Maroon clown dying

koocmada · 11/30/2013, 12:13 AM

SG: 1.024
PH: 8.1
Ammonia/Nitrite looks to be 0 (API Saltwater Master kit)
water temp 77
17 gallon mr aqua,
12 pounds of rock
1.5 inch sandbed
koralia evolution 600
100 watt aquatop digital heater
Eheim 2215 canister (added a few days ago)

Hey guys, my tank has been running for like 2 months. I've had 2 scarlet, 2 blue leg hermits and 3 snails for a while with no problems. From what I can tell my water appears to be fine. Some of the stuff in the tank was transferred from a 3 gallon soft coral tank that ran for about a year. I finally decided to buy a fish last Friday for the first time and he seems to be having some issues. The first few days he was fine eating frozen brine shrimp but the last few days he hasn't eaten anything. His lips look like they're swollen and he isn't closing his mouth anymore. I do not have a qt tank and I drip acclimated him over a 30 minute period when I got him. Basically at this point i'm feeling like a murderer and don't want to buy fish anymore... I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what i'm doing wrong at this point? I also do a daily 2 qt water change (this became a habit with my 3 gallon). Anyway, I just took a look at him again and hes barely swimming above the sand. The last couple days he had been swimming okay just not eating. I get the feeling he wont make it through the night 8(. I was also wondering if maybe I had a little too much flow between the spray bar on the canister filter and the 600gph powerhead?

mrpergo · 11/30/2013, 08:31 AM

maroon clown really needs a bigger tank ( 30 gal is suggested )
Not sure what killed him though
sorry for your loss

bob1968 · 11/30/2013, 09:29 AM

Could be lock jaw
Try feeding him some bigger foods
That worked for me
Good luck

koocmada · 11/30/2013, 10:47 AM

Attempting to use some Melafix... I thought for sure he was a goner last night but today he seems to be swimming around better. His eyes are looking cloudy now though. Hope he pulls through this. Let me know if anyone has any other suggestions.

FTDelta · 11/30/2013, 10:51 AM

A number of problems:

Number one is your tank is too small for a MArron clown. They get upwards to 6 inches or more. Get a bigger tank.

Get rid of the canister filter - they're known to be nitrate factories. Get a skimmer instead.

Ditch the API test kit. They're iffy and can throw off your readings at times. Invest in a really good quality master test kit like Red Sea, Seachem, or Sailifert.

A QT tank is fairly cheap to set up. All you need is a 10 gallon tank set-up with a heater, HOB filter, simple hood with light and a small section of PVC pipe for a hidy place. Always follow QT protocal for all new fish. Not QTing all new fish is guaranteeing you will introduce diseases/parasites in your DT.

11/30/2013, 12:13 AM	#1
koocmada Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 60	Maroon clown dying SG: 1.024 PH: 8.1 Ammonia/Nitrite looks to be 0 (API Saltwater Master kit) water temp 77 17 gallon mr aqua, 12 pounds of rock 1.5 inch sandbed koralia evolution 600 100 watt aquatop digital heater Eheim 2215 canister (added a few days ago) Hey guys, my tank has been running for like 2 months. I've had 2 scarlet, 2 blue leg hermits and 3 snails for a while with no problems. From what I can tell my water appears to be fine. Some of the stuff in the tank was transferred from a 3 gallon soft coral tank that ran for about a year. I finally decided to buy a fish last Friday for the first time and he seems to be having some issues. The first few days he was fine eating frozen brine shrimp but the last few days he hasn't eaten anything. His lips look like they're swollen and he isn't closing his mouth anymore. I do not have a qt tank and I drip acclimated him over a 30 minute period when I got him. Basically at this point i'm feeling like a murderer and don't want to buy fish anymore... I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what i'm doing wrong at this point? I also do a daily 2 qt water change (this became a habit with my 3 gallon). Anyway, I just took a look at him again and hes barely swimming above the sand. The last couple days he had been swimming okay just not eating. I get the feeling he wont make it through the night 8(. I was also wondering if maybe I had a little too much flow between the spray bar on the canister filter and the 600gph powerhead?

11/30/2013, 08:31 AM	#2
mrpergo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Hilton,N.Y. Posts: 398	maroon clown really needs a bigger tank ( 30 gal is suggested ) Not sure what killed him though sorry for your loss

11/30/2013, 09:29 AM	#3
bob1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bristol,pa. Posts: 303	Could be lock jaw Try feeding him some bigger foods That worked for me Good luck

11/30/2013, 10:47 AM	#4
koocmada Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 60	Attempting to use some Melafix... I thought for sure he was a goner last night but today he seems to be swimming around better. His eyes are looking cloudy now though. Hope he pulls through this. Let me know if anyone has any other suggestions.

11/30/2013, 10:51 AM	#5
FTDelta Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NY Posts: 1,124	A number of problems: Number one is your tank is too small for a MArron clown. They get upwards to 6 inches or more. Get a bigger tank. Get rid of the canister filter - they're known to be nitrate factories. Get a skimmer instead. Ditch the API test kit. They're iffy and can throw off your readings at times. Invest in a really good quality master test kit like Red Sea, Seachem, or Sailifert. A QT tank is fairly cheap to set up. All you need is a 10 gallon tank set-up with a heater, HOB filter, simple hood with light and a small section of PVC pipe for a hidy place. Always follow QT protocal for all new fish. Not QTing all new fish is guaranteeing you will introduce diseases/parasites in your DT.