Goldfish surface breathing

[mrswan]

Lost some already, then moved them to a new pond.
This one got very green over time as well and now the goldfish are sucking at the surface for air. Particularly one fish.

I added 1 oz of muriatic to a 2000gal pond.

Ph has been steady at near 8.8ish. Maybe 9. Having a hard time getting it down.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 10ppm
Nitrate near 0? Maybe 1-2ppm

TA is 100
CH is 175
KH is 100
CA2+ is 120

I have a cheap DO meter that I can't test accuracy that shows 8mg/L

Two aerator stones and large water fall moving water around. Turning over pond every 30m with pump


Any thoughts on what's going on?

[elfsprin]

I've only been keeping my pond since 2018 and I don't consider myself an expert, but:

My first thought is that the algae might be in competition with your fish for oxygen consumption. Algae consume oxygen at night and release oxygen during the day, so if you mostly observe surface breathing in the first half of the day then this theory seems even more likely. I'd try clearing the algae and seeing if they stop surface breathing. I've had the best luck with nualgi products - I tried five of six other brands to clear algae and none worked.

This is the combo pack I've been using for three years and it always does a great job: https://nualgiponds.com/product/combo-pack/

[cindy]

Air breathing. Need more aeration or they have gill problems. What is your water ph out of the tap? Never a good idea to drop ph

The green is new pond syndrome. It’s establishing itself. Do you have a biofilter for the bacteria to grow

[BWG]

What is the water temperature?

[PetHavenTales]

"Surface breathing in goldfish is often a sign that they’re struggling with low oxygen levels in the water. Check your tank’s aeration and ensure your filter is working efficiently to circulate and oxygenate the water. Testing for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels is also crucial—poor water quality can lead to stress and this behavior. Adding an air stone or increasing surface agitation might help. If the issue persists, it’s worth investigating further to ensure your goldfish stay happy and healthy!"