What's wrong with my clown fish?

[Javen]

Hey I need help with my clown fish he is acting weird. I noticed yesterday that he was staying in one spot all day and not really eating and then today he is almost laying on the sand and breathing really hard like he couldn't get a breath. And so I just put him in the fish net and am floating him now what should I do

 

[saltyphish]

He may have flukes or other parasite. What are your water parameters? How long have you had the fish? Any changes? @Humblefish ? Maybe try a freshwater dip to give some relief. Humble can help better.

 

[Javen]

My parameters are 13.0 kh. 1.025 sg. 7.9ph. 430 ca. .15po. 4.0 no3. That's all and how long should I dip him in the freshwater and I've had him almost a week

 

[Javen]

He was doing great till yesterday

 

[Javen]

He just died

 

[saltyphish]

What is your ammonia, nitrite levels? Is this a new tank? Still cycling? What other livestock do you have? Sorry for your loss.

 

[Javen]

I wrote the parameters above and what is a cycle considered ?

 

[Javen]

I have 4 blue/green chromis another clown fish a purpleback poisidachromis and a lawnmower blenny and crabs and snails and shrimp and it's a 125 gal. And it's been running for about a months and a half

 

[saltyphish]

Reading your other posts I am assuming your tank is not cycled. How long has your tank been set up. I saw you were wanting some more rock not long ago. Did you get any and add it? I saw your post for parameters but nothing mentioning ammonia, nitrites. Please take some time to read this link http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/. Also I would not add anything else until you figure out what a cycle is and what is going on with your tank specifically, otherwise you are just going to throw money away. You need to do some research and a good start is with the link I provided. This hobby requires patience and research to be successful. Good luck

 

[saltyphish]

If you added more live rock you could have started a mini-cycle. Definitely want to check ammonia and nitrites.

 

[Javen]

Isn't no3 nitrates

 

[Humblefish]

Reading your other posts I am assuming your tank is not cycled.

This would be my guess as well.

To the OP: How long has this tank been setup? What is your ammonia reading?

 

[saltyphish]

Yes no3 is nitrates but that is not nitrites there is a difference and in all honesty ammonia is the bigger concern, which you have not posted the numbers for yet. We need this info to help.

 

[Humblefish]

Yes no3 is nitrates but that is not nitrites there is a difference and in all honesty ammonia is the bigger concern, which you have not posted the numbers for yet. We need this info to help.

Agreed. Ammonia is a fast killer of all marine life. Saltwater fish are generally not affected by nitrates and even nitrites, except at very high levels. Corals/inverts can be adversely affected by elevated nitrates.

 

[joshbbert]

Just stay on top of water changes the next month or so, your gonna cycle a bit and it could kill your stock so water change as often as you can until your tank stabilizes maybe a small 5% change daily or bigger every other day. You'll get good at recognizing when its time. But a water change is your best friend in this hobby

 

[Javen]

Ok I know I did a lot wrong now with my tank but I need help on how to cycle it with my fish in it and how can I get my ammonia down . I bought a master reef test kit but it didn't come with a stupid ammonia test kit so I didn't know I needed it as bad as I do now but thanks for telling me

 

[Tahoe61]

Agree with smaller water changes, and perhaps the addition of some microbacter7 or Dr.Tims. Get some Prime. Smaller feedings and no stocking for awhile.

 

[joshbbert]

Ok I know I did a lot wrong now with my tank but I need help on how to cycle it with my fish in it and how can I get my ammonia down . I bought a master reef test kit but it didn't come with a stupid ammonia test kit so I didn't know I needed it as bad as I do now but thanks for telling me

Dont sweat it your tank seems to be cycling already so just stay on top of those water changes to keep what you have alive and in a month or two it will stabilize and test often