clown hurt by mini-cycle?

nipper

nipper

Member
I just moved my tank, and switched from cc to ls...during the move, I added two new pieces of LR as well. My tomato clown is acting crazy. He's swimming all along the bottom edges of the tank, and up and down the corners. He hasn't eaten since I put him back in the main tank Saturday. He looks normal otherwise (color, etc)
Here's my tank info.
45 gal. fowlr
NH3 .50
NO3 5.0
NO2 0
PH 8.2
temp: 78
salinity: 1.020
Also upgraded lighting to 2 96-watt PCs this weekend.
Any idea what could be making him act so kooky! He's bumping into stuff like he's blind!
thanks
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member

Originally posted by Nipper
NH3 .50
NO3 5.0
salinity: 1.020
Any idea what could be making him act so kooky! He's bumping into stuff like he's blind!

Yes, definately, your ammonia and nitrite levels are TOXIC. You need to do a very large water change. Your tank has gone into a cycle due to the changes. If you have spare PHs get them going in the tank. You will need to do water changes daily until things settle down.
BTW: Why the lower salinity?
 
nipper

nipper

Member
done...will keep checking levels until cycle is completed. (hopefully soon) I did add water from my existing tank, as well as live sand and all of the old LR. My dottyback and CBS seem fine.
Did not mean for my salinity to be that low. When I moved the tank, the water was mixed incorrectly. I am slowly raising it back to normal levels.
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member

Originally posted by Beth
Yes, definately, your ammonia and nitrite levels are TOXIC.
Yes i agree, not too comfy at all.
Tim.
 
nipper

nipper

Member
My PH was 8.2 last night. Did another small water change this morning. About how much should I be changing each day? I'm raising the salinity very slowly. It's at 1.022 now. About .001 per day. Is that too fast?
Should I stop feeding until this resolves itself?
Sorry for all the questions. My tank has been very stable for 2 years...and now this!
 
bdhough

bdhough

Active Member
You can buy, precultured beneficial bacteria that will help bring those levels down. Around here its called BIOZYME but i think something called Cycle will do it too. It might be good to have it for situations like this anyways.....
What lighting did you have on the tank? Aside from the poor water too much light to quickly will also shock a fish especially if they were used to single flourescents.
 
nipper

nipper

Member
had 2 20 watt NO strips before. That could be it as well. But I didn't add the lights until a couple of days after the move. He was acting like that before I added the water. I will try to find the bacteria. I've had the clown for over a year...I'd hate to lose him!
 
buzz

buzz

Active Member
You said you added two pieces of LR. If they were uncured, that alone would cause the spikes.
 
nipper

nipper

Member
Ok...now I'm really concerned about this fish. All the levels have returned to normal. All fish and inverts are fine. (filter feeders on LR are open and happy)
When I feed, the clown becomes excited like he "smells" food, but he can't seem to find it...he just swims until he bumps into something...trying to "taste" sand and rock.
I then did a "test". I put a net in the water and got it extremely close to him...he didn't move away...just stayed where he was against the side...didn't try to escape or seem nervous. I gently touched him with the net, and he startled. I really think he is blind. I DO NOT want him to starve to death because he can't find food. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do? Please Help!
 
nipper

nipper

Member
anyone? Every post I've read when I did a search said that he would eventually waste away. Treatment worked for anyone?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Your Clown may have suffered brain damage from the Ammonia.
It'll take a couple weeks for the Clown to starve. If you don't see it eat after a week I would suggest euthanasia.
 
nipper

nipper

Member
I did a search for "euthanasia" on this site, and pulled up a few in-depth discussions on the subject.
 
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