Clown killed by the light?

[osprey77]

OK went to LFS last night and got a maroon clown, did ok last night and this morning until main lights came on, and everything went down hill in my nano. The clown started bumping into things and having problems swimming, then my wife and i watched as it sent belly up, i even tried using a probe to keep him upright in a little flow. $40 bucks down the drain, any ideas on what could have happened. Tank chemistry is ok, a trace of amonia but that has to be from feeding the peppermint shrimp and the cyclopese from coral feedings the night before.... Help!!!

 

[Slakker]

you shouldn't have trace ammonia...how long has your tank been established, and when was the last time you introduced a new fish?

Also, Maroon's get much too large to keep in most "nano" tanks.

 

[osprey77]

tank is 4 going on 4 months, no other fish, it was going to be the one and only. I figured once he got big enought it would be time for a bigger tank (good excuse anyway) or transfer to my wifes tank in her class room. I was more concerned about what i need to do before trying again. Was this a case of a crazy fish or was it my tank. The LFS said it had been there over two weeks in QT.

 

[GSMguy]

it was either your aclimation, your tank or the clown was sick already
lights can not kill a fish

 

[osprey77]

well thats what i thought, the timing was just a little extreme. I think i'll check stats again and do a few cylcles on the water change and try again, anyone have to better acclimation ideas?

 

[GSMguy]

what did you do for aclimation?
amonia is very toxic work on lowering it

 

[sidd129]

Are any of your light cords in the water. Or maybe do you have a chiller that happens to kick on when your lights heat up the water and then leaks electricity to the water.

 

[osprey77]

checked the electrical idea, its a bio cube the only thing in the water is the pump and its A OK all lighting is clear. For acclimation i floated the bag for an hour then did 1/4 cup at a time additions to the bag he was in for another 3 hours. I thought if it was acclimation it would have happened sooner rather than later. This all helps

 

[preculafreak06]

Like they said a light cant kill fish.

 

[osprey77]

well i went to LFS and got a really cheap damsel, seems to be doing fine, we will see what happens in the morning, i could have had just one really wacked out clown......... But i found some more maroon clowns, at better than half the price. No gold stripes but white will do. We'll see how the $3 fish does. all water tests are still perfect.

 

[Slakker]

What are the readings you're getting for your parameters?


"good" or "perfect" doesn't help us try to figure out what happened...i'm still concerned about the ammonia readings.

 

[GSMguy]

what size bio cube
a full size maroon need at least 30 gallons to herself and they usually kill their mate in a small space