Flame Angel Has One Cloudy Eye

[Capnbob]

Hi,

I have a flame angel that I got on Feb. 10th and about a week ago I noticed that he had developed a single cloudy eye. The other eye is normal.

I've read that this can be caused by poor water conditions. I've checked all of my parameters and they're all great except the pH is about 7.9. I'm working on correcting this now. I'm adding Kent's Pro Buffer daily. Everything else is fine though.

I waited about a week because I figured he just hurt himself somehow and now it's getting worse.

What should I do?

Here's my tank info:


46 gallon bowfront. Rena XP3 Canister Filter, Coralife Super Skimmer for up to 65 gallons. Two Maxi-Jet 1200's with Hydor Flo water deflectors. About 50-70 lbs. of live rock. Current USA 36" Power Compacts w/ 1 - Dual Daylight Lamp (10,000K and 6,700K) and 1 - Dual Actinic Lamp (420nm and 460nm).

Tank's Current Inhabitants:

Scarlet Hermit Crabs, turbo snails, nassarius snails
Foxface Rabbitfish (small)
Flame Angel
Blue Devil damselfish
Four Stripe Damselfish
Bicolor Blenny
Serpent Starfish
Percula Clownfish

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[leebca]

Waiting to see what was going to happen is the right course for this condition. However, if you think it is getting worse try first a large (50% +) water change and if no improvement, then hospitalize the fish and treat with an antibiotic. Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish would be the way to go.

Not all poor water conditions are measurable by the kits you used. There can still be an issue with the water (including issues with your source water being contaminated or containing badies), but you should also be looking for excessive source of bacteria growth which means decaying stuff in the tank.

Read this thread for more details:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=685797

Compare the foods you feed to this post and see if your feeding/foods need improvements:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=785228

Good luck!

 

[Capnbob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6859935#post6859935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leebca
Waiting to see what was going to happen is the right course for this condition. However, if you think it is getting worse try first a large (50% +) water change and if no improvement, then hospitalize the fish and treat with an antibiotic. Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish would be the way to go.

So I've waited a while and it's just getting worse. It's starting to look more intense and is protruding now.

I'd like to add medication now but I don't know if I should add Maracyn Two or just Maracyn. I've been told both and now I'm uncertain. Also, it's a reef tank. Is maracyne reef-safe?

Thanks in advanced!

 

[leebca]

For your information:
One of the best meds is Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish. That contains the antibiotic, Minocycline, along with B complex vitamins to improve appetite. This antibiotic is absorbed through the fish's skin and will help it with internal infections. For a slightly more hard hitting punch when the bacteria may be Gram Negative, is to use both Maracyn Two and Maracyn One, together.

A good article on antibiotics: http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen.html

Maracyn contains Erythromycin, Maracyn Two contains Minocycline. Two very different meds for different bacteria. One antibiotic attacks gram positive bacteria and the other, gram negative. Knowing the type of bacteria you are battling comes in handy when choosing one over the other. If you donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know the kind of bacteria you are dealing with, then you need to go by the fact that most bacterial infections in marine fish are GRAM NEGATIVE bacteria. Thus, Maracyn Two for Saltwater fishes would be the medication of choice. The great thing about this medication is that it will work even when your fish will not eat. It penetrates into the fish and even helps the fish overcome internal bacterial infections (like those that cause eye swelling and/or Popeye conditions).

Maracyn One for Saltwater fish is an antibiotic that attacks GRAM POSITIVE bacteria, with B complex vitamins. This medication will have a distinct negative impact on the biological filter (as do most GRAM POSITIVE antibiotics). In your reef tank, you'd destroy your bio-filter for sure.

While Mardel does not promote the use of any of these meds in a reef aquarium, I have used Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish in a FOWLR aquarium. Mardel (and I) recommends using these products in a quarantine tank.

Using both is not a problem, however you should note the pros and cons mentioned above. Most likely all you need to use is Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish.