clown fish are not staying alive

[sstanle4]

I mean we just let it sit for that long and cheaked it every day. Yes we have a pep shrimp now and seeing if we can keep him alive

 

[BallinCrew10]

I mean we just let it sit for that long and cheaked it every day. Yes we have a pep shrimp now and seeing if we can keep him alive

In order to cycle the tank you have to add a source of ammonia. Usually a piece of shrimp, fish food, or ammonia itself. By just letting it sit for 3 weeks you're not jump starting the cycle. Don't add anything living to your tank. Get a piece of shrimp and put it in there, let it break down and test your water for ammonia, nitrite,and nitrate.

You've been losing clowns because your tank isn't properly cycled.

When it is cycled, make sure to add only fish that are suitable for your tank.
While its cycling have a look here and make a list of maybe 3 fish you'd like.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15

 

[Tomchong22]

That is your problem. You never cycled your tank. You need an ammonia source to start the cycle. You can't just let the tank sit. Throw in a cocktail shrimp and let it decompose this will create a spike in ammonia. After several weeks you will see ammonia fall as nitrites raise, after a few weeks nitrites will fall and nitrates will rise. At this point your cycle is finished and it is time to do a 70% water change.

 

[sstanle4]

Then how did we keep a pair of small clowns for almost 3 months?

 

[BallinCrew10]

Clowns are more resistant to poor water conditions. However the damage done to them by going through a cycle in your tank was irreversible, was only a matter of time before they died. Had you tried to keep a more sensitive fish they wouldn't have lasted so long.