How much surface agitation should be used? I have a gentle ripple throughout the surface of my tank. My fish still breathe hard in the morning hours. If you hear the water breaking the surface would that be considered too much surface agitation?

A ripple on the surface should be enough. Are you adding CO2 to the tank? How heavily planted? Do the fish gasp at the surface?

I do add CO2 and lately some Excel for some BBA. The fish do not breath near the surface but breath failrly hard.

You could shut off the co2 at night.

I shut off the CO2 with the lights.

Ok. In that case, it shouldn't be co2 poisoning in the morning which is what I was thinking. You could try running an airstone during the night and see if that changes anything. I recently added a bubble bar to my non-co2 planted 10g and both the fish and plants have drastically improved, even though I have a hob that provides surface agitation.

Carissa,

If I put an airstone in at night, I will really have to crank up the CO2 during light hours? The airstone will drive off alot of CO2 during the night right?

Perhaps my plants during the day are not providing enough O2 to the fish?

I don't run CO2 but from what I understand fluctuating levels of CO2 leads to bad algae problems.

If you are running pressurized, you can start the co2 an hour before lights on which should get it up within normal levels by the time the lights come on. CO2 is always offgassing all night and day anyway, you might go through a little more for the first hour each day to bring levels up but many people do this with no problem.

Fluctuating co2 levels only causes algae when the lights are on. Algae can't grow with no light. The key is to keep co2 levels stable at the same level when lights are on.

Also realize that if you start co2 for an hour before lights on, the plants won't be using any up, so levels should rise faster than if you tried to bring them up with lights on.

There should be no reason for Excel, I would look closer at your CO2. Get a good ripple going on top and make sure you are circulating the water in the tank. Even to the point of adding a power head for circulation. You want to see plants moving in the current during the photo period. If the tank is packed with plants, even half full, you circulation in the tank will drop off greatly. Without this the CO2 is doing what? rising to the top, where the fish hang, hence there labored breathing. I've personally done the above on several tanks. You will see more pearling and less gasping. Also, the more circulation the more CO2 and ferts can be adjusted.

Also read this, good info
Plant biomass effects over time on Current and Filtration in planted tanks