Blue Tang and KH Level

[Wreck-Diver]

Hi All,

I have a Regal Tang (Hippo)... he is brand new to my tank (60g)... within 4 days... he is starting to get white spots all over, which I believe is due to a high KH level. My KH tests out at 11... is this a little high? The test kit says it should be between 8-10. How can I lower it? I have a marine buffer by Seachem... the LFS recommended a buffer. My PH is 8.3 already though... the buffer says that it maintains an 8.3 PH, but also says it maintains alkalinity. Would you all recommend that I add a little of this, or what else might I try to get this little guy feeling better? Thanks in advance for the help!

Wade

 

[reefsnreptiles1]

Although your alkalinity may be a little high it won't cause ich (which is what your tang most likely has). Tangs in genereal (and especially hippo tangs) are ich magnets. I would begin soaking the food in garlic extract to try and help it beat the ich. If that doesn't work you will want to look at setting up a hospital tank to treat with hyposalinity.

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevo ... inity.html

For more on ich:

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevo ... neich.html

 

[Wreck-Diver]

Thanks for the GREAT advise and links! Very good info... I guess what surpised me is how fast it happened. The fish is still chowing food and very active. If it is ich, that may all change, the worse it gets. Thanks again for the help!

 

[reefsnreptiles1]

Thanks for the GREAT advise and links!

No problem. The fact that the fish is eating and active is a good sign. Many people have been able to overcome ich with garlic as long as the fish is otherwise healthy.

Best of luck.

 

[reefsnreptiles1]

Thanks for the GREAT advise and links!

No problem. The fact that the fish is eating and active is a good sign. Many people have been able to overcome ich with garlic as long as the fish is otherwise healthy.

Best of luck.

 

[reefsnreptiles1]

Oops. Sorry for the double post.

 

[Wreck-Diver]

No problem on the double post. 8) It will be tommorrow before I can get garlic (fish stores are closed)... hopefully the fish will be okay till tomorrow afternoon or so. I even thought about a fresh water soak, but I had no luck with catching him after 40 minutes of trying. It is a baby and plenty fast! Not to mention how he hides under the rock.

 

[LauraH]

First, I would remove the tang to a hospital tank where you can treat him with an appropriate medication to battle the ich. I've never tried garlic, so I can't comment on how well it works, but I've had good results with Formalite I. Ich can quickly overwhelm a stressed fish, whose immune system is not strong enough to keep up with the spread of the parasite. It can also quickly spread to the other fish in the tank, no matter how long they've been there or how healthy they are. This is one very good reason to quarantine new fish, especially tangs.

Second, your LFS told you to use buffer to bring your alkalinity down?? If so, you should avoid listening to their advice, or find another store. Buffer is used to bring alkalinity up, should really only be used if needed. Is this a reef tank?

 

[Wreck-Diver]

Thanks for the tips LauraH. I had questioned the fish store on that yesterday... especially because my PH was already at 8.3. My KH was at 11... they recommended putting the buffer in there to bring it up to 12. Sounds like their advise is a bit shaky. I took a look at the fish a few minutes ago, and he is still good... pretty rowdy actually, and eating well. Still no luck catching him though... I am trying to avoid removing rocks and stuff if possible. Also, this is a reef tank. I guess there goes using copper... I would like to have a cleaner shrimp in there as well, but am leery since I have an arrow crab. Not only that, but I also have a baby Niger Trigger (Dirty Harry)... so far it is very very tame, but I hate to throw temptation his way.

 

[LauraH]

If he doesn't seem to be getting any worse, and you can't easily catch him, you may have no choice but to leave him be and keep a close eye on things. Feed everyone well, with vitamin enriched foods. You can try soaking food in garlic if you want. I think it acts more as a dietary supplement, than a medication.

As for the alkalinity issue, your parameters really aren't bad, so I wouldn't worry about it. If you feel like you need to do something, just do a partial water change. I feel like that would be more constructive than adding stuff that might throw the balance out of whack.

 

[Wreck-Diver]

Thanks Laura!

Since last night I had increased the KH to 15, as well as the temperature of the water to 82 (I have heard both good and bad about this). The fish are getting a very good, vitamin rich diet (according to the food label 8O )... I use a few general types... both by Ocean Nutrition; Brine Shrimp Plus and also Formula Two for the algae lovers.

So far the blue tang is still eating like crazy and just downright rowdy. Today I bought a cleaner shrimp... he just LOVED that! I never had one before and thought it is way cool how it sets up a cleaning station. Amazing how the fish know to go to it. I looked at the tang a little while ago and he is looking MUCH better already... I hope I am not hallucinating! In any case, he looks way better than at this time last night. I have my fingers crossed!

-Wade

 

[LauraH]

15 dKH is a bit high. I believe natural seawater levels are somewhere between 8-10 dKH. Your pH and alkalinity were fine to begin with. I would do a partial water change, then check it again. If it's only slightly higher than natural seawater levels, you can probably just let it drop naturally until it reaches the right levels, then maintain it with a balanced supplement, like Bionic or CBalance. Keep an eye on your pH. Anything 8.0 - 8.3 pH is fine. You haven't mentioned calcium levels, but they are best kept at 400-450 ppm. Of course, calcium doesn't really mean anything to your fish, but your corals, coralline, etc might appreciate it. Whatever you do, don't add anymore buffer.

I'm glad to hear that your fish seems on the road to recovery. Cleaner shrimp are great little critters. I'm afraid to keep them anymore in my tank because of my neon dottyback. Watch that your trigger doesn't make mincemeat out of your shrimp.