clownfish hosting my powerhead again
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korali - Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:07 pm
clownfish hosting my powerhead again
My clownfish won't stop hosting my powerhead. It's a pair of Ocellaris in a 40 gallon tank with live rock and soft corals. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. They've been doing this for weeks and ignore the anemone I added for them. Anyone else deal with this?
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tiderun - Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:44 pm
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
Yeah, clownfish can be weird like that. I've had mine host a thermometer before. Try moving the powerhead to a different spot or adjusting the flow. Sometimes they just need a nudge to find the anemone. What kind of anemone did you add?
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southoak - Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2022 4:22 pm
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
I've seen this happen a lot. Sometimes it's just a phase. If the anemone is healthy and the clowns are eating well, they'll probably switch eventually. What's your lighting schedule like?korali wrote: ↑Mon Aug 25, 2025 6:52 pm My clownfish won't stop hosting my powerhead. It's a pair of Ocellaris in a 40 gallon tank with live rock and soft corals. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. They've been doing this for weeks and ignore the anemone I added for them. Anyone else deal with this?
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fluxion8 - Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2022 5:15 pm
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
Mine did the same thing for months. I tried everything, even moving the powerhead, but they just wouldn't budge. Then one day they switched to the anemone out of nowhere. Clownfish are weirdos.
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Kairos9 - Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:55 pm
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
It's all about the flow. Clowns like a gentle sway, so if the powerhead is too strong, they might avoid the anemone. Try dialing it back or adding a wave maker for more natural movement. Also, what's the temp in your tank?
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korali - Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:07 pm
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try adjusting the flow and see if that helps. The anemone is a Bubble Tip, and the tank stays around 78 degrees. Lighting is on for 10 hours a day with a gradual ramp.
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florapin - Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2022 2:44 am
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
Clowns are so stubborn sometimes. My pair took almost a year to host their anemone. Just keep the conditions stable, and they'll come around. Patience is key with these little guys.
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tiderun - Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:44 pm
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
Totally agree on the flow. I've had better luck with wave makers than powerheads for clowns. They seem to prefer the more natural motion. How old is your anemone?
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skeletal - Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:13 pm
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
Maybe your clownfish just really loves the powerhead. Who are we to judge? Let them live their best life. But seriously, if they're happy and healthy, I wouldn't stress too much.
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harvest - Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:51 am
Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again
Mine never hosted anything. Just swam around like they owned the place. Sometimes clowns just do their own thing.