Two dead clowns in six months...

[Serren]

Hi all. I have a 13g Nano which I have had for the past six months. I originally had two clowns. Around the three month mark, one started to act sick, hiding in the back, low to the sand, not swimming well, basically dying. After about 24 hours, the poor little guy did die.

I picked up another clown a few days later, a smaller one, so that they would get along, which they did for the past three months. A couple of days ago, the original remaining clown died the exact same way. The newer clown is doing just fine.

I keep my temp around 78-80 degrees. I have no other fish. Some corals, zoa, mushrooms, the easy to care for corals, and they are doing all right. Oh, I also have some hermits. My nitratres and nitrites are both at zero.

I feed them every 2-3 days some reef flake food. (It has a clown on the picture.) I don't know the exact type of clowns, but they are the common Nemo type.

Is this just bad luck, or could something in my tank cause a healthy looking fish to die slowly over a 24 hour period? ANy advice would be helpful! I love the little guys, and dont want to get another just to have it die three months down the road.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Biocubist]

Man, sorry to hear the bad news. Think it could be the food? Wierd that the corals are doing good, but the fish are not. I am sorry I can not offer more help.

 

[Arati]

what is your PH? whats your alk? what your Ammonia? how often do you do water changes? do you use RO/di or what kind of freshwater for makeing saltwater or top off? what do you add to the tank like bufers/supplement ect?


what is in your nanocubes filter area? bioballs?

if you really want answers you need to give alot more info

 

[Serren]

My pH is 8, Ammonia and Nitrates were 0, Nitrates, which normally are 0, were about 10. This was tested after the fish had died sometime yesterday. Kh was 7. Temp ranges from 78-80. Salinity was on the low side, 1.019, but I have seen it lower before. I change about 2.5 gallons of ro/di water weekly. The only buffer/sup I use is just the built in charcol filter from the stock Oceanic filter. I had L.R. rubble in my 2nd chamber.

My other clown, is doing just fine.

Would any of the above cause I clown to slowly die over two days? Once my nitrates and salt level get back to normal, is it safe to get another?

 

[kimsie]

I'm also wondering if the food could be related...

I know most flake food isn't as nutritious as most frozen or live food... Does anyone think the lack of food variation could be a factor?

 

[Serren]

What type of food would be suggested for the clowns? I am going to my lfs today.

 

[mfp1016]

Ummm, try some cyclops, or mysis, or rotifers.....

They like meaty foods.

 

[kimsie]

I know my clowns love Rods Food if your LFS has it. It's a great blend of so many types of food... IMO it's the best