Need Help With Sick Tangs

[bbyatv]

I have a couple of tangs that look sick. They both eat very well and do not act sick. My Yellow Tang looks and acts fine. The fish have looked like this for 6 to 8 months. I have had all of the fish for a long time. The Hippo Tang has always looked a little ragged. None of the other fish seem to be affected.

 

I have added a little Iodine to try and help, but no change. I am talking about a very little Lugal's Solution.

 

Any how, if anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

 

Thanks in advance, Bruce

 

 

 

 

 

[MBVette]

What are your tank parameters?

[bbyatv]

KH=10, Ca=450, Ph=8.0 - 8.3, Salinity=35, Temp=79, I have not checked Mg in a long while. I will do it tonight.

 

Thanks,

Bruce

 

What are your tank parameters?

[surf&turf]

Looks like lateral line disease on the Sailfin. Do you run much carbon?

[smallreef]

the first looks like HLLE.. the second tang... i cannot tell???

what are you feeding them?

and are you running GFO and carbon by chance??

Edited April 18, 2013 by smallreef

[bbyatv]

I run both GAC (1 cup changed every month) and GFO (half cup changed every month) full time.

 

Bruce

 

the first looks like HLLE.. the second tank... i cannot tell??? what are you feeding them

and are you running GFO and carbon by chance??

[surf&turf]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/hlleorlledisease/a/Head-And-Lateral-Line-Erosion.htm

[smallreef]

Im going with stopping the GAC and see what that does.....especially with the GFO is thought to be one of the causes....

[Integral9]

That's the worst looking & most awesome looking hippo I've ever seen. Wow...

 

I agree with the HLLE diagnosis. Try stopping the chemical filration, do a large water change and see what happens. I think you should start to see improvements in a week or 2.

 

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/activated-carbon-affirmed-as-causative-agent-for-hlle-disease

 

I was checking out your sump in your pics and it looks like there is room for the GAC to fluidize (move around). Fluidized GAC, imo, is the cause of HLLE. I would take out the reactor to determine it though, rather than trying to stabilize the GAC. Once the fish are doing better, then I would think about using the GAC reactor again. But only if I could firmly hold down the GAC so it won't move about .

 

btw. Is that a can of Cheesy Poofs you are using for a Kalk reactor?

[cynthia]

I have currently had this same issue. I found a REALLY good article on this: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/

 

HLLE is NOT only caused by carbon but also by other contributing factors. I'm finding that mine was more the issue with Dietary problems. I switched to higher grade seaweed and soaking it in Vitachem and feeding it more often. I have noticed a tremendous difference since doing that. I also have a GFO and carbon reactor. I wanted to do that last as I just spent a fortune on it and wanted to see if the dietary method worked first.

 

I just wanted to give you other ideas to think about. I would have hated for you to take out your carbon and still see the same results because something else was contributing to the problem.

 

I have also been told it may take a couple of months for you to see results of what you have changed so don't get frustrated.

[overklok]

Carbon is the culprit, especially if you are running it a reactor that tumbles the carbon. I had a purple tang who got HLLE, I removed the carbon from the system and HLLE immediately stop and began to reverse. 1+1=2

[basser9]

Just add a 1 micron bag run your out put from the reactor.

I put 3 bags inside each other.....100/10/1.....stays good for 2/3 months.

[pizzaguy]

So is it the tumbling that causes this or carbon in general?

[smallreef]

Tumbling causes slivers (so not the right scientific term)

[ToddR]

They call it carbon fines.

[Coral Hind]

bbyatv, check you phosphate levels. What is your water change schedule like? Are you on well water? What are you feeding? Because of the bone degradation in the fins I think diet is an issue. I would feed some vitamin rich foods. Temporarily remove the GAC and make sure you have a ground probe to remove stray voltage.

[Sharkey18]

For fish to look THAT bad it could certainly be stacked stressors. Something missing in the diet AND carbon fines could both be an issue.

 

I would make sure they are getting a superior diet ( Jan's herbivore blend would be a good choice) as well as stopping carbon. No matter what the cause they are going to need a good diet to recover.

 

I'd be willing to help rehab if you need. I have a large QT with nothing in it right now.

[RJT]

Bruce, good luck with your tangs..They seem to be fat and eating well

[YHSublime]

That's the worst looking & most awesome looking hippo I've ever seen. Wow...

 

Agreed. Good luck with this, hope you get it solved.

[Decadence]

I believe stray voltage has also been found to be a known cause of HLLE. I have never seen it that bad before so there may be multiple factors contributing.

[bbyatv]

I calibrated my refractometer today and I found my salinity to be a 37. I also used a hydrometer and it to said I was at 37 too. Maybe this was causing a little stress on the tangs.

 

I am bringing it down to 35.

 

Bruce

[sachabballi reef]

Slowly......

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[basser9]

I love my carbon to tumble it keeps it clean and last alot longer

all tanks look and function better with a good reactor full of GAC.

I can not stress my point enough just always run a 1 micron bag on the output.

You stick a 100 inside a 10 then put these into the 1 micron bag.

It will stop all fines period and the higher micron bags allow the setup

to last a good bit......easy.....simple and solves any problem with

fines from both GAC and GFO.

[Der ABT]

where do yuo get a 1 micron Sock???wouldnt think water would get thru unless pressurised....i know BRS socks are 200micron...

[basser9]

DUDABIODIESEL..........you can buy 100/10/1 all from the same type and get the discount.

I get some .5 bags from him to polish sometimes.

The bags are big and as long as you run the 3 bag setup they flow great i run a mj 1200

into a reactor then to bags.......and run a mj 900 to a 100/10/1 bag dosed with PHOSFREE.

Try them they flow great.