I didn't have a choice, HELP!

aviator

aviator

Member
Okay, I awoke this morning to my little tank (29g) horribly cloudy and my two false Perc's struggling at the top of the tank. I don't know what is going on with the tank yet, I'm working on getting readings for the water, but my first concern was the fish, so I scooped them out, acclimated them to the big tank and put them in. They seem to be doing okay now, but the Skunk clown that's in there is as pissed as he can be and nipping at them (yes.... I know... don't mix clowns...)
My question is this... how big does a tank need to be before you can have different species of clowns together? obviously, my 55 gallon isn't enough.
As soon as I get the little tank back under control, the false percs will go back, but until then, they need to live in he big tank.
I know they will pester each other, but will they actually KILL each other? WHAT DO I DO???
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Yes, they can kill each other. Agree with crypt, turn the lights out, put somebody in the sump, or carry them to a lfs until you can resolve the issue. As far as size, I have a 280 and I have even had problems with this. Clowns are very territorial and can be aggressive, to the point of death, towards other clowns.
 
lord fu fu

lord fu fu

Member
i guess i am just really lucky
i've had a maroon clownfish for 2.5 years and last month i added a pair of skunk clowns and the clowns get along great! they swim together and everything! i guess this is just an area i lucked out on?
 
aviator

aviator

Member
Thanks guys, I don't know why I didn't think about this before, I can put them in my QT tank for now. I know it's in good shape... man, I wish I knew what was going on with the water now! I have all the water tests running, so hopefully I will have a clue shortly. It's weird that it happened overnight! Last night everything was great, the fish ate well, water was clear etc.. nothings died overnight, but now strangley, the water is cloudy and they were struggling.
Ah the joys of aquariums.
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
You cqn put them in qt. They will be fine if water params are fine.
A sump is basically a smaller tank under your main tank that houses your mechanical and any added biological filtration like a fuge
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Do you have any live plants (macro algae) in the cloudy tank? Sometimes caulerpa can go sexu@l and that will cloud your tank horribly.
Sue
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3116960
some wine fine cheese and some smooth jazz puts the plants in the mood.
Crap! (thwops self on forehead) Is THAT what caused my recent macro algae explosion????? (Makes mental note to self: stop sharing the wine and cheese with the tank critters)
Sue
 
aviator

aviator

Member
I just found out that my wife treated the tank for Red Slime algea and didn't put an airstone in when she did it... explains the cloudiness AND the struggling fish.
they are now in the QT tank and doing fine, I've put a stone in the cloudy tank and flushed the filters out, it's starting to clear up.... It's an aquapod, so there's a small closed offsection in the back of the tank where the pump is housed, I put the airstone back there so that no bubbles make it directly into the tank. From what I understand, bubbles in a saltwater tank could be dangerous, so it's seperated out, but still areating the tank for the cleanup crew. oddly enough, all the other critters seem fine, including the anemone.
See... THAT's why they say couples should communicate! LOL.... almost killed the fish, she did!
All the water params were nominal. Ammonia was zero, nitrates and nitrites were less tham .03 ppm, etc...
 
small triggers

small triggers

Active Member
and just for future problems,, keep a BIG net and if you have to put them in the larger tank just leave them in the net where you can let it set at the top of the tank...
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
Id use one of those critter boxes instead. Fish may get nervous and hit the net and ctach a fin or gill or rubs its eye the wrong way and develop an eye issue.
water flows through. all fish can see them. That is how I suggest people introducing a new clown fish to an established clown fish. They can see and smell but cant attack.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Critter boxes are useful, just remember that not as much flow is getting into the box as the rest of the tank. Don't keep them in there for long.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by aviator
http:///forum/post/3117037
I just found out that my wife treated the tank for Red Slime algea and didn't put an airstone in when she did it... explains the cloudiness AND the struggling fish.
they are now in the QT tank and doing fine, I've put a stone in the cloudy tank and flushed the filters out, it's starting to clear up.... It's an aquapod, so there's a small closed offsection in the back of the tank where the pump is housed, I put the airstone back there so that no bubbles make it directly into the tank. From what I understand, bubbles in a saltwater tank could be dangerous, so it's seperated out, but still areating the tank for the cleanup crew. oddly enough, all the other critters seem fine, including the anemone.
See... THAT's why they say couples should communicate! LOL.... almost killed the fish, she did!
All the water params were nominal. Ammonia was zero, nitrates and nitrites were less tham .03 ppm, etc...
Oh my. Yes, please communicate if you both are caring for the tank. It could have been worse...
 
aviator

aviator

Member
I was hoping to wake up this morning to a clear tank, but it's still in the same shape as it was before, I'm not sure whats going on in there. The QT Tank is okay for the clowns for now, but it's not really a "functioning" tank - there is no live rock in it yet. Right now, there's only a 2 inch sand bed and the power head to agitate the surgace for O2 - I have a stone in there in the back as well for added airation, the rest of the tank is empty. (haven't been able to afford the live rock and cleanup crew for it) - so that tank is going to become very dirty very fast,
Any recommendations as to how to get this other tank to clear up? Everything else in there seems to be doing fine - even the delicates like the bubble-tip anemone, but the water is a little murky. The tank doesn't look healthy compared to the 55 gallon, which is crystal clear and pristine! I'd throw another filter on it, but the only other filter I have as been was cleaned with CLR by it's previous owner to get the hardwater off of it, I'm SURE it is toxic now and totally useless. (it came with the 55 gallon tank but was never used by me)
I'm ready to get this little 29 gallon tank back on its' feet. I'll do water tests this morning and report back my findings.
 
aviator

aviator

Member
Okay, here they are:
Ammonia: <0.3 (as low as the test goes - It's a tetra test and it's bright yellow)
Ph: 8.2
Phosphates 1.0
Nitrates: 0.0
Nitrites 0.0
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
on qt set ups you dont need sand or live rock just pvc pipe. Since clowns dont really hide in caves its okay for now for them. ON qt you must keep up with wate rchangesd as they dont really have the same filtration as a normal tank does. Any left over must be cleaned out asap. Not left to rot as it can cause ammonia.
Did you do a water change in the tank? I would do a 15&#37; water change today wai ta few days then do another 15% then check it in a few days. You can replace water as much as you want.
 
aviator

aviator

Member
yes, I did a 20&#37; yesterday, thought I would give it a day to stabilize then will do another 20% tomorrow, keep that routine until it clears up.
 
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