Are my fish ok???

[emeraldeyes_bc]

Hey all!! I'm kinda freaking out here... I just added my first fish (pair perc clowns) and I'm concerned because they are doing a rapid mouth open/close like they're gasping.
I tested my water twice and the ammonia- 0 nitrite-0 nitrate-0 ph8.2 alk 9 salinity 1.024
Are they just stressed from the move?? Or should there be something else I'm looking for??
I also turned off my power head because it seemed to be pushing them around too much.

 

[skinz78]

How big of a tank and what powerhead? Do you have a skimmer?

 

[emeraldeyes_bc]

20g tank, marineland power head (not sure the specifics?) no skimmer yet just chemipure elite in AC filter.
I was told with such a small tank it would be fine without a skimmer as long as water changes were kept up.... I do plan on getting one when the sump is ready though (going to build it)

 

[Squishie89]

How were they acclimated?

 

[emeraldeyes_bc]

Floated the bag 15/20ish min then added small bits of tank water every few minutes before finally putting them in.

 

[Bartmmackey]

Not trying to over-simplfy. How many clowns have your had previously. My thoughts, they look like nervous Nellies and seem to never stop sometimes. Just sayin. Clowns are idiots and swim like rocks.

 

[glb]

They like to swim against the current. They look like they're going nowhere but they're fine. Mine were both swimming vertically one morning and were fine later. If they start twitching it's a mating ritual. They're silly little fish.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[Imtheguy35]

When I first put my clowns in I also thought my power heads were to strong I was adjusting the crap out of them. It seemed like they could not move across the tank. The next morning they were fine. Give it a couple days they should adjust...


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[ohio reefer]

Clowns are just weird. I've found mine pressing its mouth on the glass for 15 mins straight. I still find it odd that when they establish male and female the male has a mini seizure. My clowns are my favorite fish but my weirdest.


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[Sacohen]

Guys and gals. There is a reason the have the name Clowns.
They are strange little fish, with weird habits.
Mine like to "surf" the current from the power head.

What emeraldeyes_bc is describing sounds like they is having problems breathing.
In a 20 gallon tank with a power head it seems like there would be enough oxygen transfer in the system.
Keep a close eye on them. Due to the nature of the animal, they will do strange things, but this sounds a little beyond strange.

 

[glb]

If you're worried about oxygen in the water you can always tilt up one of your power heads to create more water movement on the surface. That helps oxygenate the water.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.