]

Any ammonia is too high.
How does your tank get oxygen?

Also, water changs can be your best friend right now.

 

[Hockeyben51]

I have a protein skimmer on

 

[SeanT]

Did you do a water change?

 

[Pandora]

Ammonia is also more toxic at higher pH's. As Sean said, any amm is too much, must be zero. The reason they are breathing faster than usual doesn't have to do directly with the oxygen level... the membrane of the gills is damaged by ammonia, which interferes with how gases are transported across. This is why ammonia poisoning causes rapid breathing symptoms.

 

[Hockeyben51]

ok how can i lower my ammoina then?

 

[integlikewhoa]

First need to find out why its up? Is this a new tank? There is products to lower ammonia levels but need to find out why they are up first.