worried about fish!!

I'm on nights so just came home this morning and flipped the tank lights on to see my fox face with all of his spikes out like he is stressed. Then to see my tiny watchman goby almost clear white and then to see one chromis not looking so hot ... kinda worried. Tank is still pretty new don't have a test kit and to early to go to lfs to get water tested. Guess ill have to keep fingers crossed all is well when I wake up...

 

Fish often change colors while they are sleeping. They can also be a little sluggish when the lights are first turned on. I wouldn't worry too much they should be fine.

 

when you say pretty new, how new are you talking? like new the tank is now hitting its 1 year mark or new new like the tank is 3 weeks old and almost done cycling?

 

I'd get a test kit ASAP if it were me. Always want to be able to know what the quality of the water is.

 

New like 3weeks old. And I know I prob shouldn't have ANYTHING in my tank yet but I started it of with 55g of pre mixed water live sand and rock and used some starter chemicals I was showing perfect no. After 4 days and already growing algae. I put in a free lil fish that was converted to salt for a week he did fine so I added inverts and a few fish. Anyway back on topic I guess it was just a sleeping thing cuz I went back out to check them a few hours later and they looked great! The watchman is back to his bright yellow and chromis look great. And yes a test kit is def. On my list.

 

i believe you may have an oxygen drop at night, when the lights go out oxygen drops sharply, if you don't have enough flow, live stock can suffer. when the lights are on the fish move around keeping water flowing through there gills and stay oxygenated, at night they stop movement, they then rely on water movement to keep oxygen around them, i have always firmly believed in water movement, it's real hard to have to much.

 

Thanks for the input. Maybe ill look into another power head.

 

I'm able to remove a sponge from My protein skimmer box that w ill allow more microbubbles in the tank will this help short term

 

They can look sluggish and discolored as Proreefer said when the lights first come on. My suggestion is, buy a small air pump and make sure your circulation is 20xthe tank size per hour (Some say 10-12x is fine, but I've learned this is much too low for fish to thrive). I have a small air pump that turns on at night to increase oxygen, but having a high circulation rate is the real key to keeping your fish happy. There are many ways to accomplish this, but those are some cheap options. Either way, you should see their color come back within 30 minutes of the lights being on.