when yellow turns red

sail33

sail33

New member
Hello

I've got a fairly new tank set up. A used 72 bow front. Running for about 10 weeks. It's a FOWLR with an old style sump. I took out the bio balls and put in a 7 inch sock. Then the skimmer which is so old there isn't and control on the water flow. It's only picking up about 1/16 inch a week in the cup.
I think I should add a valve to the exit just to see if I can spin it up to produce more skimmate. Every now and then it will belch out more but only for a few seconds.

Sand bed. 77 degrees. All tests are running normal. I know that's not a lot of info but I have it done at the local fish store.


I brought home a Coral Beauty with a small abrasion on it's belly. I figured it would heal. Well, it didn't. The fish was so terrified, he wouldn't come out to eat if I was anywhere near the tank. The Yellow Tang started to bully him a bit and his tail got ragged. I haven't seen the Coral Beauty in about 3 days.

Now I'm getting to the point. I'm pretty sure the Coral Beauty is dead and gone. The Yellow tang has developed some red ares. First at the base of the dorsal fin, now by the tail and although faint so far, I see it coming on his sides too. It looks like how I imagine a hemorrhagic fever might display at the early stages. Blood red near the skin surface. He's still eating well and is active. The two small green chromis and hippo tang are doing very well.

I'm planning to stop doing 5 gallon water changes once a week and go to 20% once a month beginning tomorrow.

Does anyone know for certain what the yellow tang has, how to treat it what my options are?

I don't have , nor can I afford a QT at this time.

Ideas ?

THANKS
 
^^^^^That would be my first guess too.^^^^
Are you saying you can't find the Coral Beauty? A dead CB in a new 72 gal tank will probably produce more ammonia than the tank can handle. Why would you buy an injured fish; and without a QT? A QT will cost less than the dead fish you mentioned (try Craigslist). You have two tangs in a tank that is way too small for them. This isn't causing your problem; just a heads up.
 
MrTuskfish said:
^^^^^That would be my first guess too.^^^^
Are you saying you can't find the Coral Beauty? A dead CB in a new 72 gal tank will probably produce more ammonia than the tank can handle. Why would you buy an injured fish; and without a QT? A QT will cost less than the dead fish you mentioned (try Craigslist). You have two tangs in a tank that is way too small for them. This isn't causing your problem; just a heads up.
Click to expand...

The injury was very very small and nearly gone. Are you suggesting that 4 small fish are too many for a 72 gallon tank ???

The two green chromis are no more than an inch long. The yellow tang is 2 1/2 and hippo is maybe 3. So that's too many for a 72 right ?
 
No, 4 fish isn't too many, but putting tangs in anything smaller than a 120 is not a good idea. As they grow and run out of swimming space, they are going to get very territorial and display stress swimming (swimming in circles, biting the glass, etc)
 
sail33 said:
I checked. Thank goodness it's NOT that. Just a blush of red.

So still searching
Click to expand...

If you've ruled out Uronema, then my next guess would be an infection of some kind. I would QT and treat with a med that contains antibiotics, such as Furan-2. If QT is not an option, the only thing you can do is soak your fish food in something like Selcon to try to boost the fish's immune system.
 
h2so4hurts said:
No, 4 fish isn't too many, but putting tangs in anything smaller than a 120 is not a good idea. As they grow and run out of swimming space, they are going to get very territorial and display stress swimming (swimming in circles, biting the glass, etc)
Click to expand...

No worries. I'm terminally ill. By the time they get that big, any corpse will be someone elses problem.

I'm just trying to get the last bit out of what I've got. But that doesn't mean I'm being irresponsible either.

Thanks for your concern though. There was no way for you to know .
 
b0bab0ey said:
If you've ruled out Uronema, then my next guess would be an infection of some kind. I would QT and treat with a med that contains antibiotics, such as Furan-2. If QT is not an option, the only thing you can do is soak your fish food in something like Selcon to try to boost the fish's immune system.
Click to expand...

I'm going to try Melafix, do bigger water changes more often and monitor the yellow tang. If he doesn't improve in a day or four, I'll go for antibiotics.
My budget is so limited on disability I prolly should not have gone salt but I did what did so I get what I get and tank is along for the ride.

I will continue to do my best for all concerned.

And THANKS for the help
 
sail33 said:
I'm going to try Melafix, do bigger water changes more often and monitor the yellow tang. If he doesn't improve in a day or four, I'll go for antibiotics.
My budget is so limited on disability I prolly should not have gone salt but I did what did so I get what I get and tank is along for the ride.

I will continue to do my best for all concerned.

And THANKS for the help
Click to expand...

I don't know about Melafix, but I wouldn't use antibiotics in your DT if you have corals/inverts. Just a FYI.
 
Good morning.
I just added the second dose of a product that I'd not heard of or used before. I can't say scientifically if this was the cure.
What I can tell you is that the two things I did were a 20% water change and a tank size appropriate dose of Melafix he water change was done on Saturday and the Melafix on Sunday.
Today, one look at the yellow tang it's clear something worked. At least 50% of the red is gone. I dosed again and will follow directions. I will keep you posted. Looks like I dodged it this time. Prolly sounds like I'm endorsing a product. I'm really in no position to do that. I'm just reporting what I did and the results of those actions.

Thanks for all of the advice. Even if I didn't take it all right to the LFS and buy it, I am grateful.

Look for another posting on this problem in a few days.
Sail
 
Sounds good. The last time I used Melafix and Pimafix was probably 20+ years ago. It didn't seem to help so I abandoned using it. I'm guessing it works by boosting a fish's immune system, so their body can fight off the infection naturally. Might be worth another look. I'd be interested to hear from those who have used it in the presence of corals/inverts.
 
owen386 said:
Find That Fish or Your Gonna Have more Dead Fish!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I would agree but was not capable at the time. The remains have been found and disposed of. Only the bones remained. All other fish are either well or greatly improved.
 
evanjah said:
My skimmer goes crazy with it and corals slime

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

I am coral free but yes, My skimmer is not usable after Melafix. I have written to the MFG for a solution. I will post their reply.

I think more water changes are in order for me. Maybe carbon will pull it out when the treatment time has passed.
 
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