Why can't I keep a clown alive?

[jsb]

I've had my tank up for over two years, and my first clown lived the longest. I can't remember how long it was but it was close to 6 months. Since then, I've tried again, and again, and they die with in a week or two. I don't understand. My Cardinal is close to two years old, and my Flame is about 6 months old (at least since I've had them). Why can't clowns survive in my tank. My water readings are on par. My Cal is high due to oceanic salt, but I've been trying to control that. Nitrates, and Phosphates are minimal. So I don't think it's the water. This last clown ate good the first day, but for the last four days he wouldn't even try. I feed Mysis, Brine, and a Frozen Angel food mix. I always soak it in Garlic as well. I turn the pumps off so the food does get thrown around. I even dumped it right in front of him and he wouldn't even try. He didn't show signs of ich, he just got real pale in color and yesterday he passed. I hate when I don't understand why something is happening. I need some logic for this.
Thanks,
JSB

 

[romeo]

Strange because most clowns are pretty hardy. How are you acclimating them? Do you have BTA or other for him to host? What type of clown are you talking about and are you buying them from the same place?

 

[thomas712]

Acclimation procedure?
Did you notice any light fuzziness to the clown just before death?
I would also run a thorough test of all water parameters anyway. Test yourself and have LFS test and compare results. Check pH value, temp, test for stray voltage, check to see what LFS runs for salinity compared to yours.
Thomas

 

[speg]

What size tank do you have and whats the current livestock list including rough sizes (inches) of all fish? Over stocking would be my first guess.
After that i'd seriously look into getting a >tank raised clown<. Those wild caught ones can be a pain in the butt to keep alive at *first*.

 

[jsb]

Good questions...I always try to give as much as I can think of, but there is always something I leave out.
All have been tank raised clowns.
I don't have a BTA...still affraid to try.
I do have a couple of GSPs that he was checking out.
What I've always done is place the bag in the tank for a while for temp. Then I add a little of my water in the bag every 15 minutes of so for about an hour. Then to avoid letting the LFS water in my tank I actual fish him out of the bag and place him in my tank. I've recently set up a Hospital tank to start monitoring new fish in there first, but it wasn't quite ready when I bought him.
Sorry for not knowing but what's a good way to check voltage in the tank?
My parameters were just checked by the LFS, unfortunately they used a kit that provides an over or under number. I tested good for everything. My recent test parameters were
Salenity - 1.024
Ph - 8.2
Temp - 79
Alk - 9 dKH
Cal - 500 I think it has gone up since last week. I've been fighting this.
Phosphate - I rely on the LFS as of now. I need a kit.
Mag - Same as above.
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
Amonia - .25 but the kit is too old to trust, and I relied on the LFS last weekend. I need a new kit.
The LFS keep Salenity at 1.023, and that's about all I know about the LFSs water.
My tank is a 37gal. It's an odd shape though. It's 18x17x28 or 29...I can't remember.
Basically it's not a cube.
I've got 10 mini reef crabs, 4 red hermits, 5 turbos, and 1 Astrea, Tuxedo Urchin, a Cleaner Shrimp, a Yellow Watchman Goby, 1 Flame Angel, and 1 Bangaii Cardinal.
My Watchman hangs out in his tunnel all day, so it feels like I only have two fish. I thought the Clown would top me off as far as stock, do you think what I have is plenty?
I think I've answered everything, let me know if I left anything out. I also recently cleaned all pumps, skimmers, and filters of any Nitrate build up. I've got a AquaC skimmer with a Maxi jet 1200, two other maxi jet 900s and a emperor filter without the biowheel (just circulating).
OH!! I forgot I did notice what looked like a white scratch on his side above his fin the night before he passed. Of course he was pale too. I can't recall if it was fuzzy.
Thanks!