If you added the clowns about a week ago that could explain the nitrite reading. Nitrites usually take longer to show up than ammonia does. It also takes longer for the bacteria that "takes care of" nitrites to catch up. That would be my guess as to the reading. Adding new fish can sometimes cause this. I'd just test daily until your readings return to normal and keep an eye on your fish to make sure they remain healthy. Don't add additional stress (like moving the log to "force" them out). When they are feeling better, they'll behave normally!
whatdaya know? the water was not good enough so the clowns were stressed...I GUESS I WAS RIGHT...
Incidentally, you were not right. You initially said "...sound like they are stressed or..NOT HEALTHY!". That doesn't translate to "you have a water quality issue". Stress can be caused by any number of things. And "not healthy" is a not helpful diagnosis, since he already suspected they may not be healthy without your help.
\Dan
