Bacterial Infection Caused by Vodka Dosing?

[kaxt]

I believe my yellow tang has a bacterial infection. It has a blood red patch just below its dorsal fin above its eyes. I noticed it on Sunday afternoon and have been watching it closely. The fish is acting normal, but the blotch hasn't changed.

Is it possible that this is due to vodka dosing? I've been battling high nitrates for a few months and started vodka dosing 6 weeks ago. I just noticed a drop in my nitrate test results for the first time yesterday. Because I'm just starting to see results now,I would hate to have to stop dosing, but if it's possible that the dosing is harming the fish I would certainly stop.

Another thing to consider is that I did a 45 gallon (30%) water change on Friday. I doubt this is relevant, but figured it was worth including. I usually do weekly, 10% water changes, but I went to a frag swap on Saturday and in a last ditch effort to get my nitrates down so that I could bring home some SPS I did a 30% water change.

 

[kaxt]

Got home from work today and the red patch on the tang was gone. I'm going to continue dosing and just keep a close eye on the tang.

 

[Maxxingout]

By any chance are you not feeding the tang enough nori? What foods are you feeding the tang?

 

[kaxt]

I feed a 2" x 2" piece of nori once a day, sometimes on weekends I'll feed twice. Its just the tang and a cherub angel that go after it, and both those fish are still pretty small. I also give the tank home made frozen food every night. It has some nori in it but its mostly a mixture of sea food that I've run through the food processor.