Reef Builders - The Source for Reef Keeping Information

Turbo · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 03:37 PM

Hello fellow reefers! as you can see from the title i am 8weeks into this new hobby and i can honestly say i love it even though i have wanted to pull my hair out at times and im sure i have many more hair pulling times to come!! I own a red sea max and have fully cycled it and am the prowed owner of

Green button polyps
Orange button polyps
Green star polyps
1 anemone crab
2 peppermint shrimp
1 arrow crab
1 emerald crab (i think, it came with the rock)
Loads of black snails (a name for these would be appreciated)
Loads of well camouflaged snails (a name for these would also be appreciated)
2 perular clowns

My one question is about my clowns, they both seem very erratic and look asthough they constantly want to get out of the tank, they swim against the aquarium glass non stop until the lights go out and then they seem to calm down. they are feeding ok but one has small black spots appearing!

My perameters are all fine (except slightly high phosphate).

The clown with the spots was introduced 2 weeks ago and had no spots, the other was added 2 days ago!!

Any help would be most appreciated!!

rlcline76 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 05:50 PM

I have done some reading on this.

You will need to provide water parameters... EXACT parameters. This is quite likely environmentally related.

Are your fish eating well? Do you use vitamins and garlic?

You need to start QTing or you will learn some hard truths very quickly (and so will your wallet) with this hobby.

Turbo · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:50 PM

Hi ricline76

I tested the parameters today and they are as follows

alk- 2 (added reef builder to raise levels after testing)
ph- 8.4
amm- 0
nitrite- 0
nitrate- 5
sal- 1.022
calcium- 400

Both fish are eating very well and are feeding on flake food!
I havnt added any extra nutrients as yet. I really havnt got the room for a quarantine tank and am still getting to grips with the main tank. maybe i should make it a next project if it is really so important!!
everything else in the tank is looking 100% ok

rlcline76 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:01 PM

QT: It's important.
What is your phosphate measurement?
I would suggest getting your fish a vitamin supplement (Zoe, Selcon, etc) and garlic (e.g., Kents Garlic Extreme...although, I have heard of members finely diced their own gloves.).

Turbo · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:10 PM

my lfs measured it and said it was off the scale so i added rowaphos to lower it but have not got a kit to measure it as yet!! since then i have also done a 15% water change.

Thanks for your help and taking the time to reply!!

J

rlcline76 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:12 PM

I'm surprised he didn't tell you just how bad it is. Get a decent phosphate test kit...Sera and figure out where you are. Try biweekly water changes as well, and see if there is any difference.

rlcline76 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:13 PM

Is the clown with the dark spots eating? Swimming? Acting like a normal fish?

rlcline76 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:19 PM

And start using frozen food: squid, mysis...clownfish will practically eat anything. Flake food tends to be high in phosphates.

Turbo · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:30 PM

yeah, hes eating like theres no tommorow! He puts me to shame lol.
Ive got frozen food for them 2 but i was fed up of the hassle of thawing etc so went for the easy option!
he swims around fine and seems to play around in the current but this could be my imagination!

j