So, I have a pair of Tomato Clownfish which were the first inhabitants of my first saltwater tank. A few days ago, they started to have white swollen lips.
The tank specs are as follows:
55 Gallon
60lbs Live Rock
45lbs Live sand and 15lbs of crushed coral make about 1.5" bed.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 20
SG: 1.025
Ph: 8.0
Temp: 78-80F
The tank is now about 11 months old.
It has 3x Maxijet 1200 PHs
2x 150w heaters
Seaclone 100 skimmer
2x 15" T8 Zoo Med Reef Sun Fluorescent Bulbs
I have been in the process of switching from Oceanic brand Natural Sea Salt to Instant Ocean salt. I mixed some of each together to make the process gradual, and I am now using 100% Instant Ocean.
In order to get my Ph up, I have recently introduced an airstone in the tank. I get a fairly steady 8.0 with this configuration. I was closer to 7.8 without it.
The other fish inhabitants are as follows: 2x Blue-green Chromis, 2x Yellowtail Damsels.
I had a spike in Nitrates due to infrequent water changes with the holidays and vacations. After 4x 10% water changes and 1x 30% water change, I am down to around 20ppm.
The tomato's started acting very aggressively towards each other, I figured they might have been in the process of pair bonding or otherwise mating. They would chase each other around the tank, nip at each other, and even ram each other on the mouths. I originally thought that the lip issue was because they had injured themselves during this process. Early on in this, I discovered the nitrate spike and started the water changes. Now that I have done these over 4 days, their lips look much worse, and everyone is being quite subdued. My tank is usually quite active, with everyone being very social with each other, but now they all sort of "hang-out" over in the left hand rear corner of the tank.
I cannot see any "fuzziness" or anything that would indicate to me that this was a fungus. Both of the clowns have a portion of their right side fin missing, I think this is from the nipping that they were giving each other. Their left side fin and all other fins are completely intact.
I have attempted to take a few pictures of the clowns, I need a better lens, but you will get the idea of what I am talking about.
Everyone is eating just fine. They act like I have never fed them before in my life each time however. The first picture is the smaller of the two fish, the second and third is of the larger fish.
The tank specs are as follows:
55 Gallon
60lbs Live Rock
45lbs Live sand and 15lbs of crushed coral make about 1.5" bed.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 20
SG: 1.025
Ph: 8.0
Temp: 78-80F
The tank is now about 11 months old.
It has 3x Maxijet 1200 PHs
2x 150w heaters
Seaclone 100 skimmer
2x 15" T8 Zoo Med Reef Sun Fluorescent Bulbs
I have been in the process of switching from Oceanic brand Natural Sea Salt to Instant Ocean salt. I mixed some of each together to make the process gradual, and I am now using 100% Instant Ocean.
In order to get my Ph up, I have recently introduced an airstone in the tank. I get a fairly steady 8.0 with this configuration. I was closer to 7.8 without it.
The other fish inhabitants are as follows: 2x Blue-green Chromis, 2x Yellowtail Damsels.
I had a spike in Nitrates due to infrequent water changes with the holidays and vacations. After 4x 10% water changes and 1x 30% water change, I am down to around 20ppm.
The tomato's started acting very aggressively towards each other, I figured they might have been in the process of pair bonding or otherwise mating. They would chase each other around the tank, nip at each other, and even ram each other on the mouths. I originally thought that the lip issue was because they had injured themselves during this process. Early on in this, I discovered the nitrate spike and started the water changes. Now that I have done these over 4 days, their lips look much worse, and everyone is being quite subdued. My tank is usually quite active, with everyone being very social with each other, but now they all sort of "hang-out" over in the left hand rear corner of the tank.
I cannot see any "fuzziness" or anything that would indicate to me that this was a fungus. Both of the clowns have a portion of their right side fin missing, I think this is from the nipping that they were giving each other. Their left side fin and all other fins are completely intact.
I have attempted to take a few pictures of the clowns, I need a better lens, but you will get the idea of what I am talking about.
Everyone is eating just fine. They act like I have never fed them before in my life each time however. The first picture is the smaller of the two fish, the second and third is of the larger fish.
It should clear up on its own though... good luck!
