Fish not swimming

[hillg2784]

I recently upgraded my tank and moved my four clownfish and flame angel into a 200-gallon system. They came from a 120-gallon tank that was running HOB filters, and they swam much more actively in that setup. I added two AI CrossFlow pumps, one on each side, and have them turned down quite low.

The only time I’ve seen the flame angel come out of hiding—and the clowns leave the corner of the tank—is when all the flow is turned off and the return pump is shut down during water changes. What am I doing wrong?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I recently upgraded my tank and moved my four clownfish and flame angel into a 200-gallon system. They came from a 120-gallon tank that was running HOB filters, and they swam much more actively in that setup. I added two AI CrossFlow pumps, one on each side, and have them turned down quite low.

The only time I’ve seen the flame angel come out of hiding—and the clowns leave the corner of the tank—is when all the flow is turned off and the return pump is shut down during water changes. What am I doing wrong?

Start flow very low and gradually increase every 24 hours. Likely the flow affecting their behavior

 

[sgdnycct]

How long is recently? Water parameters? Are the fish eating? Skin looks ok? Tons of variables that could have an impact.

 

[hillg2784]

It’s only been 3 days but every time flow is off they are out. Right now just the return pump is on and they out and about. Maybe it’s the cross flows?

 

[hardcorn77]

It’s only been 3 days but every time flow is off they are out. Right now just the return pump is on and they out and about. Maybe it’s the cross flows?

Are they eating and what other fish are in the tank with them?

 

[hillg2784]

Clowns ate yesterday, mostly because I fed them in the area they were hovering at. It’s 5 clowns and a flame angel.

 

[sgdnycct]

Clowns ate yesterday, mostly because I fed them in the area they were hovering at. It’s 5 clowns and a flame angel.

Assuming all is well with water parameters… 3 days is no time for them to have fully adjusted. Give them a day or 2 with the flow off. If the flow setting can’t go any lower start with 1 hour at a time at minimum flow and slowly increase. You can try adjusting the flow to aim in different directions. Also make sure you have the right rating for your tank. It’s rare but there is such a thing as too much flow. Reefs have few spots with directional flow while all of it experiences tidal flow. I try to keep that in mind when setting up circulation in my tank.

 

[hillg2784]

Well I found an issue and it’s all on me. My salinity was way off, I must have gone to long between calibrations on the Hanna. I was at 58ppm, no wonder they didn’t want to move.

I’ve since fixed that and I’m now at 35ppm, flow is still on low but fish are moving. Will slowly increase flow just incase that was also an issue.

 

[sgdnycct]

I hear the Hanna’s need frequent calibration.

 

[Sam7]

I hope you correct with that calibration being that far off

 

[hillg2784]

I calibrated the Hanna 3 times since I found the issue. I also checked in rodi and got 0.00. My Apex is new to me and needs to be calibrated, but when using the Hanna calibration solution it was more in line.

 

[sgdnycct]

Glad you figured it out and didn’t experience any losses!

 

[Mark Goode]

I calibrated the Hanna 3 times since I found the issue. I also checked in rodi and got 0.00. My Apex is new to me and needs to be calibrated, but when using the Hanna calibration solution it was more in line.

Don't trust the Apex salinity probes. Even when calibrated they can be affected by something you can't see, and then they can drift way off. Mine tells me my current salinity is 2.9

 

[hillg2784]

So far mine has been off quite a bit but as of today it’s about 1 ppm off of the Hannah