Worried

[Lisa Cain]

My Nitrates are extremely high. I had 5 gallons of water and did a exchange. The tank is 65 gallons. Everything looks ok but my big clownfish is swimming at the top. He has been doing that all night . I have had him for 3 years. The nitrate with the API is 80 ppm. As soon as store open I will change water. I transitioned my animals to a new tank or at least the store owner did. My nitrates have never been that high. Is there a quick fix? Is that why my clown fish is swimming at the top? The little bitty clown fish is acting normal.

 

[patrick886]

have you found out what is causing the nitrate spike? Not sure about the bigger clown though. Most of the time fish is more resistant to nitrate than the corals in my opinion.

 

[Lisa Cain]

The owner of the pet store transferred my fish from an old 92 gallon to a 65 gallon. He used some of my old water. All I can think is that the old water had high nitrate levels.

 

[Lisa Cain]

What would make a clownfish go to the top and stay there for hours?

 

[Reef and Dive]

What would make a clownfish go to the top and stay there for hours?

Lack of oxygen. Promote the best gas exchange with pumps up directed to water surface.

You have not dosed carbon, have you?

 

[Lisa Cain]

No, I have not dosed carbon with he is till at the top, Could increased nitrates make him do that?