my percula hangin out just at the side of the tank

[sls0768]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this. But i will give it a try.
I have recently started a 20 gal. hex. saltwater fish only tank. I have a percula clown and a yellow tailed damsel. The damsel has been in hiding since i put it in the tank. But I do catch it out if i sneak in the room.

My percula seems to be acting as if he is attached to the side of the tank by a magnet or something. He does venture across the tank and seems to be doing it a little more each day. Should I be concerned about his behavior.

[kkyyllee]

did you cycle the tank? whats ur filtration?

[Jeremy Blaze]

Water parameters?

Please describe your set up.

[sls0768]

I have a filter/protein skimmer. The tank is still in the process of cycling.

[Jeremy Blaze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10467612#post10467612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sls0768
. The tank is still in the process of cycling.

BINGO!!

You are slowly killing the fish, they are acting weird because they are floating around in toxic water. Get them out and let the tank cycle.

[sls0768]

The people at the place i got the aquarium. Who are 32 years experienced............said the tank is not cycling anything without the waste of fish

[kkyyllee]

they are wrong, take back the fish and throw some fish food in and let the tank cycle

[Jeremy Blaze]

They may have 32 years of experince, but they are giving you 32 year old advice!

Please read some of the tips for starting a salt water tank on this site.

[sls0768]

so tell me what i have to do

[Ty1e]

kkyyllee is totaly right, when i first started i did a cycle with fish too just like my LFS said and they (the fish) hed alot and you'll find them just staying in the areas of most flow i the tank to get what evers in there gills out.

[kkyyllee]

first of all, take back the fish, do you have test kits? if not get some amonia/nitrite/nitrate, throw a pinch of fish food in a or a prawn, if you use the prawn remove it after a couple of days, then when amonia/nirtrite/nitrate are at zero you can add a fish

[Jeremy Blaze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10467657#post10467657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sls0768
so tell me what i have to do

As I stated before, read the info on this site.

I'll make it easy for you,

http://www.reefcentral.com/modules.php?s=&name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=1

[Ty1e]

you could do some water changes to help them out and make it a little easyer for them. Especially if you can't take them back to the fish store.

[kkyyllee]

yeah if you cant return them you will need to do a lot of water changes to keep levels safe

[Jeremy Blaze]

If the tank has not yet cycled, water changes will only prolong the cycle. Unless of course the new water added is from an established system with good water parameters.

[sls0768]

can you define "some" water changes please. And understand everyone, i am not trying to be rude at all. I am just very confused by everything i have read. Been reading about this for a couple of months now. I have read that is possible to cycle the tank with fish. I just need some TLC from the pros. Thanks

[kkyyllee]

at least 25% weekly maybe even byweekly, they wont prolong the cycle tho

[sls0768]

Are you saying it will or will not prolong the cycle.

[kkyyllee]

they will not prolong the cycle, will ur lfs take the fish back?

[Ty1e]

water changes and anything you can do to not stress out the fish exp(don't por the new water directly on the fish, fill slowly and make sure the temp is the same as the tank temp).

[sls0768]

Thank you all for your advise. I appreciate any help i can get.

[taillonjohn]

sls0768, if I may be curious, after your months of reading, and recent good advise, what do you plan to do to solve your "hanging out fish" problem?

[sls0768]

I found a neighbor who has an estabilished tank and she offered to take them until i get straightened out.

[yoboyjdizz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10486057#post10486057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sls0768
I found a neighbor who has an estabilished tank and she offered to take them until i get straightened out.

Sounds good.. Once the tank is cycled then you can put them back in. Don't be surprised if the clown does stay in one area most of the time. That is normal for them.

[kkyyllee]

add them one at a time and add the clown firsyt

[chaznsc]

how are the fish now?

[sls0768]

They seem to be doing ok so far but i really don't see much difference in the behavior. I took a sample of my water to be tested and to compare with my testing and it seems as though the nitrates are very minimal.

[sls0768]

Now going to the next phase, Do i need to keep a powerhead running in the aquarium itself once i add cured lived rock.

[reefnut2790]

sls0768 dont let your clown freak you out to bad. rapid breathing, trouble swimming, lying on bottom all are very bad. But if fish looks healthy water params are good and he comes out and swims some he is probably just fine. My clown has been in our 120 for 6 months now and he still likes his corner =-( he will come out and power swim in the vortec for about a half hour befor the lights kick off but other than that and feeding time he is in the top left of my tank hugging the overflow and locline lol

[sls0768]

Thanks. He does pretty much the same. He stays in his corner but does come out and swim much more than at first. I guess they are shy guys in some ways.
I am just starting to add some live rock. If you have any help for me with that I would appreciate it. I am new to all this and a little overwhelmed.

[yoboyjdizz]

Can we get a little run down of system, what equipment do you have how is it setup? Then can give more advice.. You want powerheads in your tank running all the time. If i were you after this i would just stop doing anything and relax.

[sls0768]

I have a 20 gal. hex tank. filter/skimmer. Heater and that's about it except of course for crushed coral substrate. Not a big tank but i have seem some remarkable looking small tanks.