diver28

Well well well. For those who have particpated or read the thread (Ich and steps I'm taking..) will know my Powder Blue just got over the Ich. In the meantime, I've had a Flame Angel who was in QT tank for 4 weeks just get ICH in my main tank. It was a rough transfer as he kept flopping around in the bowl I transferred him in. As soon as I set it on top of my tank and removed my hands to have a peak he jumped out and on the glass!!!! I nugged him right away into the aquarium as it was luckily right on the edge. I've been watching him closely and sure enough he's getting Ich. I'm pretty bummed about it since he was doing very well in my QT.

So I'm doing the same steps as before.

Raising my Temp to 82 degrees
Feeding GVH soaked Food (however since he's new he hasn't been eating as well)
More frequent water changes
Adding Marine Max Solution into Water

On a side note, he is defending himself pretty well and the Powder Blue rarely chases him, the Regal Angel probably chases the most but the one I supsected to chase him a lot is the Eilbli and it doesn't bother him at all. So I think he's safe with the community, just worried about the ich since I see a spot right on his eye. Anyone have experience with Flames? Are they hardy?

Oil_Fan

I can't answer your question but I'll be following this thread. I'm planning on getting a flame angel in about a month and half.

Mike

It's not been my experience that they are hardy. Everytime I go to buy one locally, the always have signs of disease and/or show no feeding response. I would expect the eibli angel to go after the flame too. Having a 100 gallon tank like you have may help though.

If you can get the flame angelfish out of the main tank and back into qt, I would do that. You can treat more effectively in qt. That may be easier said than done though if you have lots of live rock in the display tank. Also keep a close eye on the other fish too now.

diver28

Thank you Mike. I've been keeping a close watch on all the fish. The powder blue tang has recently fought off the Ich and the others seem to be fine. The Flame has been better at coming out to eat and I think feels more comfortable. Also, to my surprise the Eibli hasn't chased the Flame at all and in fact I saw the Flame chase the eibli today! Must be a good sign if he's strong enough to fight back. He's also bigger in size which helps probably.

Yea, as for the catching issue... gosh.. thats why I kept in QT for 4 weeks to make sure he was ok. It would be such a hassel to get him now. I had to turn the temp down because of the anemone. I did see less spots on the Flame today. I'll keep you guys posted.

Thats a nice Pacific Blue Tang in your pic by the way. I'll try and post some pictures of my tank soon. I think it looks stellar with the new t5 lighting.

diver28

Since Flame Angels are aggressive I would suggest to put him in last. If your already doing that then great. I orginally had a Flame Angel in early who passed from Ich my 2nd Month and decided he would be the last addition.

Mike

You say that the powder blue fought off the ich, but it may come back soon. I had one that got it about 5 times in a row (and also the only fish in the tank to show signs of cryptocaryon too). I think if you can get them eating the highest quality (nutritionally) foods possible, do regular partial water changes, siphon the top layers of sand (to remove the cypto cysts) it may really help increase your chances of the fish getting completely through the ich cycles. A UV sterilizer might help, prolly not too much though.

Getting them to eat regularly offered aquarium foods can be difficult sometimes but I think it's one of the most important factors (after water quality) for the less hardy species.

diver28

Mike,

this morning the powder blue was very finiky. I put in a new piece of live rock (big one) and he started freaking out. Also, he's been freaking from teh new anemone I've been trying to keep alive. I see some little tiny dark spots on him and a dark blackish spot on his face? Can you determine what that is?

Kyle

Mike

Was the live rock fully cured before you added it? Ammonia and nitrite spikes could easily do them in from any die-off on the live rock. Also could have a prob if the anemone dies and expels its insides, polluting the tank.

It might just be stress spots, but Tangs can also get something called black spot disease, or sometimes called black ich. Check out the description on fishbase: http://www.fishbase.org/diseases/dis...fm?discode=737

Does it look kinda like this photo: black spot disease

If you think this is what we're dealing with (black ich and not just stress spots), you may need to do a freshwater dip on the tang. Details on how to do it are on that link to fishbase. Don't forget to adjust the pH and temperature to what this fish is used to. You can adjust the pH with baking soda.

Important:
You also have to watch the fish constantly when in a freshwater dip. If the fish starts to go horizontal you need to cut the dip short. I'd prolly start with 5 minute dips instead of the 10-15 minutes recommended on fishbase.

diver28

The live rock is cured. I ordered it pre-cured and then kept it in my QT tank for 7 weeks or so. I also scrubbed it a few times, it had no smell. As for the black spots it does sort of look like that but not as dark and not as bad.

Thanks for the info though it is very helpful and I will let you know if I do a freshwater dip. So far the powder blue is doing ok. Hasn't shown much aggression towards the other fish. The flame angel still has the ich spots and I'm watching him closely. If it gets any worse I'll throw him in the QT and treat the water with some copper supplement.

diver28

The flame is looking ok. He's still eating and breathing.. I think he's winning the fight. Looks like things will be ok. I just ordered 30 lbs of Lalo live rock from Live Aquaria.

Mike

Ok, sounds like you already know to cure the rock from liveaquaria too, even though it's called pre-cured, it'll still need to go through a mini-curing process once you get it via UPS.

diver28

Yea, they had a nice letter when opening the box giving strict instructions to cure it again. They do a good job.

Oil_Fan

I would agree there. I just got 22 lbs of their premium Fuji rock back on Thursday form them and I'm currently curing it. Though they included on GIANT piece of LR. It has to be 10 or 12 lbs by itself. I'm still debating where to put it my main tank once it done curing.

diver28

Maybe you could chop the rock in half or break some pieces of it off with a hammer and chizzle?

Oil_Fan

That's not a bad idea. I just may do that.

diver28

I may do that too withe one of the huge rocks that I have. Also, as of today I noticed my Flame wasn't coming out to eat and it looks like he is breathing a little harder. I didn't notice any spots of Ich on him. I'm worried he may have something else now. I may try and isolate him tonight and put him in my QT.. bummer.

Oil_Fan

Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the guy.

diver28

I tried catching him last night with no success. Spent a good hour. I have good hiding places and rocks that I didn't want to move. Big pain now.