Tangs scratching against sand

[Silverni2]

My clown tang and yellow eye Kole tang are scratching against sand, know signs of ick or skin imperfections. Mag is 1500
cal 450 alk 9-10 temp 76 salinity 1.024 very very small traces of no3, no po4
my mag is high could this help?
Running a uv sterilizer
thx
120 gal

 

[prattreef]

Sounds like the early stages of a parasite outbreak. Mag. is irrelevant. Beef up the feeding , make sure parameters are as stabile as possible and keep close observation for outward signs.

 

[WilFresco]

^^+1, I know there r a few parasites that'll have ur fish scratching against rocks and sand, check for other symptoms like cloudy eyes, I had a fish once that was scratching and then developed cloudy eyes, turned out to be "velvet". Unfortunately he died

 

[Dre]

How much watts on the UV and do you have a sump?

 

[Silverni2]

I believe 15watt sterilizer just changed the bulb 3 weeks ago. Should I slow the flow down? The tank is a 120 30 gallon fug 30 gallon sump, total water volume 130ish. Should I be doing water changes?

 

[WilFresco]

I believe 15watt sterilizer just changed the bulb 3 weeks ago. Should I slow the flow down? The tank is a 120 30 gallon fug 30 gallon sump, total water volume 130ish. Should I be doing water changes?

The more the water is exposed to the uv light, the more parasites and bacteria it will kill (both good and bad), if ur going 1500 gallons per hour through the uv, the uv might not be doing it's job as effectively

 

[Dre]

Sounds like the early stages of a parasite outbreak. Mag. is irrelevant. Beef up the feeding , make sure parameters are as stabile as possible and keep close observation for outward signs.

UV too small for the volume. Feed them well and keep the water clean.

 

[Silverni2]

I understand why you say feed them to keep them strong, what do you mean by keep the water clean?? Do water changes? I have a carbon reactor. Know no3 or po4?
Thx

 

[meloncoral]

I have been thru this in the past and there is a med that treats it now......i cant remember what its called . And i dont know if it works.
But i fixed it before more than once by freshwater dipping do it everyday for about a week and it will not only stop the scratching but cure the cloudy eyes.
Its flukes and if there scratching more than a few times a hour its important you do it fast before everyone in the tank gets it.
The parameters of your water has nothing to do with your scratching. Either the fish came in with the flukes or they were in the tank already and they picked them up.
Good Luck

 

[prattreef]

Unless there is an obvious water quality issue ( it doesn't sound like there is) I would not do water changes as they are more likely to stress the fish out than provide any real cure. UV is only going to be effective in the free swimming stage of the parasite and if they are scratching the parasite is not free swimming.

Sometimes nothing will come of occasional scratching, just remain alert.

 

[Silverni2]

Gotcha
thx

 

[marrone]

I have been thru this in the past and there is a med that treats it now......i cant remember what its called . And i dont know if it works.
But i fixed it before more than once by freshwater dipping do it everyday for about a week and it will not only stop the scratching but cure the cloudy eyes.
Its flukes and if there scratching more than a few times a hour its important you do it fast before everyone in the tank gets it.
The parameters of your water has nothing to do with your scratching. Either the fish came in with the flukes or they were in the tank already and they picked them up.
Good Luck

If it's Flukes, and I'm not sure at this point it can be determine that it is, fresh water dips aren't going to work, you need to treat the whole tank and fast. The medication is Prazipro and the treatment is about 2 weeks, with a large water change in between treatments.

If it's Flukes here is how you need to treat them.
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/pests/99529-monogenetic-trematodes-gill-flukes.html