First scare... phew.

Hi everyone.

So, yep, I'm new to the hobby. I just started my first tank about 8-9 weeks ago. I have been very, very patient throughout, and tried my best to not be just another moron who tried to do things too fast. I only added my first fish around a week ago.

I got a pair of very young clowns, and picked one a lot smaller than the other, so that they wouldn't have to fight much to pair. Infact, they didn't fight at all. They follow each-other around all day and night, sleeping together and everything.

I do clinicals at a local hospital, and wake up very early. This morning, at around 5:15 am, I turned on my bedroom light to get ready. I noticed something not quite right. One of the clowns was swimming around in excitement waiting for breakfast, whilst the other kinda just... lay on his belly at the bottom of the tank. Even when I put the food in, he barely got up. This lasted for about 15 minutes. He just didn't look good. He wasn't flipping over, or leaning to the side - just sitting on the bottom on the sand. I did a quick water workup, and found my pH was high. (above 8.8 maybe). In panic, I added some buffer, aimed the power-heads towards the surface, and added 2 gallons of new water.

Today when I was driving home from the hospital, i was expecting to come home and find him dead. They're both totally fine.

Was he being affected by the pH? Or does he just take forever to wake up like I do?

I'm not sure. I guess from now on I'm checking pH EVERY day, instead of every 3.

 

First thing every reefer should learn is not to chase numbers.

An 8.8 after so long of light out is very odd given that is when the PH is at it's lowest. Perhaps you miss read or got a best test some how? What buffer did you use to lower it? Acid based "PH down"?

The fish not waking up as quickly as the other is quite normal.