Clown Fish Help

Jason25 · 12-31-2007, 01:18 PM

Over the course of a few weeks I noticed my Clown lying on it's side on the bottom of my tank. I wouls walk over to the tank and he would swim around as if everything was OK so I didn't worry about. He seems to be doing this more and more though and I starting to get worried. He seems to be eating just fine. Is this normal????

ReefGuy69 · 12-31-2007, 01:25 PM

hey it gets tiring swimming around all day. You ever just drop on your couch and take a nap? well its the same for them. LOL just kidding. I have no clue. hopefully someone will have more insight.

Jason25 · 12-31-2007, 02:03 PM

Ya I'd need a nap too but I would like to know for sure,lol.

Jason25 · 12-31-2007, 06:31 PM

OK, I could use some help here I am starting to think he is sick, he looks like he is gasping and laying on the bottom. I have not tried to feed today since I did yesterday but I will try anyway. Please respond if you can help.

prow · 12-31-2007, 06:50 PM

no its not normal. how long has the tank been set up and when did the clown go in. also what are you testing and what are the results. kinda sounds like some kind of swim bladder issue. let find out

anything else you see with the clown? red or brown gills, anything else. can you get a pic too?

Jason25 · 12-31-2007, 07:07 PM

The tank has been up for 7 months already, he has been doing this for awhile now. I will test my water right now and post the results.

Jason25 · 12-31-2007, 07:18 PM

Jason25 · 12-31-2007, 08:06 PM

Ok something is going on in my tank. Not sure if this is due to installing my sump yesterday. I use RO/DI Water when I did it.

Temp. -79
Salinity -1.23
PH -8.2
Nitrite-.2
Nitrate- 20
ALK.- 2.9-3.6

Still waiting on the ammonia results.

I have no idea what caused this spike. I added 5lbs. of LR like 3 weeks ago. I will admit that is the last time I tested too been very busy with the holidays. You guys think the LR caused this spike?

prow · 12-31-2007, 08:37 PM

yup the new LR did it. are running carbon, skimming ect...i think it is, indead, ammonia poisioning that is causing swim bladder "disease" if you want to call it that. are there any other fish in the tank? at any rate for immediate relief dose with amquel to lock up teh ammonia and nitrite. water changes may or may not be needed but i think they will be. after dosing the amquel wait and check daily to see if ammonia or nitrites show up then start daily checks and water changes until you see nothing between changes. if you can not get amquel right away water changes will be needed 30% or more ASAP in fact i would just do a 30% water change and dose the amquel after. adding carbon with wet skimming and good water flow is a good thing to do also. dont buffer the water if the ph is a little on the low side. the higher the ph the more active the ammonia, only buffer if no ammonia and nitrites are present and they remain that way. what size tank is this, if larger might want to get a QT while the tank cycles. if its small and you have other fish water changes will work but you need to stay on it. if you clown is the only fish i would right him off and let the tank cycle and replace the clown later.

Jason25 · 12-31-2007, 09:00 PM

I have 2 other fish both damsels, tank size is 54 gal. Just added a new skimmer yesterday so that is breaking in. I have 1 MJ1200 and Koralis 1 and my retun pump of around 300 GPH.So flow wise I think I am OK. Can't do a water change until tomorrow #@$%^&.

prow · 12-31-2007, 09:12 PM

well chances are the clown will not make it by the looks. the damsels on the other hand should, dont know if that a good thing or not. sorry can say more running late for work. will check in, morning to see how things are going.

Jason25 · 01-01-2008, 10:42 AM

Well as of right now the clown is still alive but not doing well, I am heading to my LFS shortly to get some amquel and hopefully this helps. I would have never thought just 5lbs. of LR could cause this big of a spike. I think my purple reef lobster may have died as well. I am hoping it just molted and that is what I see but he is not in his normal spot and this is where the clown is. I think if the lobster were there he woul;d be eating the clown by now sinxe he is sick. Lesson learned about adding even small amounts of LR to my tank. Well we will be moving next month so I am giving my freshwater fish to a buddy of mine and will be using my 29 to hold my current livestock for a week or so while I change out the CC and use sand, then this tank will be used for curing LR or a hospital tank if needed.

sasquatch · 01-01-2008, 10:50 AM

Good luck Jason! this is a tough break and I hope you can resolve it quickly

Jason25 · 01-01-2008, 10:55 AM

Thanks, SAS, well the lobster is gone just took him out of the tank. sigh.....

panmanmatt · 01-01-2008, 11:18 AM

Try putting the clown in a methalyne blue bath for a few hours. Follow the bottle directions and be sure to aerate the heck out of the water. Meth blue will help to counter the effects of the ammonia poisoning.

You can even do this in a bucket, but be careful cause the meth blue will stain just about everything it comes in contact with.

12-31-2007, 01:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Clown Fish Help Over the course of a few weeks I noticed my Clown lying on it's side on the bottom of my tank. I wouls walk over to the tank and he would swim around as if everything was OK so I didn't worry about. He seems to be doing this more and more though and I starting to get worried. He seems to be eating just fine. Is this normal????

12-31-2007, 01:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
ReefGuy69 Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 747 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help hey it gets tiring swimming around all day. You ever just drop on your couch and take a nap? well its the same for them. LOL just kidding. I have no clue. hopefully someone will have more insight. __________________ Dennis ________ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...journal-3.html 55gal AGA w/ built in overflow 15 gal acrylic DIY sump/fuge 75lbs Fiji Live Rock 45lbs of Live Sand 1-1/2inch (1) 96 watt Super Blue Actinic Power Compact (2) 96 Watt 10,000k Power Compacts (2) Ebo Jager 200 watt heaters Seaclone 150 Skimmer (2) Hagen 50's Power Heads for flow (1) Hagen 70 Return Pump DIY ATO system (5 Gal) Mini Aqua Lights for fuge (10k/Actinic03) TLF 150 Phosban Reactor 12X turnover rate 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Peppermint Shrimp, Neon Green Hairy Mushrooms, Red Zoanthus Polyps.

12-31-2007, 02:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help Ya I'd need a nap too but I would like to know for sure,lol.

12-31-2007, 06:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help OK, I could use some help here I am starting to think he is sick, he looks like he is gasping and laying on the bottom. I have not tried to feed today since I did yesterday but I will try anyway. Please respond if you can help.

12-31-2007, 06:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help no its not normal. how long has the tank been set up and when did the clown go in. also what are you testing and what are the results. kinda sounds like some kind of swim bladder issue. let find out anything else you see with the clown? red or brown gills, anything else. can you get a pic too? __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html my clamicle..........http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...my-tank-d.html

12-31-2007, 07:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help The tank has been up for 7 months already, he has been doing this for awhile now. I will test my water right now and post the results.

12-31-2007, 07:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help

12-31-2007, 08:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help Ok something is going on in my tank. Not sure if this is due to installing my sump yesterday. I use RO/DI Water when I did it. Temp. -79 Salinity -1.23 PH -8.2 Nitrite-.2 Nitrate- 20 ALK.- 2.9-3.6 Still waiting on the ammonia results. I have no idea what caused this spike. I added 5lbs. of LR like 3 weeks ago. I will admit that is the last time I tested too been very busy with the holidays. You guys think the LR caused this spike?

12-31-2007, 08:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help yup the new LR did it. are running carbon, skimming ect...i think it is, indead, ammonia poisioning that is causing swim bladder "disease" if you want to call it that. are there any other fish in the tank? at any rate for immediate relief dose with amquel to lock up teh ammonia and nitrite. water changes may or may not be needed but i think they will be. after dosing the amquel wait and check daily to see if ammonia or nitrites show up then start daily checks and water changes until you see nothing between changes. if you can not get amquel right away water changes will be needed 30% or more ASAP in fact i would just do a 30% water change and dose the amquel after. adding carbon with wet skimming and good water flow is a good thing to do also. dont buffer the water if the ph is a little on the low side. the higher the ph the more active the ammonia, only buffer if no ammonia and nitrites are present and they remain that way. what size tank is this, if larger might want to get a QT while the tank cycles. if its small and you have other fish water changes will work but you need to stay on it. if you clown is the only fish i would right him off and let the tank cycle and replace the clown later. __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html my clamicle..........http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...my-tank-d.html

12-31-2007, 09:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help I have 2 other fish both damsels, tank size is 54 gal. Just added a new skimmer yesterday so that is breaking in. I have 1 MJ1200 and Koralis 1 and my retun pump of around 300 GPH.So flow wise I think I am OK. Can't do a water change until tomorrow #@$%^&.

12-31-2007, 09:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help well chances are the clown will not make it by the looks. the damsels on the other hand should, dont know if that a good thing or not. sorry can say more running late for work. will check in, morning to see how things are going. __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html my clamicle..........http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...my-tank-d.html

01-01-2008, 10:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help Well as of right now the clown is still alive but not doing well, I am heading to my LFS shortly to get some amquel and hopefully this helps. I would have never thought just 5lbs. of LR could cause this big of a spike. I think my purple reef lobster may have died as well. I am hoping it just molted and that is what I see but he is not in his normal spot and this is where the clown is. I think if the lobster were there he woul;d be eating the clown by now sinxe he is sick. Lesson learned about adding even small amounts of LR to my tank. Well we will be moving next month so I am giving my freshwater fish to a buddy of mine and will be using my 29 to hold my current livestock for a week or so while I change out the CC and use sand, then this tank will be used for curing LR or a hospital tank if needed.

01-01-2008, 10:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help Good luck Jason! this is a tough break and I hope you can resolve it quickly __________________ castawayreefers.com

01-01-2008, 10:55 AM	#14 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clown Fish Help Thanks, SAS, well the lobster is gone just took him out of the tank. sigh.....

01-01-2008, 11:18 AM	#15 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,028 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Clown Fish Help Try putting the clown in a methalyne blue bath for a few hours. Follow the bottle directions and be sure to aerate the heck out of the water. Meth blue will help to counter the effects of the ammonia poisoning. You can even do this in a bucket, but be careful cause the meth blue will stain just about everything it comes in contact with. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

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