Help clown not happy!

Hi I have a 68 gallon , 6 week old marine tank that has finished its cycle. I added two clown fish which i driped my water in to for 20 mins to help them adjust and the smaller of the two is not happy at all. Its sitting is the top of the tank with its mouth open the whole time. When i feed it it swims to the food then swims away at the last moment.I came down this morning and he was at the top of the tank swimming on his side which he kepps doing now and then. Both fish were added to the tank together and have not been fighting.
Any advice ??
Thanks K

 

Hey!

That might be "insufficient dissolved oxygen" - issue. Before we try to help you please check your water parameters! Especially: pH, nitrogen-related and temperature! Do you have protein skimmer ?!

 

Hi yes i have a octopus BH-300 with 2 motors, the ph is 8.2 - 8.3
the ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10 (due water change on sunday)

my protein skimmmer is kickin out lots of micro bubbles thou.

 

and i forgot to put temp is 27 and i checked all my parameters today and have done them 3 times this week!

 

What's the SG of your tank? Add to your air exchange by adding a low rate powerhead that will disturb the surface of the water. I suggest having one about 2" below the water line and have an outlet nozzle slightly pointed up. Your temp is about 1ºC too hot, but not enough to cause a big problem like that.
Also, do you have an anemone for the clowns to live in?

 

HI my sg is 24 i have a 450 external filter with the outlet at the top of the tank along with the protein skimmer and there is great flow in the tank. my tank is only 6 weeks old and the clowns were the first fish in so i took them back to the store in the end yesterday and they gave me two new ones that are now happy swimming all over the tank.Do you think the clown could have benn ill as they put it out back at the shop? and if it was will it affect my tank?
K

 

Heh... All your water parameters sound good! It might have been ill just from the beggining. From what I know clowns are also very susceptible to copper poisoning! They can be used as a biomarker in case of copper pollution!

 

idk, how did you acclimate? Did you float the bag or just "dip" them? You should start by floating the bag for 10 to 15 mins and then slowly add cups of water from the display. It can take 30 mins to an hour depending on what you're acclimating (clowns= 30-20 mins).

Could have been shock from an improper acclimation?

BTW, dont get an anemone if your tank is only 6 weeks old, it will probably die. The clowns dont really need one and theres no guarantee they'll host in it anyway.

 

I did it for 30 mins but did not leave to floating first. I will not get a anemo till my tank is 6 month old.I did get some freebees on my live rock and they are all fine! i got a button polp, 2 pistol shrimp (he he lucky me) and many other crabs and i have some halimeda alge and load of pink ,purple & red alge. I also have a un- id anemo which another person also has but cant id.

 

Why would you ask that? That tank is WAY too young for an anemone, and anemone's play little to no role in a clownfishes happiness in an aquarium. :-/