lonely clown

Hello, I am fairly new to SW (although have kept fresh for 20+ years). Not much in the tank yet, as I am trying to go slow. The clown has taken up residency at the top corner of the tank by the filter tube and doesn't come down all day. Only eats what floats by that area too. He looks healthy and no problem with any of the other inhabitants. Has the clown just hosted this area and if so how come he doesn't leave that area during the day? He looks so lonely up there. The tang seems to have no interest in him, although he was just added the other day.

PARAMETERS
Temperature:78
PH:8.3
Ammonia:0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0
Salinity: 31
dKH/KH/Alkalinity: 11
Magnesium:
Calcium: 420
Phosphate: .25
Tank size? 55 gal Reef

Current inhabitants? 1 Clown, 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Scooter Blenny, 1 Peppermint Shrimp
Clean up crew? 5 Snails, 10 blue and red-legged hermits
1 mushroom and some green button polyps

How long has your tank been set-up? 3 months

Substrate.
Type? Sand
Depth? 3 inches

Live rock? yes
How much? 30 lbs
Did you recently add some?

Filtration.
Type? fluval 304
Protein skimmer? Seaclone
Do you wet or dry skim? wetish
Drilled tank/hang on back overflow? none
Sump/refugium. What's in it and how much? None

Lighting.
Lighting type? 2x Coralife 6000k 50/50
Age of bulbs? 3 months

Feeding
What? flake, pellet, frozen cyclops
How often? 2x/day

What salt brand? red sea max
Water source? treated/filtered tap

Do you have a ground probe? no
What kind of flow does your tank have? 2x koralia 2, split return from fluval

 

Yep, he's probably hosting that filter tube. Its normal to have them not leave their areas.
You can try moving the filter, that *might* work. Or he will move on to something else. Or not
It could also be that he doesn't feel secure due to there not being many hiding places. You are very light on rock (about 1/3 of what you should have). General rule of thumb is one and a half pounds per gallon.

 

i would say the fish is nervous to leave it's safety zone, more rock

 

I'm working on more rock, got about 70 lbs of DIY live rock cooking in a tub in the basement. About 4 more weeks and it should be ready.

 

I have over 160 lbs of LR with lots of nooks and crannys in it and my clown does the same thing. That is normal clown behavior..they swim up and down in their spot. Occasionally move out a little but mine is in the corner and I dont think he EVER has left that half of the tank

 

Actually, BOTH of my clowns (mated pair) stayed in the corner for probably a month or so. After we added a few more fish, they started venturing out more and now will swim around the tank. They still head to their corner when the lights go out or during tank cleaning (or when the coral beauty gets mad at them).

 

A ditherfish of some sort will settle down the clown. More rock will help, though 1.5 pounds per gallon is a bit much for my taste; my clowns like the little caves I built them - they feel more secure. That being said, some clowns like filter tubes. Their not called clowns for nothing

 

well I added a new picasso last night to my tank (I had a pair of picasso and the female died a couple months ago). So I thought I would try out a new one. I found a beatiful class A picasso (the remaining is a B) so I decided to try it out!

That dumb fish went right to the same corner where my first clown hangs out. So now they both hang out in that corner (fighting for dominence right now) I am glad to say that hte new fish did find my RBTA and began hosting it. The older one is now learning to host it also (however the new one doesnt like the old one in his anemone!!) Luckily the RBTA is happy in their corner of the tank

 

Can you post a pic?? Thanks 50JumpChump

 

yeah...I will try to snap one tomorrow when I get home. I just looked and the new one is in the anemone and the old one is in his usual spot!