Help me diagnose what's wrong with my Tang!

[fernandokng]

I bought him 1.5 years ago, when he was about 1inch big. Now he's close to 2.5", but I've been having issues with him for a long time.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=20893&catid=member&imageuser=3313

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=20892&catid=member&imageuser=3313

What's wrong with him? He has lesions, and broken fins. My closest guess is HLLE, because of the lesions. He used to be under high nitrates, but that's been fixed for awhile now.

He still eats like a pig, and I feed once a day with flakes/seaweed.

Current Tank specs:
58gg rr (yes, I know it's small).
nitrate < 5ppm.
temp 81-83 degrees
salinity 1.025

I can't fix him and he's stressing me out. Any suggestions?

 

[Bob 1000]

Do you have a grounding probe in you tank???

 

[fernandokng]

Yes to grounding probe.

 

[Bob 1000]

What are you testing with for nitrates??? I'm guessing not that bad...

 

[fernandokng]

Testing with Salifert.

 

[pecan2phat]

Hippo tangs are highly prone to HLLE. I've had a few like that and it only got worse.

 

[fernandokng]

What end up happening to them? Did they die, and how long did that take?

 

[KathyC]

Sure looks like HLLE..you can see that all of the discoloration is along the lateral line.

Increasing the frequency & volume of your water changes often helps. Do you feed him mysis at all? If so, you can soak it in Selcon to boost his vitamin intake, plus the greater variety in diet is always good.
Flake food adds greatly to the deterioration of water quality and that is one of the commonly thought reasons for HLLE.

 

[fernandokng]

My water quality seems fine, based on the readings I'm getting on my test kits.

I so soak the flakes on selcon/cyclopeeze 3x a week as well. Perhaps I'm not feeding often enough?

 

[NYreefNoob]

you feeding any type of algea ? spirula brine ?

 

[Bob 1000]

I can't open the pics.. Are you feeding enough... Something is not right with pars and water quality..

 

[Scion_TC2005]

Use Aqua Pro Cure by Fish Vet, Petsolutions.com has it
and feed it New Life Spectrum Thera A Pellets

I have great success using this product and food to cure messed up tangs.

 

[pecan2phat]

What end up happening to them? Did they die, and how long did that take?

Still eating, swimming & growing but just gets worse. I gave one of the Hippos to a buddy with a large tank and while the HLLE did not heal, it also did not get wose in his tank.

 

[fernandokng]

I also feed spectrum pellets, and algae, but not daily.

Bob - i feed once a day... I don't overfeed so I can keep my water quality in check.

 

[TNT125]

See this thread I have been working on it http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/fish/45712-can-i-get-some-info.html

It has all the info and I will be adding more by the end of the week

 

[Rtam3185]

Use Aqua Pro Cure by Fish Vet, Petsolutions.com has it
and feed it New Life Spectrum Thera A Pellets

I have great success using this product and food to cure messed up tangs.

NLS Anti Thera A pellets are a god sent. Feed more algae. I feed mine a variety of Nori Sheets(Every Day), NLS Pellets,Mysis soaked in Selcon and Zoe and Spirulina Flakes. He's super healthy..but growing fast. Need to find him a new home soon. :frown: