Clown lying on side -> Trying to swim down

Hey Guys,

I have just come home to one of my ocellaris clowns lying on its side, trying to swim down.

I have been told from my mother who feeds my fish all afternoons that it came up for food, but has been doing it since she got home. And it wasnt doing anything like this when I left this morning.

I tested the water and my params are:

Ammonia: 0.5
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
Phosphate: 0.25
pH: 8.2-8.4
Alk: 9
Calc: 460
Mg: 1200

I did a 10% water change and added some ammo lock.

All my other fish and coral/nems are fine and are showing no signs of ill health.

I do currently use tap water, but have not done a water change yet this week, as I do them every Sunday, and hes been happy for 2-3 months.

I have a RODI purifier on the way, should arrive next week. But I need to know what I can do to save the little fella before then.

Any help you can give me would be VERY appreciated!.

I dont know what to do

 

Hehe I know this issue all too well... First things first... Ammonia should read 0.

Second and most important... Clowns are screwball fish... They swim goofey when it's nap time... My clown when I first got it would swim on it's side at the surface behind my old HOB powerfilter... Now one inhabits a more vertical position in a rock cave and the other sleeps On the sand...

To ease your woes I'll ask a few standard questions so you can put your self at ease...
Is your clowns fins clasped to it's side or is it swimming about using all of them?
Is your clown breathing heavily?
Is your clown showing any signs of spots or stress?

The water change should fix the ammonia issue as well as the ammo lock

But truth be told clowns are just strange strange fish.

 

Yeah I have noticed them swim really funny during sleep. But hes doing a different thing to what I have seen them do at nap time. Hes swimming basically on his side, or straight down.

Its swimming using its fins, its fins seem to moving normally. I think it is breathing heavily. Definately breathing heavier than my other clown.

There are no signs of spots or anything on its body or signs of damage.

 

The only thing I have done new this past week, is increased the time my sump light cycle goes for to 24hr.

And I have got 2 BTAs and a Star fish.

 

the addition of the BTA and starfish shouldn't really cause an issue. Less he tried to get friendly with one and the BTA wasn't so open about it.

For now till one of the others gets on and shares their wisdom all I can comfort you with is that if the clown is still eating then there is still hope... Is it at the surface, mid tank, or at the bottom?

 

Thanks for the support.

Its right on the bottom.

 

Bump

 

The poor thing has stopped swimming down, and is purely swimming on its side now .

 

It seems to be getting worse.

Should I get it out? / Move it to the sump? / Give it a freshwater dip?

 

I'm gonna assume the lights are on... Try turning them out for a little bit and giving the tank a little distance... he might change his pattern.