CLOWNFISH IN DISTRESS

[GhostCO]

First time posting on reef2reef. I'm sorry if this has been covered with similar water perimeters, I tried searching the forum. I set up my first saltwater tank, dosed Dr. Tim's ammonia and it recently cycled. It took 6 weeks from setup until I reached 0 PPM Ammonia and 0 PPM Nitrite. Here are the tank specifics...

29G W/ live rock, dry rock and live sand
Hygger Canister Filter
Wave Maker
Heater
Using API master saltwater test kit and refractometer for salinity

My tank did seem to "stall out" at 2 ppm nitrite (showing 5 ppm nitrite from the first LFS water test)

I continued to use Seed and according to my API test kit, nitrites dropped to 0 before I added livestock.

4 days ago the LFS tested my water for a second time and the results are as follows
PH 7.9 (Been adding Marine Buffer 8.3)
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 4.4 PPM
Nitrate 37 PPM
KH 16
Phosphate .2
Calcium 348
Magnesium 1578
Salinity 1.024

I added a pair of clownfish two days ago as well as 2 turbo snails. (too much too quick?) The clowns have great coloring, have been eating great and seem to enjoy the new environment. Yesterday one of the clowns began laying on the sand bed. It looked abnormal to me and caused me to investigate further. I observed both clowns to be breathing rapidly. I tested water parameters and this was my findings.......

Temp 77
Salinity 1.024
PH 8.0
Ammonia 0PPM
Nitrite 1.5-2 PPM
Nitrate 40PPM (unsure if this is affected by presence of nitrites?)


Given that the water parameters didn't seem to cause for alarm based on my little experience, I dosed Prime as a precaution and left them overnight.

Tonight my other clown is doing the same thing. They will rest together on the sand bed and if I approach the tank, will begin swimming around and acting normally? Can anyone shed some light as I don't want to lose them?

I will include videos of them acting lethargic as well as swimming as they do when I approach below. I will also include pictures from my API test kit as I'm learning I may be a little color blind. I performed a 10 gallon water change tonight and fish behavior remains the same. I have not observed any white stringy stools as of yet. PS I am using tap water with Prime as a conditioner/dechlorinate and RPM Reef Pro Mix for salt. I adjusted my wave maker to agitate the surface of the tank more. Both clowns are still actively pursuing food on the surface. Thanks in advance for the help!

Photos of water parameters were taken just prior to water change tonight.

 

[TX_REEF]

#fishmedics

Welcome! I don't see anything in your test numbers that would cause clowns to be unwell, and you were sufficiently patient with your cycle before adding the clowns.

What is your water source?

 

[GhostCO]

Thanks for your response, we are on a well in the mountains of CO.

 

[TX_REEF]

Do you have a RO/DI system? I would suspect contaminants in the water (not harmful to you, but to the fish)

 

[GhostCO]

I do not run A RODI system. Would you suspect these potential contaminants would affect freshwater fish as well? I started my fishkeeping obsession 8 months ago for my son's first birthday. We started a 10g tank with neon and serpae tetras, nerite snails and fire red neocaridina's. Since then, we established a blue velvet neocaridina breeding tank as well with no livestock loss. I work a job where folks tend to lose their hair at a young age. As much as I told myself and my wife it was for my son, who admittedly spends hours on his step stool watching the fish swim, it also serves as a small form of stability for me. I hate these "Jesus take the wheel moments". Are there any water test kits I could use to test for possible contaminants?

 

[GhostCO]

Update: I decided to dose API tap water conditioner instead of prime tonight to see if there was any noticeable change in the clown's behaviors. Since dosing 3 hours ago, the fish seem to have perked up and are behaving "normally", swimming about. Can you elaborate on any implications this may have?

 

[TX_REEF]

that product neutralizes chlorine and heavy metals, one of which is likely your culprit.

On your first question, marine fish are in fact more sensitive to water contaminants that freshwater fish, generally speaking

I highly recommend you invest in an RO/DI filter.

 

[GhostCO]

In conjunction with API's test kit, I've been using some test strips which indicate no chlorine presence........ how accurate they are, however, I can't say. Sincerely, thank you for the input. I think we will pick an RO/DI filter tomorrow. Finger's crossed the clowns do okay through the night.

 

[TX_REEF]

Happy to help. I’d think metal of some sort is more likely, I’d be surprised if there was chlorine in well water! Either way, the RODI system will take care of it for you.

Word of caution, don’t use pure RODI for your freshwater fish, as it will be stripped to the point that it will be missing minerals etc. that the fish need. In your salt tank, the salt mix takes care of that for you.

 

[GhostCO]

Our water is held in a cistern under the house. To my knowledge, it’s never been cleaned with bleach/chlorine but that’s where my head was. I just went down to check on them and both clowns were swimming around the tank. I’m thankful they appear to be on the mend. Thank you again!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Our water is held in a cistern under the house. To my knowledge, it’s never been cleaned with bleach/chlorine but that’s where my head was. I just went down to check on them and both clowns were swimming around the tank. I’m thankful they appear to be on the mend. Thank you again!

One important clue that I may have missed, are the snails actively moving around? If so, that points away for any water quality issue and more towards a possible gill disease in the clowns.

How are they today?

 

[GhostCO]

I can’t say I really paid attention to the turbos while the clowns were unwell. I certainly should have. The snails and clowns all seem to be their normal selves today.

 

[BryanM]

You need a RODI system. And you probably need your well water tested to see just how much filtration you need to produce 0 TDS RODI water. Well water is all over the map for what is in it. Sometimes it is pretty clean, other times it has tons of "contaminants" in it when talking about reef tanks.

 

[GhostCO]

Ok it looks like I have some work to do. I appreciate all the advice. If I test for TDS will that be sufficient to make a Rodi selection? Is there a more comprehensive test available? I’m happy to report the clowns and snails look great this afternoon. They are exploring the tank, eating appropriately and color looks great…..complete 180 from 36 hours ago. I will see what I can figure out in the meantime. Once an Rodi selection has been made, what recommendations can you all make to ensure the water is safe? Should I perform one or several large water changes? %? Several smaller water changes?