Why Are My Clownfish Dying?

[Charleskart]

I heve gone through two pairs, and most recently a single.

One of the first pairs were true peculas, the remainder were oscilaris.

My nitrite, ammonia, and nitrate are all zero.

The strangest thing is that:

1. All of my corals are doing great. Mushrooms, Kenya Tree, Hammer,
xenia, and polyps.

2. All inverts are perfect. Snails, starfish, crabs.

3. The fish do not show any signs of common disease. No spots, or hazy eyes.

I have heard of a disease that effects clownfish, and not to add them to the tank for around a month for the virus to diminish. I have followed that advice, but to no avail.

Unfortunately, since it is a nano cube, I have not tried to introduce any other fish to the tank, so I can not be certian it is effecting only clownfish.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

CK

 

[Anonymous]

I have had very bad luck with fish too, except for my clowns

Are all the clowns from the same shop?
Tank bred?
Is there an LFS that will "hold" fish for you for a couple weeks while you see if they are healthy?

 

[Anonymous]

What's the temp? Is there enough O2 for them? The warmer the water, the less dissolved oxygen it will have.

 

[Charleskart]

The temperature is a constant 82.

The fish are from three seprerate stores, 2 lfs and one mail order.

 

[Anonymous]

Again, how is the water oxygenated?

 

[DannyXL]

I think Greenights may be on to something. I had almost the same exact thing happen to me about 3 months ago. For some reason fish started dying in my tank 1 by 1, water changes, Battery of testing all came up good. come to realize my tank wasn't producing enough oxygen. Went and got a pump and dropped it into my tank and angled it toward surface and fish were fine ever since...

 

[Anonymous]

Gotta love this kinda poster.

Help! Having a problem! All my parameters are perfect, but things keep dying!

Seven helpful posts later and the guy hasn't even checked back. God help the next pair of clowns.

 

[DannyXL]

Yeah, I was surprised we haven't heard back from him since. Maybe he just is really busy. Something is killing them so hopefully he got some advice on it and is taking proper steps. This hobby is expensive enough as it is.

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe he was not giving his fish enough attention!

 

[Charleskart]

I have been busy, and truly appreciate everybody's input on the subject.

My tank is the 12 gallon nano cube. I have a surface skimmer, and the back sump section is densly filled with chaeto. I would hope that these both would add enough oxygen to the tank with the skimmer agitating the water; and the chaeto releasing oxygen as a waste product.

What methods can be used for testing dissolved oxygen?

Thanks again.

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO the chaeto is not going to offer any significant benefit to DO levels.

Strong circulation, good surface aggitation and a well vented canopy (or no canopy) will help. A protein skimmer can be really helpful in this regard as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Nothing like razzing a "junior memeber".

Chris, are macro-algae light O2 consumers at night like vascular plants?

I wonder if the back compartment being full of chaeto is actually hurting the O2 levels by buffering the water turbulence that would normally occour in that area.

 

[ChrisRD]

Yeah, AFAIK (which ain't all that much on this topic BTW... :wink: ) chaeto will cyclically consume/produce O2 like other photosynthetic plants/algaes.

Even if there was any net benefit I would expect it to be insignificant compared to some of the other factors already mentioned.

 

[Anonymous]

I know its old technology, but put an air stone in the back compartment. Breeders put one in every tank and back them up with batteries for a reason.

 

[Anonymous]

Before they die, do their gills look like they're pumping hard? Do they "mouth" the water surface? Do they bang on the front of the tank with their tiny fists, er, fins and make exagerated "choking" motions when they get your attention?

Just throw an airstone in the back like cwa suggests, but be ready with a QT tank just in case it doesn't look like it's working.

 

[Anonymous]

OK Charleskart! It is time to start fixing the 02 issue by removing the algea from the back compartment and putting an airstone back there!

After that it is of too the LFS for some fat healthy clowns (make sure they eat)!

Good luck!

 

[Charleskart]

They do look like they are gasping for air, and they do bump the tank.

Do you think I could just add an airstone to one of the back chambers and keep my mini-refugium? My nitrates are very low and I feel that the chaeto is helping this.

Also, are there any tests other than the live fish test that can check the disolved oxygen leves?

Thanks.

 

[GSchiemer]

I agree that low levels of O2 are your problem. I have the nano-cube and added a second internal powerhead to increase the water circulation. The airstone would work too but then you'll have to deal with salt creep. If you need further convincing, you can purchase a dissolved O2 test from most good saltwater stores and internet retailers.

 

[SnowManSnow]

i dont think oxeygen levels are your problem. did you purchase the clowns from the same retailer? My guess is that they were doomed from some sort of illness... especially since youve lost more than one in the same manner.

Try another LFS. Make sure you have adequate O lvls.

b

 

[GSchiemer]

i dont think oxeygen levels are your problem...

Make sure you have adequate O lvls.

Huh?