Problem w/all my tangs

[lj1064a]

I have a 500g fowlr stocking list show sailfin tang, show Vlamingii, lrg Yellow tang, show Dussumier tang, show Stars and Stripes puffer, lrg Porcupine puffer, show red Lion, lrg Blue tang, ex lrg Auriga butterfly. The equipment ETSS 1400 skimmer, duel Rainbow lifeguard 40w UV, 1 hp chiller, duel BRS media reactor 80g sump w/micro algae.

All the tangs have or are developing fin rot. That's what I'm calling it anyway, all of their fins are deteriorating. They are fed a wide variety of food"¦dried sea weed soaked in selcon and garlic, formula one and two flake, emerald entrée frzn, frzn squid, The other fish are fine just the tangs are being affected. The nitrates are very high about 60 even w/weekly WC alternating 50 and 30 gallons using RODI water and IO salt mix. What would be the best antibiotic to treat with? I have read it is best to treat internally. Is it best to just soak the food if the medication?

Please help"¦Thanks

 

[b0bab0ey]

No corals/inverts in this tank, right?

If you think the problem is serious enough to require antibiotics, I would treat w/ Maracyn 1 & 2. Or Furan-2 would be my backup plan. I've never had any luck just soaking the food in antibiotics, but I have read some pretty good things about this product (if you can find it):

http://www.drgsmarineaquaculture.com/frozen-antibacterial.cfm

http://www.drgsmarineaquaculture.com/frozen-fish-food.cfm

I still wouldn't use any of that with corals/inverts. Ya know, a lot of times fin rot can be a secondary infection caused by parasites. Are you sure none of these tangs have Ich? Have you noticed any rubbing/twitching?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Its just the tangs that have the fin problem, right? Weird. If its just tangs; I think you'd better find the cause or the fin problem will be back. Any chance the puffers are nipping them they do a lot of that? Are the Tangs getting enough algae & other greens? Plenty of LR for grazing? That number of large tangs would need a lot more greens than many people realize. There isn't a whole lot of nutrition in veggies; that's why tangs and land based deer, must graze almost continually. I feed my tangs the usual nori, 6-8 frozen foods, (they need meaty stuff too) and turnip greens (frozen to soften them). They also have a lot of very well covered LR. This may give some folks the vapors, but nitrate at 60ppm isn't going to hurt (most, cma) fish. Just to be safe, I'd look for a simple way to keep it from getting any higher.

I agree with b0bab0ey on the antibiotics. Maracyn 1 & 2 has worked well for me. I know many folks think antibiotics do better when given internally, but with fin infections, external antibiotics seem to work. I'm no expert in the area, but I wonder if any med developed for use in the water column would even be safe or effective when eaten? External meds for people or dogs can't be ingested. Its very tough to get fish to eat med soaked food to. There are a couple of antibiotic foods around; but I've never heard anything good about them.

 

[lj1064a]

No inverts or corals...

plenty of LR and they do graze all the time, I've never seen the puffers picking at them. Feed 3 times a week I'll add fresh greens going forward and try the Marcyn as well...

No rubbing and they all eat very well.

 

[MrTuskfish]

b0bab0ey knows antibiotics very well, this is just my 2nd rate opinion. I'd be very leery using Marcyn in the DT; I don't know what it will do to friendly bio-filter the bacteria. It may be OK, but I've always used all meds (except Prazi-Pro) in a QT. When using antibiotics in my QT/HT; I do have more problems with maintaining zero ammonia than I do when just quarantining, even when using copper. Fin problems really have to be serious before I'd treat with an antibiotic. Fin damage usually heals on its own; but, unless you find the cause, who knows?

Probably unrelated, but are you feeding all of your fish just 3X weekly, or just the added veggies for the tangs? I know a lot of folks are skimpy with feeding and the fish do well. I feed a lot more than most. IMO, many fish are really under-fed. A very controversial topic, just my 2 cents.

 

[alprazo]

I agree with treating too. Other options would include triple sulfa or furan, but minocycline is probably the easiest to find and should work well. I've cultured several sores in fish, and for the most part, they have been gram positive organisms. All listed provide decent coverage , but not sure about the etiology of your fin rot. A clipping sent for culture would be ideal if you have access.