Quick Dying ocellaris clownfish

[Verbalkint]

Ok.. Please don't yell to harshly at me (I'll say about what in a minute)

I have 2 tanks, with 2 ocellaris clown each.

The tanks have completely seperate water systems
Both tanks have appx 1 1/2 inch live sand bottom.
Both tanks have the following test parameters.

Tank1:
pH: 8.4
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0
sg: 1.021~1.022 (it varies during the day, for some reason)

Tank2:
pH: 8.4
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: .25 ppm
sg: 1.020~1.021 (Same story, varies through the day)

Equipment wise, the tanks are ientical.
Decor wise, there is SOME difference.
Tank1:
Small rock cave, with plastic plants on it

Tank2:
Small rock cave, with plastic plants on it, and a single layer of crushed sea shells on the bottom.


Now, for the problem, and the thing that some of you may want to yell at me at.

Both tanks are 10 gallon, with 10 gallon sumps (total water volume of 16 gallons per set)

In tank 1: the 2 ocellaris clowns are doing fine after about 2 weeks
In tank 2: the 2 ocellaris clowns were fine earlier this evening, and were both dead within 2 hours after their final feeding for the night.

I know the water parameters change much more rapidly in a 10 gallon (16 actually) gallon system, but I test diligently, 3 times a day.

The ONLY difference between the routine between the 2 tanks is this:

Tank1: frozen veg/brine shrimp/blood worms from a petco
Tank2: same, but from LFS.

Also, the water was clear during the time that they were fed, and was cloudy when they were discovered dead, appx 1 1/2~2 hrs later.

Does anyone have any suggestions or theories as to what happened?


Many Thanks.

 

[reefrunner69]

sg: 1.021~1.022 (it varies during the day, for some reason)

Evaporation.

Does anyone have any suggestions or theories as to what happened?

Tank2:
pH: 8.4
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: .25 ppm

I would surmise it was the ammonia, or there was some toxin added to your tank that killed the fish and the bacteria. It is common for tanks with a registerable ammonia level to be cloudy, opportunistic bacteria are the cause, they feed on the ammonia.

Now, for the problem, and the thing that some of you may want to yell at me at.

Both tanks are 10 gallon, with 10 gallon sumps (total water volume of 16 gallons per set)

Nano tanks are quite common these days and I see no reason for anyone to yell at you