New percula clowns not doing well

Ok, so I set up a new tank about a month ago now with live rock that had been cycled for a few months beforehand.

I tested and was consistently getting 0ppm NO2, NO3 and NH4. So I decided to add 2 percula clowns. I got some very young ones, no bigger than the size of a quarter. I put them in on Monday early evening. They were being very shy in the 55 gallon, where they were the only occupants. I awoke this morning to find them both laying on the bottom! Both were still alive, but not looking great. I kinda freaked out...

Salinity is fine 1.023-1.024. NO2, NO3 and NH4 still 0. The thing that I could think of is that the water got a bit warm yesterday as my AC was off...got up to about 83-84 degrees. My water has not yet been changed out with RO water as I had not yet decided to get an RO machine when I got the fish, so I'm thinking maybe the dissolved oxygen was too low?

Anyways, I've pointed the Koralia 3 towards the top of the tank and the water is getting churned pretty good. One of the two fish seems to be doing fine now. The other one is hiding in some cave in the live rock where I can't see him. Hopefully, he'll be alright...

I'm going to do a big water change (80% or so) when the RO unit arrives. In the meantime I'm going to keep the powerhead pointed up and try to keep the temperature down and see how they do. The one that I can see looks so much better after having had the koralia pointed up for about 15 minutes, just hope the shy one is doing alright too!

Any other ideas?

Their names are Hall and Oates, btw...

Oates is the one in hiding

 

Whoa....slow down there slugger -- 80% water change is not a good idea, actually its a bad one.

What else can you test? what is your PH and DKH at? were the fish eating?

read here for your water parameters: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

I do not see a problem with your temp btw....sort of sounds like stress due to the move and new environment.

 

when you do you big water change i'd try doing it over a few days as a huge change like that could shock you system, and as for the clowns it could just be stress after a few days they will relax, just keep a close eye

 

+1, an 80% change would shock your system. I wouldn't do more than 10% at a time, 20% in a week.

 

how long have the clowns been in your tank and how were they acclimated to it? if not done properly this could have thrown them way out of whack.

 

I'm happy to report that they're both doing fine now. I really think it was low oxygen in the water, due to high temp and high impurities from tap water.

As concerns the water change, I will perform it over a longer period of time than planned. It's just that it's not RO water, it's tap water and I'd like to change it out as quickly as possible. Maybe I'll do one 25% change and then gradually do them once per week or so.

 

Do small water changes, like 10% weekly, to limit the shock. Another thing you didn't mention is the pH of your water, that is important to keep correct as well.
Your protein skimmer will provide the tank with dissolved oxygen, assuming you have one.

 

I would do a max of 25% watch changes weekly until all changed out. Get that temp no more than 80.