Emperor Angel HLLE Help (Tried everything, or so I think)

[Dunshster]

First off I will give a brief description of my tank:

I have a 120 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump.
* AquaEuroUsa 250 protein skimmer
* (2) Tunze modded powerheads (Overall i have very good current)
* an orbit 260 watt light (I run lights 12hrs/day)
* Turbo twist 18w UV
* 200lb's fiji liverock
* 3inch sandbed


Water Parameters:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10-20
PH - 8-8.2
Temp - 77-82 (These are the extremes over 2years) its usually very steady around 79


Fish:
Yellowtang - 3.5inch
Blue hippo tang 5inch
Sailfin tang 2inch
Emperor Angel 5inch
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
Blue damsel
Royal Gramma
Chalk Basslet
Diamond watchman goby
(3) Green Chromis
(2) lyretail anthias
(2) clownfish
Figure 8 puffer (he was the first fish after I converted to saltwater, i have no idea how he is still thriving)

Inverts:
Emerald crabs (I had 3, there may be less now)
Blue legged hermits
Scarlet hermits
(1) Halloween hermit
Nassarious Snails
Astrea Snails
Turbo Snails
Chocolate chip starfish
(2) Skunk cleaner shrimps
Purple lobster
Chocolate chip starfish
(1) Mushroom coral

I have never had a bad algae blood although i usually have small amounts of red slime algae. I haven't had any fish die in over 1.5 years, however for the last few months my emperor angel has been fighting HLLE, it has been progressively getting worse no matter what I do, and just today it looks as if my blue tang MAY be showing premature signs of HLLE also now. I talked to my local fish store and they recommended varied foods (which I have been doing since day one, and also a grounding probe which I added over a month ago)

I feed my tank once a day (could this be the problem? do I need to do more smaller feedings? My fish all look healthy outside the HLLE)

*I feed nori on a clip every other day, and I rotate between brown red and green

On nori days I also feed pellet food, I mix New Life Spectrum Lg. Fish formula, Formula Two marine pellets into a small container, then I add cyclop-eeze freeze fried, selcon, Zoe, and Kent garlic extreme. I let this sit for 10-30 minutes turn off the sump and then feed.

On the other days I feed frozen food.

I mix Marine Cuisine, Emerald Entree, Angel and butterfly forumula, Mysis shrimp, bloodworms, and then mix in the zoe, garlic, cyclop-eeze and selcon. Let it sit for 10-30 minutes and feed, I usually mix enough for two feedings, and so the second half I cover and put in my refrigerator for 2 days until the next frozen feeding (I figured this gives the vitamins PLENTY of time to soak in)

I do one 17.5 gallon water change every week and clean my skimmer every 3-5 days. Also make sure to stir up everything that settles in the rocks, corners, and sump before each water change. When I mix the water it comes out of a 4 stage RO-DI unit, I add a small amount of prime stir the water, wait 15 minutes mix in the salt, and then wait at least an hour before doing the water change.

The fish are all very active, very peaceful and eat like pigs, especially the blue tang and emperor angel, The emperor has shown no signs of the HLLE bothering him, however its definitely bothering me! While the HLLE has been very slowly getting worse, he is continuing to transform his colors and grow at a normal rate.

Please, give me ANY tips you guys have I am willing to do almost anything, although I don't have an endless budget. Thank you so much for your time and help, hopefully with your help I can the emperor back to 100% and prevent the blue tang from getting HLLE (I am still not sure if he is showing premature signs or not) Sorry for the long post, I just figured every detail I could give would probably help, I most likely left something out though, so ask any questions you want.

 

[Rick55555]

I wish I had insight beyond the usual feed more and better quality foods, soaked in selcon. But it appears as though you're already doing that.

Two things that stand out: Why is your nitrate so high. I know 10-20 nitrate isn't the worst thing, but you might want to try reducing it. I'm also wondering why you're adding prime. My understanding is that prime is a dechlorinator. I don't think you need it if you're using RO/DI, which presumably includes a carbon block.

You might want to look into feeding meatier foods such as shrimp, prawn, clam etc from the market. I've had success keeping large and happy fish by feeding seafood from the market.

Best of Luck


Rick

 

[Dunshster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14986985#post14986985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rick55555
I wish I had insight beyond the usual feed more and better quality foods, soaked in selcon. But it appears as though you're already doing that.

Two things that stand out: Why is your nitrate so high. I know 10-20 nitrate isn't the worst thing, but you might want to try reducing it. I'm also wondering why you're adding prime. My understanding is that prime is a dechlorinator. I don't think you need it if you're using RO/DI, which presumably includes a carbon block.

You might want to look into feeding meatier foods such as shrimp, prawn, clam etc from the market. I've had success keeping large and happy fish by feeding seafood from the market.

Best of Luck


Rick

First off thank you so much for the reply!

To be honest I am not really sure why the nitrate is that high, its usually right around 10, highest its ever been was 20, and lowest its ever been is 5.

I usually only add just a few drops of prime, way below what you normally use to condition water, I just use it for piece of mind so no chlorine gets in, however you may be right, the Prime might be overkill. I do actually feed them frozen shrimp on a non-regular basis. When I cut up too much shrimp for my 72 aggressive, the extra gets added to the 120, and I would definately look for more at the market, however I live in North Dakota and you wouldn't believe how bad our fish selection is in town.

 

[rhkingsfan]

Do you run carbon? I had a beautiful powder brown that started developing HLLE a week after I added carbon (had that guy for almost a year and a half without issues). Some people claim carbon powder causes HLLE (its probably a fallacy but who knows). All I know is that my tang was fine until I added carbon.

 

[Dunshster]

I rarely run carbon, I put a filter cartridge from my marineland 200 into one of the baffles of the sump for 2 days every couple months, so I doubt that is it, but definitely good to know, thanks! Keep the tips coming guys!

On a side note, my friend who has not been over in 2 weeks came over today, and claims he thinks the HLLE is shrinking, so it MAY be going the right direction, I'm not getting excited yet.

 

[unleashed13]

I would add a couple more daily feedings to your tank tangs need 3-4 times feeding .myself i would ditch the blood warms add plankton instead very high in protiens.. the spectrum pellets are a good choisei myself buy the omega one veggie flakes for my tank which all my fish eat i alternate between flake and pellets through out the day they get fed between 4-6 times a day (hubby doesnt ask if i fed them or not before hand lol..yes i have fat fish..lol
then a couple times a week i add a frozen mix at night which is a mixture of but not limited to a few of the following ..
emerald entrese,formula 2 and formula reef,and pygmy angel formula,plankton,krill(frozen variety)because i also have a porc puffer sever all the smaller fish clean up his leftovers of scallops, squid ,raw shrimp,halibut.. one is given daily..keep up with the selcon and the garlic extreme..

 

[Dunshster]

Thank you unleashed, I will start doing 2-3 smaller feedings and see if this makes a difference, I will definitely keep you guys updated, and if there are anymore tips please send them this way, Ill try them all