Clown fish death?

Boboe77 · Oct 16, 2013

Hi everyone!
I recently went to reefapalooza and bought a black clown pair. They were fine but a little shy for 2 days then the next day I come home and find them dead sucked up against the overflow! They were fine in the morning. Any idea of what could have happend? I have a 38 gallon mixed reef tank. Thanks!

StevenBell · Oct 16, 2013

Brother they could have been extremely stressed after the travel from store to RAP then to your home.Did you QT at all?

Boboe77 · Oct 16, 2013

I don't have a quarantine tank

I just fresh water dipped them.

StevenBell · Oct 16, 2013

What are water parameters and what else do you have in the tank?Gotta get a QT brother!!!

Boboe77 · Oct 16, 2013

Ok I'll get a quarantine, good idea! Did some quick testing and My ammonia is at 0, nitrate at 0ppm, magnesium 1405 ppm. Calcium at 430ppm. I also bought around 20 corals and a royal gramma. Other fish look fine. PH and ALK testers are in the mail.

StevenBell · Oct 16, 2013

Those deff need to get to quickly.If your PH and ALK is outta wack it could cause issues for fishies.

Boboe77 · Oct 16, 2013

Ok, will do!

ReeferBob · Oct 16, 2013

What is your salt level? Did you acclimate (salt and temp) before putting them in?

SamsReef · Oct 16, 2013

hello there, sorry for your loss. a few other pointers - how old is your tank, how much flow do you have...clown fish is not the best swimmer and as such they do not like in a lot of flow. Were they eating in the first two days?

Boboe77 · Oct 16, 2013

The tank is kinda new, it's about 6 months old and I've had chromis in it before the clowns. Water flow is around moderate not tons of flow. The first 2 days they were not eating at all, i offered them food but diddent even look at it.