I recently finished setting up my tank. I put Caribsea live sand and live rock in there and filled it up with water and let it clear up over night. The next day I test my ph which is around 8.1-8.4 and a Salanity of 1.023, from there I waited a couple more hours and went to buy 2 clown fish. I acclimated them for a while with the bag open slowly adding my tank water every 30 minutes which I did twice. Once that was over I got the turbo start and added the fish and the turbo start at the same time this was around 4pm ever since I’ve been monitoring them and all they’ve done is swim in the same place at the bottom for a while. And eventually they split up and one of them is at the very bottom with their mouth on the substrate of the tank and the rest of their body is up swimming and sometimes swimming backwards. And it also wedged itself under the rocks when I first put it in I was curious why but I had to lift the rock to get it out. The other clown fish seems to be swimming vertically a bit on the walls of the aquarium right now near the surface. I don’t know what’s wrong or if they’re anything wrong but all parameters seem to be in check and as well as temperature. Also do I need a air pump with a air stone for my tank it’s a 30 gallon glass rectangle and I only have a power pro filter in there with a Heater and air stone pumping air. If there’s anyone that can help please reply I’m knew the hobby and I’ve done research it’s just so tedious I feel like I have messed up at some point.
Need some help with two clowns swimming unusually as I’m doing a fish cycle.
- Thread starter ECM.Fish
- Start date
kfisc
Well-known member
First of all, welcome to the site. It appears you're struggling with what most of us have at any part of being in the hobby, which is loss and risk. I'd say that you may be facing the loss of your fish. I hope they can adjust and make it.
It boils down to waiting a good while before adding anything to your tank. Hobbyists often wait weeks or even months preparing and measuring to ensure the tank is stable enough to add inhabitants.
This is a great place to read-up on everything you can before trying again, and you'll be able to enjoy it all the more. Good luck.
It boils down to waiting a good while before adding anything to your tank. Hobbyists often wait weeks or even months preparing and measuring to ensure the tank is stable enough to add inhabitants.
This is a great place to read-up on everything you can before trying again, and you'll be able to enjoy it all the more. Good luck.
Thank you for the support and yes it’s very troubling I’ve done lots of research and rn I’m cycling the tank with 2 hardy fish I learned this method from BRStv as they listed 3 successful method to cycling a tank. And the products needed. So I added nitrifying bacteria and my two clowns to start this cycle.
kfisc
Well-known member
I'm not going to knock BRS, but like all companies, they sell a lot of stuff that hobbyists likely can do without, including additives that supposedly jump-start the process. Cycling with fish has long been on the outs with most reef keepers, so I'm surprised they're still suggesting it.
The "stickies" at the top of this forum offer great and time-tested advice on starting up or starting over. And yes, it stinks to lose things, sorry if they don't make it.
The "stickies" at the top of this forum offer great and time-tested advice on starting up or starting over. And yes, it stinks to lose things, sorry if they don't make it.
I just tested it a couple minutes ago I show the results here and I fed them a little bit today
Attachments
Not yet soon just waiting to get some money I am 16 trying to do this hobby it can get expensive
Yes hopefully they may just be trying to get comfortable as in the tank they were in before with multiple breed there was lots trying to be dominant and they were always picking at eachother or staying in a small group together. But I’ll keep you guys updated and let you know once my ammonia starts to rise and see if my bacteria will x it out
It’s day three now of testing and the clowns are swimming around now and having lots of more energy and they are eating well. I just tested the tank and I have yet to see any spike or amonia or nitrites but my nitrates going up just the tiniest. The ph and salanity is good and the temperature is around 74-76 degrees Fahrenheit.
monkeysee1
Member
....that's not what I would have done. I'd have added the bacteria plus let the live rock and sand bed completely cycle the tank completely before adding your clownfish. As the other posters said, this can take several weeks.
Good to hear that your clownfish are doing well, though. How are they today?? Yes, since you have already gone the instant adding route then watch your ammonia level closely. I'd have some Ammonia-X on standby if I were you. Keep in mind that your nitRITES should be monitored as well.
Last edited:
