New Clowns acclimated....swimming erratically

[Mickup]

Hi all -
Have had my Waterbox AIO 35.2 running for a month and a half now, and added two clowns a week ago. While one of them is picking on the other, I assumed/hoped that this was them just establishing dominance within the tank. Now, the dominant one rarely leaves a cave within the aquascape and I went to check on the tank earlier today and could not find the less dominant of the two.......I was looking for what felt like hours when I finally found him in one of the return chambers under the filter floss..... I returned him back to the tank and have now gone and checked on him multiple times to find him resting on the intake grates (once with his whole body within the tank the other time with his tailfin within the return chamber). I have checked my paramaters and they are completely normal, nonetheless I am going to be doing a 4-5 gallon water change ASAP. Please let me know if anybody has experienced anything similar to this as well as what I should do. Also, both fish have been swimming a little bit differently today... I have seen some videos on this forum that are much worse than what I am seeing in my tank but it still clearly was noticeable. I am happy to share videos if that would be helpful, hate to say it just have to wait until the little devil goes back on the grate again.

 

[Lavey29]

Are these the first 2 fish in the tank? Have you checked parameters for ammonia or verified salinity? Did you acclimate the fish? Have you checked temp and for stray voltage?

 

[braaap]

What are you parameters? That’s my first question. But if they have been fine for a week I would think it’s likely more of the stress of being beat up by the other clown. They can slowly die from such attacks. And finding it stuck to the intake is a sure sign.

 

[Mickup]

Salinity is 34 while i am reading very low on ammonia as well as nitrites, and around 40ppm for nitrates. Now, the poor guy is on the sandbed on his side and it looks like he is really struggling to breathe. My temperature is set to 80 but the temp gauge in tank says it is 79 consistently. Yes, they are the first fish in the tank. I would be surprised if he made it through the night to be honest with you.

 

[Mickup]

Are these the first 2 fish in the tank? Have you checked parameters for ammonia or verified salinity? Did you acclimate the fish? Have you checked temp and for stray voltage?

fish were acclimated with extreme care, there have been no major changes regarding any of the tank paramaters. While I do not do much with the tests I have tested at a minimum every other day since I have had the tank set up, and finally felt confident to add the fish. Guess I should have waited even longer.

 

[Mickup]

Are these the first 2 fish in the tank? Have you checked parameters for ammonia or verified salinity? Did you acclimate the fish? Have you checked temp and for stray voltage?

I have not checked for stray voltage. I will research how to do that and update you all.

 

[braaap]

I have not checked for stray voltage. I will research how to do that and update you all.

It isn’t stray voltage. It’s either ammonia or nitrate. 40ppm is high for nitrate. Nitrate can cause all the symptoms you are seeing.

 

[littlefoxx]

80 is a higher temp for a tank, means you need more oxygen. Higher the temp lower the oxygen. Do you have air stones, powerheads or wavemakers besides the one the tank likely came with?

 

[Mickup]

80 is a higher temp for a tank, means you need more oxygen. Higher the temp lower the oxygen. Do you have air stones, powerheads or wavemakers besides the one the tank likely came with?

yes, I have a mp10 on basically full blast. Sadly, the little fella did not make it. I am going to both lower the temperature as well as do a larger water change than I initially thought to get rid of my nitrates.

 

[Mickup]

It isn’t stray voltage. It’s either ammonia or nitrate. 40ppm is high for nitrate. Nitrate can cause all the symptoms you are seeing.

This is my best guess. I am going to do a water change tonight and hopefully my other clown will make it. To be honest, it did seem like he was harassed by the more aggressive clown.

 

[Mickup]

I am honestly not sure what to think, I am most definitely not going to be adding any fish, corals, or inverts for the foreseeable future to ensure that I am simply not murdering fish. Do you all think I should bring my other clown back to the store or is it okay for me to keep it in the tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all -
Have had my Waterbox AIO 35.2 running for a month and a half now, and added two clowns a week ago. While one of them is picking on the other, I assumed/hoped that this was them just establishing dominance within the tank. Now, the dominant one rarely leaves a cave within the aquascape and I went to check on the tank earlier today and could not find the less dominant of the two.......I was looking for what felt like hours when I finally found him in one of the return chambers under the filter floss..... I returned him back to the tank and have now gone and checked on him multiple times to find him resting on the intake grates (once with his whole body within the tank the other time with his tailfin within the return chamber). I have checked my paramaters and they are completely normal, nonetheless I am going to be doing a 4-5 gallon water change ASAP. Please let me know if anybody has experienced anything similar to this as well as what I should do. Also, both fish have been swimming a little bit differently today... I have seen some videos on this forum that are much worse than what I am seeing in my tank but it still clearly was noticeable. I am happy to share videos if that would be helpful, hate to say it just have to wait until the little devil goes back on the grate again.

The dominant one likely establishing a territory. it's part of what is known as clownfish hierarchy. The largest being female in most cases hog all the food, claim areas of tank, chase the male and even corner it and even attack the male. Separation may be needed placing the aggressor in an acclimation box for a couple of weeks
for swimming behavior, they chase their reflection but post a video under white light intensity for assessment.
40 for nitrate is a max but try to stay in 20 range and ammonia at <.025
80 is still safe range temperature but aim for 77-79

 

[Lavey29]

This is my best guess. I am going to do a water change tonight and hopefully my other clown will make it. To be honest, it did seem like he was harassed by the more aggressive clown.

40ppm nitrates is nothing for salt fish. Bad for fresh but not saltwater. This has nothing to do with the fish situation but water change will lower it anyway.