What are my Clownfish doing? Video Link

Steverd · Aug 22, 2018

I've had this pair for 3 weeks and they are doing this at night.
There is an anemone below them, but they don't care about it.
They are the only fish in the 25g tank with AquaMaxx 1.5 skimmer
This is also a frag tank, full of Zoanthids.
I also do two 4-5 gal RO water changes a week with Kent Marine Salt.

Clownfish Closeups - What Are They Doing? Platinum Clownfish

Thoughts?
Thank you

GK3 · Aug 22, 2018

Steverd said:
I've had this pair for 3 weeks and they are doing this at night.
There is an anemone below them, but they don't care about it.
They are the only fish in the 25g tank with AquaMaxx 1.5 skimmer
This is also a frag tank, full of Zoanthids.
I also do two 4-5 gal RO water changes a week with Kent Marine Salt.

Clownfish Closeups - What Are They Doing? Platinum Clownfish

Thoughts?
Thank you

They only doing that in that one spot of the tank?

sfin52 · Aug 22, 2018

It looks like they are bonding becoming a mated pair .

Jackony · Aug 22, 2018

Are they breathing kind of fast? Looks like bonding, but ? How are they doing now?

DMG Reef · Aug 22, 2018

They are madly in love, but I would be worried about the ammonia in the tank being .25. Has the tank fully cycled?

Steverd · Aug 23, 2018

GK3 said:
They only doing that in that one spot of the tank?

YES, Top right corner by the sump drains, I'm guessing they like the flow there?
They are also 8 inches above an anemone, which they have ignored for a week now.

Steverd · Aug 23, 2018

Kattkrazie said:
They are madly in love, but I would be worried about the ammonia in the tank being .25. Has the tank fully cycled?

YES, I am completely worried about the ammonia, I test nightly. Been doing 5gal water changes 2x a week, (25gal Nano Fusion tank)
Does Kent Marine salt have Ammonia in it?
OH Last night I did find one Zoanthid frag melting, could that add Ammonia to the tank?
Thank you

sfin52 · Aug 23, 2018

How long tank been up running

Instigate · Aug 23, 2018

Good info on ammonia control in ht/qt:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ammonia-control-in-a-hospital-tank.296119/

DMG Reef · Aug 23, 2018

The zoa possibly melted because of the presence of ammonia. And, yes, it's death likely increased the ammonia more. I think you need to take some sort of action to save those beautiful fish. Would your LFS hold the fish for you until you get the tank under control? I know you can buy bacteria in a bottle but I haven't personally tried it. Maybe someone else can chime in about that. The fish are breathing heavy and hanging out in high flow so I'm guessing they have gill damage already. Please keep us posted on how the fish are doing and what action you choose to take. Good luck!

DMG Reef · Aug 23, 2018

I think you need some help from the fish experts @Humblefish or @4FordFamily. Those are such gorgeous fish. I hope you can get them some relief.

Humblefish · Aug 23, 2018

The elevated breathing is the only thing I would really be concerned about. Do they do this during the day as well or only at night??

Steverd · Aug 23, 2018

Jump to the 30 sec mark in the video, this is what really worried me.
Looks like the female is laying on the temp probe and the male is laying on her.
Is this normal? Thank you

sfin52 · Aug 23, 2018

Clowns will rest on things. From time to time. But the amonia level is a concern. How long has the tank been up and did you cycle the tank first.

Steverd · Aug 23, 2018

More water test - I am using the API test.
I was concerned that the Kent Marine salt mix was adding ammonia to the water.

I don't know about the heavy breathing in the video, 48 hrs later and there is no heavy breathing.
Thoughts

Maritimer · Aug 23, 2018

They don't need your anemone, they already have one. Theirs has just one tentacle, and looks like a temperature probe to humans, but they love it just the same . . .

~Bruce