[passinetti2007]

I know there is a forum for clown fish but I feel this belongs here since I'm still new and in need of assistance. I just got my first fish. Two Ocellaris Clowns!!! I'm wondering if there is anything I should be on the look out as far as weird behavior or signs that they might be in trouble. I'm a bit concerned because I have no idea what I'm doing other then what I've read, and I don't have the confidence built up yet since I'm new. I don't want to lose a thing. My levels look great. The nitrates getting higher since i removed my filters because my LFS recommened I replace them with live rock. Since I did that my water has gotten cloudy and without the filters to block the crap I don't see it getting better until I can add more live rock which I will do tomorrow. By then I allready had the clowns in baggies waiting to asimulate them to my tank. So I had not time to do anything but get them in there. They look fine but I'm worried I did the wrong thing and they might suffer. Any thoughts, or am I worrying too much?

[ericwebster]

You may be worried too much. But thats just being a good reefkeeper ..

With rising nitrate levels I would make sure not to feed too much -- fish dont need alot of food to grow happy and healthy. But maks sure the fish are eating...

You want to make sure you dont see any fin nipping (fish biting fish) and fish hanging out near the top of the water line seeming gasping for air ..

Make sure that there is plenty of water agitation to keep the water nice and oxgenyated (sp?).

And keep an eye on the skin for little white dust like pimples .. this could be an indication of disease ..

Good luck.

[passinetti2007]

Sweet thanks for the advice. My clowns are looking very happy. They are eating and swimming all over the place. They go up for air every once in a while but they don't hang out at the top. I think they like their new home. Oh they like to follow me around the tank when I'm looking thru the sides. It's almost like they are dying for attention or something.

[crazygator]

if they start holding a sign that says" help me" get them out. otherwise put the filters back in, ad the live rock let things cycle down then remove the filters again, not the mechanical, just the bio-filters. leave the mechanical filters in as they will remove hard particals not chemical

[passinetti2007]

Everythings looking great. I'm all natural as far as filtration goes. It's all live rock. Seems to work the best. I got rid of my sponges they raised my nitrates to fast. Now instead of water changes twice a week its once a week.