JSeymour
New member
I have a flagfin angel, Apolemichthys trimaculatus, that I bought back in December of last year as a baby just over an inch long fish, and raised to it's current size, ~4". Throughout that time I watched it change from juvenile to adult coloration. I should point out this is a fowlr, but I was pointed here for this forums experience.
December 2011
May 2012
About three months ago nitrates began to climb, as I was feeding a lot of mysis to make sure a copperband I was acclimating was getting enough food. They weren't terribly high, ~35 ppm. About this same time I noticed the black on the anal fin of my flagfin was starting to fade. I figured this was because of the rising nitrates, as they were usually quite low for a fowlr without a sump, 5-10 ppm. I increased my water changes from 30% weekly to 50% for about a month to get things back down. I also increased my vinegar/carbon dosing. Skimmate production increased. Nitrates went back to normal.
Today
But the black kept fading. At this point, it is almost all gone. The fish shows no other signs of anything. No one bullies it, it actually pals around with the chrysurus.
At one point in the fish only forum, diet came into question, specifically sponges. I feed quite a few different things, including ON Angel Formula 4-5 times weekly, and live sponges that I routinely prune from my reef aquariums as they irritate the corals. This happens about every two weeks. All my angels and butterflies devour them. Here's a pic showing the types I feed to them.
It could be nothing, but it's not normal for the species, so it does concern me. I'm really at a loss at what could be causing it. I guess I just want someone, or a few someones, to tell me its nothing to worry about so I can relax and enjoy my fish.
December 2011
May 2012
About three months ago nitrates began to climb, as I was feeding a lot of mysis to make sure a copperband I was acclimating was getting enough food. They weren't terribly high, ~35 ppm. About this same time I noticed the black on the anal fin of my flagfin was starting to fade. I figured this was because of the rising nitrates, as they were usually quite low for a fowlr without a sump, 5-10 ppm. I increased my water changes from 30% weekly to 50% for about a month to get things back down. I also increased my vinegar/carbon dosing. Skimmate production increased. Nitrates went back to normal.
Today
But the black kept fading. At this point, it is almost all gone. The fish shows no other signs of anything. No one bullies it, it actually pals around with the chrysurus.
At one point in the fish only forum, diet came into question, specifically sponges. I feed quite a few different things, including ON Angel Formula 4-5 times weekly, and live sponges that I routinely prune from my reef aquariums as they irritate the corals. This happens about every two weeks. All my angels and butterflies devour them. Here's a pic showing the types I feed to them.
It could be nothing, but it's not normal for the species, so it does concern me. I'm really at a loss at what could be causing it. I guess I just want someone, or a few someones, to tell me its nothing to worry about so I can relax and enjoy my fish.
