Dead clowns

[zibnata]

took a reading last week and the readings were perfect.I did a 10 percent water change. I did'nt realize readings could change this fast . I just did these tests:

55 gallon
50lbs LR

ammonia- 0 ppm
nitrites- 0 ppm
nitrates- 20-80-ppm (hard to tell)
ph- 7.8
salinitity - 1.024
temp.- 79 degrees

Shoud I put that 8.2 ph stuff in the tank ? What do I do about the nitrates ?
Thanks

Tank is about 3 months old.I had the clowns for about 1- 1/2 months .Last week one of them died. This morning the other one was dead. Could it just be coincidence,a bad batch of clowns,are my other fish doomed ?

 

[dizzy]

zib,

It wouldn't hurt to do another even larger partial, like 20%. This would bring nitrates down and pH up. IME the number one reason fish die is parasites. If you have ich in the tank it could spread to the others. If it was a white slimy coating ( Brooklynella ) it may vanish with the clowns. I would look them over very carefully and consider starting them on a garlic soaked food. Watch for rapid breathing or rubbing against objects in the tank. Do you have a good quarantine tank?

Mitch

 

[zibnata]

none of the other fish have any symptoms.I did notce that the clown wasn't eating the day before it died.But no signs of ich or anything else.I have a yellow tank,hippo tang, 3 damsels,scooter blennie and a clown. Also snails,crabs and 2 cleaner shrimp. I am new at SW .I have a 10 gallon fw tank that I am going to make into a quarantine tank but I have to bring the fw fish to a friend this week.

 

[31-2c]

all those additions in 3 months??? Hate to be negative, but unless you get some patience, you should expect more death to come

 

[zibnata]

I guess I am a victim of LFS bad advice. I thought the guy knew everything about SW but after reading and message boards I know he does'nt.