Mated pair of True Perculas- Need some insight

[JimmyR1Rider]

Hey guys, hows everybody? Am new to the site and this is my first post. I added a mated pair of true percs to my tank on the 5th. Love them I admit like an idiot I didnt Qt them- should have known better I guess. But, they are doing some weird behavior- they were absolutely inseperable for the first 2 days, during the lighting cycle and during their resting basically 24 hours a day. When I saw them today the female (slightly bigger and more color) was right under the surface looking like she was using my mag-float as a pedestal to rest on. The male was relatively close to the surface in the opposite side of the tank, which was weird they had been inseperable like I said. Once the lighting cycle came on tonight noticed they are kind of hangin out at the surface more than they had. Once they reunited they acted pretty much normal- they like swimming together and did as they have but now that the lights are off again- they are all the way at the surface, in a corner. They ate tonight fine- have great appetite. Their color is fine- no signs of being stressed except for the surface which made me wonder if the oxygenation of the water is off. Their fins arent closed or anything- no excessive breathing- just weird how they seem to be hugging the surface. During the lighting cycle though they did swim all the way down to the bottom as they have been- they look like theyre trying to spawn- as they have done this each night they were in. they take turns laying on the sandbed and flutter a little bit and then switch between top and bottom. After lookin again I'm sure the 02 level is fine because the other fish never go to the surface. Sorry about the long message but wanted to explain it best I can--- I love these clowns to death and will hate to lose them. I dont know how to insert pics of this on the website as in me not being computer savvy. I know its been an extremely short time from the time I introduced them in but they are such loveable fish if I should be doing something now I want to instead of just being a dummy and watching them die wondering why its happening because my water parameters are good thinking everything should work out. I know it may just be them adjusting possibly but dont want to take that chance. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks......Jim

A rundown of my system is:
65 gallon AGA with 29 gallon sump/3 chamber/ 1st chamber-inlet,2nd-fuge and 3rd- return chamber
Turboflotor 1000 skimmer
2- phosban reactors-1 phos-ban 1 with carbon
cheato in the fuge as well as live rock
Turbotwist UV sterilizer- but havent ran that yet

In addition to the clowns I have 2 bangaii cardinals-2 firefish- 1 cleaner and 1 fire shrimp- everyone acts 100% normal except the clowns.

Altogether between in the sump and display tank I have 110 - 115 lbs. of live rock which was cured for a very very long time. Store told me Id be ready for fish in 2 days but waited 2 weeks to let it cycle with a raw shrimp in it anyway- had 2 small ammonia spikes 1 to .25 and one to .50 and nitrates went to 20 both times- didnt add anything till nitrates sat under 20 and ammonia as well as nitrite remained at 0. Added the firefish then the cardinals a week apart and waited 2 1/2 weeks to add the clowns. Sorry again about the super long message.

[leebca]

The advice you're getting regarding the addition of fishes to a marine aquarium is less than optimal. You sort of had a good insight in that the process should slow down. Well, it needed to be even slower.

There may be some water quality issues, despite the fact you can't measure anything specific. It takes a month or so for a system to adjust to the addition of just one fish -- I think you get the picture.

Increase the frequency and size of your water changes for the next month -- I would suggest changing 30% of the water every week for the next 5 weeks. Since this will be a significant water change you need to follow these guidelines: How to Make a Successful Water Change

BTW, oxygen is not the issue.

The fish are most likely under stress. Probably water quality mixed with a bit of water fluctuations and lack of familiarity of the new place. Time and care will bring them around, most likely. Just stop making any further changes and follow the above suggestions and they will settle in during the next few days to weeks.

Make sure they are being fed the best foods and enough of them.

[JimmyR1Rider]

Thanks SO MUCH Lee- thankfully was doing most things right with my water changes. Had the powerhead on the floor of the mixing container(Rubbermaid Brute) shooting up towards the surface. I used RO/DI water since the beginning- have a five stage plus DI- Just switched from reef crystals to ESV seawater system- What I didnt do though is mix it for that long- will do that starting this change was gonna do one tonight but will hold off for another day and a half to let the salt mix properly.

As for the baking soda and vinegar- any specific brands to use in your opinion?

I did test the water for salinity each time before adding it with my refractometer- recently switched from a hydrometer- thought it was important to do so so I can be 200% sure about my readings that they are accurate.

I have always made sure the temp. is right on the money within a degree before adding it to the aquarium, but didnt unfortunately check the ph( I know I deserve you to yell at me but would rather be brutally honest and take the beating if I learn something). But now I have learned 3 or 4 facts to better my system in the longrun.

Thanks again Lee and like I asked if you can recommend which baking soda and vinegar- may seem to be a stupid question to some for me to ask- but I am a firm believer that the only stupid question is the one you dont ask and it comes back to bite you in the butt later.

Also I am an extreme wise-ass so dont be afraid to hammer me I wont take offense to it lol Can take my ribbing with the best of them- especially if deserved. Take care......Jimmy

[leebca]

Wish the hobby had more like you, Jimmy!

Arm & Hammer for baking soda is a good one. Any vinegar that is pure and clear (not a wine vinegar). Just read labels closely. You want nothing with preservatives, perfumes or smell agents, etc.

Small water changes are not needed to control the pH, temp, and even to some extent, the sp. gr. As the size of the water change increases, then measuring and controlling these things becomes more important.

I think you're doing fine.

I just can't get over how many hobbyists think that they dissolve the mixed salts for their aquarium and it needs no more than dissolving table salt. Our sea salts are a mixture of many different salts. When added to water they just don't dissolve, they also chemically react. These chemical reactions have to go to completion, and depending upon the salts used, this may take 48 hours to two weeks!

I think you'll benefit from reading this post and paying attention to keeping the water balanced with calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium, for a really stable water quality:
What is Water Quality

[JimmyR1Rider]

Thanks Lee- just want to have a healthy environment in my little glass box is all. I appreciate the responses and the attachments are great info. I wish the stores around here had people like you working there BUT I usually dont even ask them anything anymore- have learned in the past that I can learn more from my 8 year old cousin that doesnt have a tank but reads a lot than the kids they have working at the stores lol. They are well versed on how to put a fish in a bag and send you to the cash register but usually dont know a thing about anything other than how much their stores products cost.

Well off to the store to get some arm and hammer and some vinegar- have been mixing the salt for about 18 hours so will be ready tomorrow to do the first of the heavy changes- since I do mine at 1 in the morning-- am more of a night person.

Thanks again Lee.