clowns and current

[rica5tully]

Another quick question:

I have a 55-gallon with sand and rocks for bio-filtration. I'm running two Maxi-jet powerheads and an Aqua C Remora skimmer. When I put food in the tank (a couple of flakes) they don't settle down because it's clear there are no dead spots in my tank. There is a pretty strong current.

I'm told this is a good thing. But is it o.k. for my little ocellaris clown? I had him in a ten gallon with hardly any current. Now that he's in the 55 he swims around like a lunatic. I just wondered if he'll be o.k. in there.

Do clowns often move erratically up and down? Also, he's always up in the water column by a powerhead. Is it strange that he's not down by the rocks of my little reef?

Thanks!

[kreblak]

He's probably just getting used to the new surroundings. My maroon clown used to love hanging out under the outflow of my filter, swimming against the current, sometimes swimming towards the surface against the current. It looked like he was swimming on a treadmill, since he never really made progress. Clownfish are wierd, IME. It he is eating and looks healthy, I would just chalk this behavior up to personality.

[mogurnda]

Clownfish are wierd, IME. Hit that right on the head. They are goofy. Clowns act strangely in a new environment. Plus, they bob around a lot when they swim. Not to worry. Your current sounds great.

[Adam Kasycz]

Ya know another neat thing about clowns is that they sleep just like us on the sand and barely move all night then when the lights come on they like slowly wake up almost like they are groggy just like us i think this is really neat.


Adam Kasycz :D

[rica5tully]

Thanks for the re-assurance! :)


Here's another question: When I feed should I turn off my pumps and skimmer? Will my clownfish be able to find the food in the tank?

[mogurnda]

Two answers:
1. Yes, they will be able to get it in the current. They are plankton pickers in the wild, so they're pretty good at it.
2. Mine never let it get that far. They grab the food from my fingers.

[kreblak]

My clown would practically come out of the water when I would feed it. He would swim around in circles as he saw me approach the tank, and then when the lid lifted he would break the surface in anticipation of his meal. I have a decent current in the tank, and he got the food just fine.

Clowns are a bit strange, but they do have a lot of personality. BTW, Adam, my clown was groggy as anything you have ever seen in the morning! He looked hungover when the lights came on!

[mogurnda]

Mine goes off at dinner time, and for a few hours after, to allow the filter feeders to get the juice and debris from the food. Why should the skimmer get to eat it?