Maroon Clown not right!!

[Ratpack]

I rearranged my task this weekend and replaced the crushed coral with sand as it was starting to really hold a lot of detritus. Everything went well but now my maroon clown is in the corner of the tank up at the top facing the surface of the water. He is moving, but doesn't come out from that position. Everythig else is fine. Could he be adjusting to the "new" surroundings or is there something I should look for? He isn't showing any spots or anything visible other than where he is sitting and doesn't come out.

[leebca]

A substrate change can mean a significant
'upsetment' to water quality. It depends upon how much the biological filtration depends upon the bacteria in and on the substrate, how thick the substrate was and currnetly is, and just how polluted it was, just to name a few issues.

There is the added unknown regarding the quality of sand you put in. You want to be sure of its quality and that it didn't bring with it any component that might be harmful to marine aquarium livestock.

You mentioned that 'everything else is fine' and I don't know if this means you've tested the water for ammonia, nitrite, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, pH, temperature, and specific gravity in order to make that claim. If not, do test for all those and make sure nothing is different or out of spec.

Stirring up a substrate can also release poisons into the water system. Especially a substrate that has accumulated detritus and wastes has a potential to harbor areas of reduced oxygen availability where some bacteria live that produce hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell). To be on the safe side I would make a large (60%) water change as soon as you can.

If the fish perks up after the water change, I think it may be telling you that there is a water quality issue, even if tests indicate otherwise.

To more directly answer your question -- a fish should not be concerned about a substrate change.

[Ratpack]

What I did was take remove all the water I could without disturbing the substrate, then removed all fish and corals into the removed water. Then I removed the remaining water and substrate and discarded everything. The sand I put in was an arognite (sp?) sand from Seachem I believe. I then put the water that was siphoned out and the fish and corals back in and topped off with fresh salt water. The clown was doing fine until yesterday (2 days later) and then started acting this way. All other fish (powder brown tang, blue tang, fire goby & coral beauty along with shrimp and corals) are doing great and even look better than when I did the change this weekend. I almost wonder if with the "new" surroundings since the rockwork was changed around, someone may be bullying him now and he has gotten in the corner and staying there to avoid them. I'll check the water and perhaps do another water change and see what happens.

[leebca]

Sorry Tim. I missed the point about you rearranging the rock work. THAT could explain this fish's behavior. It thinks it may be in a 'new place.'

Go ahead with the water change. I now think that you were probably correct originally, the fish is just unfamiliar with its surroundings.

[SouthBayPhoto]

I know that my advice is no where as good as Lee's, but I'll put in my dime's worth (if you haven't noticed yet, I always carry more than 2 cents. )

When I first bought my true percula clown and put him in...he did the same thing. Stayed up in the corner...day and night. During the day he would swim up and down the corner, but wouldn't come out of it. I thought for sure he was done for.

I really didn't see my two blue velvet damsels picking on him, but I thought maybe that was happening at night. He would stay (at night) up next to the powerhead and wouldn't come out.

In a matter of time (maybe a week or two), he finally came out and was happy swimming with everyone. He even eventualy made it to the rock work to sleep there at night instead up at the top corner next to the powerhead (dang, that had to be loud for him! ) It is kinda funny though because he will ONLY go to the other side of the tank if he's with one of the damsels. Follows them around like a puppy dog at times. hehehe...

Now he's happy as a clam. So, judging by what you are saying and especially since the rockwork (his/her home) is a little changed, he/she might be freakin' out a bit. I'll bet within a week or two everything will be okay.

PS If not...no one saw me write this post and I know nothing about it.

[Ratpack]

Weel, I guess one of two things has happened. Either he went into a hole to hide or he didn't make it and the shrimp, crab and snails made short work of him. I came home yesterday after work and he wasn't in the corner. He was nowhere to be found. My rockwork is very open since I used a PVC frame to build it on and I can see the backside of all but maybe 1 or 2 rocks, so unless he is up against those or in a hole he is gone.

[leebca]

Keep looking and hoping. If there is anyway the fish may have found an opening in the cover, you might around the tank, too.

[Ratpack]

I looked around the tank first but didn't see him anywhere. I'll keep looking, but it may be another vanishing fish act. It is amazing how fast shrimp and crabs can devour a dead or dying fish.

[SouthBayPhoto]