Help! One clownfish dead, the other not so good!

[Brittle84]

Hi everyone. Both of my clownfish have been doing great except for the past couple of days. The other day theywere just fine, then the next morning, the female was on the sand between a rock and the glass, just flapping her fins. And she had a whitish film on her and breathing fast. I thought she was stuck so i moved the rock a little and she swam out. But then she kept swimming back to that spot and tried to "get stuck" or something. She has had a whitish film on her since then, and so has the male. It's like they just suddenly had this happen. My female died this morning and the male is not so good. His tail fin is a little tattered and he also had a little whitish film on him. The other fish are just fine. I have no idea what has happened. Can anyone please help!! I have had this tank since about February, and all levels are good, except for nitrate. We have been working hard to fix it, but it wont decrease. We thought they were fine with the nitrates because none of the fish were acting differently. Maybe the nitrates are finally taking their toll on the fish???

[Frizza]

Sorry for your loss, losing a fish always sucks. How high is your nitrate and have you tested Ammonia and Nitrite? How long have you had your fish as your tank is only 3 months old? What else do you have in your tank as well as the tank size and filtration equipment would also be good to know.

[Matt Rogers]

Please post all the levels including nitrates and details about tank setup - size, filtration, etc. And your feeding habits.

[phoenixhieghts]

Nitrates dont kill fish like that!!

You say parameters are fine? Are you definately sure?
How Long have the fish been in the tank?
Maybe finrot if his tail is tattered? What else is in the tank?

Have sprayed any aerosols around the tank recently or gotten one of those smelly plugin things?

[wildreef]

They may have been fighting a little if his tail shows a bit tattered.
and the female probably has been chasing him around and became
weakened , then fell i'll to ich.

Ich was and is generaly always present in all our tanks , it's when fish become stressed from fighting or shipping, etc. that it's visibly seen on the outside of the fish it's self.
As far as nitrates are concerned fish can handle a certain level such as
10-20 ppm. ( thats assuming what you have a reading of )
If your nitrates are off the charts ' then you have a seveer problem .

Whats you phosphate readings /amonia as well ?

Over feeding can cause alot of your problems i suspect this is the culprut
in your tank ( poor water quality )
How often do you do water changes ?

[Bogie]

Regular 10-20% water changes, less feeding, and good skimming will help decrease nitrates. Post all your tank info in your Signature, for future reference.
As for the male clown, you need to identify the disease - bacterial, fungus, or parasite and begin the appropriate treatment immediately. White cottony film sounds more like a fungus attack than ich. ID your disease, and try Pimafix and Melafix - will work to fight bacteria and fungus, and are mostly reef-safe. Remove charcoal from filter....follow dosing directions.

[Nemo 22]

nitrates dont kill fish.ive seen and had a tank that the nitrates and salinity was extremely high and my clowns lived.clowns are very very hardy species of fish.probably ich got to it or fin rot or gill disease of sort of.

[kimmy]

How long have you had them? what about clownfish disease?

"Clownfish Disease -A big risk for clownfish, this can also affect other species. Symptoms are increased mucus production around the gills, ragged skin and loss of control of buoyancy. The most effective treatment is a formaldehyde bath, though copper solutions and malachite green can also help."

[omard]

Only thing I have seen (in another's tank) similar, sudden whitish film, heavy breathing and fairly quick demise...was too high salinity...

Or to soon use of recently mixed water, incomplete dissolution, which can cause a "salt burn" as chemical reaction is still going on with mix and water.

Make sure when mixing new water...

To check, check and recheck SG if you don't have a refractometer, at tank temp you are shooting for.

Don't use for couple of hours.

Keep aeroated and mixing with an air stone during "wait" time.


Sorry for loss,

Rgds

[R34dawn]

sorry about your clowns bro.. doble check everything & try again..wish you better
luck next time