ok. I went and bought som strips and testd myself
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
nitrate - 15
Ph - 8.0
alkalinity - 250
Hardness - 300
Clown loach illness?
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that is actually good news in that no nitrites are present. bad news in that your lfs water tester messed up, and they gave you backward information regarding nitrItes/nitrAtes. 
If your test is accurate your water is not the issue, unless this is the results after better husbandry? A pH of 8 is really too high for clowns long term (and I know what your lfs said but after discovering that they can't even do a simple water test how far are you really willing to trust them?)
On that link I gave you one of the comments is that sometimes popeye will heal itself. If, however, your fish is not eating something should be done. Keep an eye on him.
Sorry I'm not more help, but if it's not the water, and no other fish are affected, I'd consider quarantining the fish with the popeye and observing to see what happens.
If your test is accurate your water is not the issue, unless this is the results after better husbandry? A pH of 8 is really too high for clowns long term (and I know what your lfs said but after discovering that they can't even do a simple water test how far are you really willing to trust them?)
On that link I gave you one of the comments is that sometimes popeye will heal itself. If, however, your fish is not eating something should be done. Keep an eye on him.
Sorry I'm not more help, but if it's not the water, and no other fish are affected, I'd consider quarantining the fish with the popeye and observing to see what happens.
(Agreeing with Shari)
Yes, water is pretty good (except for the Ph, of course). It is still worth trying to bring the Ph down a bit, perhaps aiming at 7.5 -- it is considered the upper limit for the clowns. Otherwise, you are certain to deal with more diseases long term (a fish in a wrong environment is more prone to diseases)
There are two things you can try to do:
1> Get a large piece of bogwood and stick it into the tank, this will bring the Ph down (but will not change the hardness)
2> Use distilled (or RO) bottled water for part of the water change. This is more expensive but also will make the water less hard. In fact, a water change using bottled water may even help now (just do it very slowly, if it is a large water change---you are changing the environment and don't want to shock the fish).
hth
Yes, water is pretty good (except for the Ph, of course). It is still worth trying to bring the Ph down a bit, perhaps aiming at 7.5 -- it is considered the upper limit for the clowns. Otherwise, you are certain to deal with more diseases long term (a fish in a wrong environment is more prone to diseases)
There are two things you can try to do:
1> Get a large piece of bogwood and stick it into the tank, this will bring the Ph down (but will not change the hardness)
2> Use distilled (or RO) bottled water for part of the water change. This is more expensive but also will make the water less hard. In fact, a water change using bottled water may even help now (just do it very slowly, if it is a large water change---you are changing the environment and don't want to shock the fish).
hth
mikev wrote:(Agreeing with Shari)
Yes, water is pretty good (except for the Ph, of course). It is still worth trying to bring the Ph down a bit, perhaps aiming at 7.5 -- it is considered the upper limit for the clowns. Otherwise, you are certain to deal with more diseases long term (a fish in a wrong environment is more prone to diseases)
There are two things you can try to do:
1> Get a large piece of bogwood and stick it into the tank, this will bring the Ph down (but will not change the hardness)
2> Use distilled (or RO) bottled water for part of the water change. This is more expensive but also will make the water less hard. In fact, a water change using bottled water may even help now (just do it very slowly, if it is a large water change---you are changing the environment and don't want to shock the fish).
hth
Would regular driftwood work? I mean real driftwood from a texas beach not bought .
What about using water from a water softener which i have on the house but the water i'm using now is straight out of the well. I am just worried that the water outta the softener might have too much salt in it because of the way a softener works. The water straight out of my sink has a slightly lower PH.
You can use driftwood. Make sure it has no bark, and boil it first. Or, leave it outside for several years, away from any roof runnoff... 
Guess that you'd better boil it... 
Peel off all bark, find a pot big enough, and submerge the wood as much as possible. Might need a lid to hold it down if it's really dry. Once it has boiled a good long time it should sink. Then cool it and put it in the tank.
I had a couple of pieces I picked up out of a local stream that were already waterlogged and would sink. Peeled off the little bits of bark remaining and boiled them for hours (you should have seen how black the water got!) and then stuck them in the tank. One of them I still have, though it isn't leaching color anymore
Driftwood from the beach may not be as good as wood found in a freshwater stream or bog. For one, it is usually so dry that it will take days to sink. For two, they are saturated with salt and who knows what else.
If you can get to a wet area of woods, or a stream or pond that would be better. Even a couple of 2" branches will do the job and you can prop them against the side of the tank with the other end in the substrate.
One more time...Boil the h*ll out of it!!! Don't want any nasties from the wood in your tank. If there is mud/muck, get it off before you boil. If it has splits or cracks, clean them out too. It is work, but if you find a nice gnarly piece it can be very satisfying.
Guess that you'd better boil it... Peel off all bark, find a pot big enough, and submerge the wood as much as possible. Might need a lid to hold it down if it's really dry. Once it has boiled a good long time it should sink. Then cool it and put it in the tank.
I had a couple of pieces I picked up out of a local stream that were already waterlogged and would sink. Peeled off the little bits of bark remaining and boiled them for hours (you should have seen how black the water got!) and then stuck them in the tank. One of them I still have, though it isn't leaching color anymore
Driftwood from the beach may not be as good as wood found in a freshwater stream or bog. For one, it is usually so dry that it will take days to sink. For two, they are saturated with salt and who knows what else.
If you can get to a wet area of woods, or a stream or pond that would be better. Even a couple of 2" branches will do the job and you can prop them against the side of the tank with the other end in the substrate.
One more time...Boil the h*ll out of it!!! Don't want any nasties from the wood in your tank. If there is mud/muck, get it off before you boil. If it has splits or cracks, clean them out too. It is work, but if you find a nice gnarly piece it can be very satisfying.
Well the first cl is still alive but havn't seen it eat yet and is still just laying around. His eyes look better though i have him in a smaller tank and i'm treating him alone. But now the bad news is the other cl in the big tank is just layng around for the last couple days and is breathing real fast but dosn't have any visual problems. i have a third small cl that i've only had a couple weeks and he seems fine. Wish i could figure out what the heck is going on! 
Great!krpenn71 wrote:Well the sick one didn't make itBut the other one is doing good he's back to eating and more active
just seems to be more timid my wife says it's because he lost his buddy so i went and bought him 3 more buddy's
Quarantine and De-worming, don't forget.
Probably too late for Quarantine,...but do deworm and watch carefully for ich signs for the first 10 days or so.
Good luck!
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