Help - Is my Clown Sick?

[I MD]

Hi All,

I am a newbie, and just set up my first tank - a 55gallon fowlr. I have 50# live sand, started with all marco dry rock (50#), powerhead, heater, and cannister filter. I completed my cycle over ~ 6 weeks by feeding the tank shrimp. All parameters were good before adding fish - s.g. 1.025, ammonia 0.0, nitrite 0.0, nitrate 20, pH 7.9, Temp 78-80. I did a 10gallon water change and added some fritzyme for more diversity a couple days before adding fish since I had bought the fritzyme and had it.

On Sunday night, I added 2 juvenile ocellaris clowns (captive-bred), a small scissortail dartfish, and a small neon blue goby (captive-bred), and 5 spiral-top snails. I acclimated everything over ~ 1 hour.

Everything was going great Sunday and Monday - fish were eating and very active. Parameters on Monday were unchanged from prior to adding fish.

Last night, the smaller of my 2 clowns became pretty lethargic and just hanging out near the sand on one side of the tank. Same thing this morning, and really didn't eat anything this morning or go after any food. The other clown is swimming around the tank just fine, and all other fish are behaving as they have the last couple days, and ate well. Maybe breathing a little more rapid, but mainly lethargic looking. I don't see any white or red spots or anything abnormal - fish looks the same otherwise.

Parameters today are pretty much the same - s.g. 1.024, ammonia 0.0, nitrite 0.0, nitrate 20, pH 7.8, Temp 78.

Should I be concerned? If so, what should I do?

 

[Shawn O]

Did you use RO/DI or tap water? Is there any chlorine in the tank water, this could hurt the fish. How close to the water the fish came in did you set your tank for? Is your salinity much higher than the fish's original water? What is your ALK measurement?

 

[I MD]

Have been using RODI water only with good parameters - TDS 0.0

THe fish came in water with s.g. 1.026 and mine was running 1.024-1.025, so acclimated the bag to the temp of my tank and acclimated the salinity over ~ 1 hour.

My alk is on the low end from what I read, but not overly low - 7.0 dKH

The fish is still in the same place not really swimming at all. Any suggestions?

 

[I MD]

Did you use RO/DI or tap water? Is there any chlorine in the tank water, this could hurt the fish. How close to the water the fish came in did you set your tank for? Is your salinity much higher than the fish's original water? What is your ALK measurement?

Have been using RODI water only with good parameters - TDS 0.0

THe fish came in water with s.g. 1.026 and mine was running 1.024-1.025, so acclimated the bag to the temp of my tank and acclimated the salinity over ~ 1 hour.

My alk is on the low end from what I read, but not overly low - 7.0 dKH

The fish is still in the same place not really swimming at all. Any suggestions?

 

[Cymonous]

This sounds like a sign of low oxygen. If not already done, have your powerhead pointing slightly up for more water surface movement. You could add a pump with a bubble stone. A skimmer also greatly helps.

 

[Shawn O]

Yeah, he did state he added some Fritz bacteria, overlooked that at first.

 

[I MD]

This sounds like a sign of low oxygen. If not already done, have your powerhead pointing slightly up for more water surface movement. You could add a pump with a bubble stone. A skimmer also greatly helps.

Interesting! The only thing I messed around with yesterday evening was my powerhead! I initially had it pointing to the surface, but yesterday thought maybe the fish would like a more direct current so pointed it more towards the center of the tank.

I am pointing it back to the surface now. Will leave the cover open, too, for a bit to get some more oxygen in.

Hope that is the fix. Also, called my LFS and he said to bring in a video, so am going to go there this afternoon. Was going to add the skimmer after having 5 or 6 fish, but might as well do it now if it helps with oxygenation also.

 

[Cymonous]

Interesting! The only thing I messed around with yesterday evening was my powerhead! I initially had it pointing to the surface, but yesterday thought maybe the fish would like a more direct current so pointed it more towards the center of the tank.

I am pointing it back to the surface now. Will leave the cover open, too, for a bit to get some more oxygen in.

Hope that is the fix. Also, called my LFS and he said to bring in a video, so am going to go there this afternoon. Was going to add the skimmer after having 5 or 6 fish, but might as well do it now if it helps with oxygenation also.

Fish don't care much about current/flow to swim through or around in. You just want enough movement to prevent dead spots in your tank and appropriate flow if you have corals.

If you have a skimmer, then break it in now. But yes, it will help with oxygen.

 

[mypepper]

The more surface flow you have along with a good protein skimmer, your life stock will surely benefit from the extra oxygenation. On my 90 gallon reef I have my return lines directly pointed level to the top of the water line. My new NYOS Quantum 160 skimmer produces a tremendous amount of airetion.

Thanks,
Randy

 

[I MD]

Fish don't care much about current/flow to swim through or around in. You just want enough movement to prevent dead spots in your tank and appropriate flow if you have corals.

If you have a skimmer, then break it in now. But yes, it will help with oxygen.

So, I pointed my powerhead directly back up to the surface of the water line with plenty of agitation of the water surface. I went and got an air pump and have 2 airstones in the tank, and still no change after a few hours.

I took a video to my LFS, and they said that if it was an oxygenation issue, it should not take long to perk the fish up. They also suggested I buy some prazi-pro and suggested I dose that in case the fish has a worm.

He seems to have gotten more lethargic as the day has gone and now is basically up against a rock, as if looking for support.

Any other suggestions.

 

[gone fishin]

It could be a few things off the top off my head. It could be a parasite, or other illness, low oxygen maybe, I am inclined to go with ammonia burning the gills from the over 1 hour acclimation. Good luck just my 2 cents worth

 

[Dkuhlmann]

This sounds like a sign of low oxygen. If not already done, have your powerhead pointing slightly up for more water surface movement. You could add a pump with a bubble stone. A skimmer also greatly helps.

Yeah, he did state he added some Fritz bacteria, overlooked that at first.

These are my two biggest concerns. If your powerheads break the surface then oxygen shouldn't be an issue. Why would you put anything in your tank after it has cycled? Especially some snake oil bacteria? (I don't believe in this junk)

Your cycled tank has grown all of the bacteria you need in the nitrogen cycle. You probably added too many fish too fast and created an ammonia spike that you missed with testing. I wouldn't add anymore than 2 fish in a two week period so the bacteria can grow to accommodate the bioload. It's better to overfeed two fish to accomplish this if you are going to add more fish.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Fish don't care much about current/flow to swim through or around in. You just want enough movement to prevent dead spots in your tank and appropriate flow if you have corals.

If you have a skimmer, then break it in now. But yes, it will help with oxygen.

I agree with everything that Cymonous said here.

 

[I MD]

It could be a few things off the top off my head. It could be a parasite, or other illness, low oxygen maybe, I am inclined to go with ammonia burning the gills from the over 1 hour acclimation. Good luck just my 2 cents worth

Thanks for the help. Couple questions:

If gill burn from ammonia, do you mean ammonia in the bag - when I measure daily, my ammonia is 0.0, so I am assuming you mean in the bag from the LFS?

Are you saying that acclimation over 1 hour is too long or not long enough?

And, what do I do if it is gill burn - anything I can do to help them heal at this point or just wait it out and hope for the best?

 

[Marchillo]

It could be a few things off the top off my head. It could be a parasite, or other illness, low oxygen maybe, I am inclined to go with ammonia burning the gills from the over 1 hour acclimation. Good luck just my 2 cents worth

Yes the hour acclimation was too long. I've made this mistake as well but got lucky. Fish can handle a drop in salinity. Once you open the bag the water the fish are in starts to become toxic and you should get the fish in within 30 minutes. Those salinity readings are pretty close. 15 minutes for temp and then open the bag and maybe drop in 1/2 cup of tank water and 15 minutes later drop the fish in, would have been sufficient.

 

[I MD]

These are my two biggest concerns. If your powerheads break the surface then oxygen shouldn't be an issue. Why would you put anything in your tank after it has cycled? Especially some snake oil bacteria? (I don't believe in this junk)

Your cycled tank has grown all of the bacteria you need in the nitrogen cycle. You probably added too many fish too fast and created an ammonia spike that you missed with testing. I wouldn't add anymore than 2 fish in a two week period so the bacteria can grow to accommodate the bioload. It's better to overfeed two fish to accomplish this if you are going to add more fish.

Thanks for the help. I am kicking myself for adding the Fritzyme. Thought it couldn't hurt and only help, but may be wrong about that.

My ammonia is 0.0 both days since adding fish. So, is there anything I can do at this point to help the fish along? I did add an air pump with 2 air stones. Should I do a water change?

 

[gone fishin]

I was referring to the bag water. I made the assumption that you dripped acclimated the fish either in the bag or a small container. IMO acclimating over a half hour has the potential to cause harm.

If the problem is from ammonia exposure then there is nothing I am aware of to fix it. The fish may recover to a degree.

 

[I MD]

Yes the hour acclimation was too long. I've made this mistake as well but got lucky. Fish can handle a drop in salinity. Once you open the bag the water the fish are in starts to become toxic and you should get the fish in within 30 minutes. Those salinity readings are pretty close. 15 minutes for temp and then open the bag and maybe drop in 1/2 cup of tank water and 15 minutes later drop the fish in, would have been sufficient.

Thanks for the help...good to know for next time. C

(1) I read something about drip acclimation (not sure I completely understand it since I didn't do it), but doesn't that take longer than an hour?

(2) Anything to do at this point to help the fish if they have gill burn other than wait it out and hope for the best?

 

[alwmh4]

I have had to drip some fish for hours. One local store keeps salinity at 1.013. I'm not exaggerating. I've never had this issue. I'd say too many fish too fast.

 

[Marchillo]

I am not sure what advice to give. I don't know anything about fritzyme. Water change probably wouldn't hurt but may not be helpful.

I had a Starry Blenny end up in a bucket one time with barely any water. I got him back in. My LFS sold me Voogle which is supposed to be a natural immune system booster. Does it do anything? I have no idea. It gets decent reviews. Maybe wouldn't hurt if the LFS has it but may be worthless. My Starry Blenny is doing great but I think he'd be ok anyway.

I understand how you feel. You are willing to do anything to save your fish. I just don't know how much you can do.