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

Post by korali »

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

Post by tiderun »

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

Post by southoak »

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?
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?
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fluxion8
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Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2022 5:15 pm

Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again

Post by fluxion8 »

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.
Kairos9
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:55 pm

Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again

Post by Kairos9 »

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?
korali
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:07 pm

Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again

Post by korali »

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
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Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2022 2:44 am

Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again

Post by florapin »

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

Post by tiderun »

Kairos9 wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 12:18 am 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?
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?
skeletal
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:13 pm

Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again

Post by skeletal »

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
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:51 am

Re: clownfish hosting my powerhead again

Post by harvest »

Mine never hosted anything. Just swam around like they owned the place. Sometimes clowns just do their own thing.
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