help needed please - Aquarium Advice

stacey+tony · 07-17-2008, 04:34 PM

well hello everyone i wonder if anyone could tell me if i have a serious problem in my tank or am i just paranoid?

i have several fish in a 5ft tank and just lately ive noticed my regal tang itching up against the rock and what looks like to me a sort of rash around it's fascial area,there's no whitespot's on him so i done some research on the net and in fish shops and some of there regals look like they have the same markings around the face.but what about the itching up against the rocks he's not lost no appetite.help

**Ziggy953** · 07-17-2008, 04:37 PM

Fish will rub up against things from time to time. It is sometimes a sign of parasites. The dark blue spots you see around the face are just the markings the fish has. Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Blue Tang

stacey+tony · 07-17-2008, 04:43 PM

cheers can you also tell me if this is also what they do,he's been bolting around in the tank like a mad man sometimes and going to the top quite alot is this part of there behaviour to.thanks.

**Ziggy953** · 07-17-2008, 05:54 PM

How large is the tank? What else do you have in the tank? What are your water parameters? Tangs usually swim around all the time but if he is darting around like that he could be stressed. How long have you had the tang in the tank and how long has the tank been set up?

ryshark · 07-17-2008, 06:36 PM

Is that cyano in the background of the first picture? Getting the water parameters would definitely be the first step. What are your "several" other fish. Is one of them picking on the Tang.
I have a blue tang also, they all have those freckle spots on the face. In my past experience, rubbing up against the rocks usually ends up in a parasite outbreak.

**melosu58** · 07-17-2008, 11:25 PM

Just keep an eye out for ich. It does not always mean ich but more times than not it does. If it does let us know and we will post you some links on ick.

Innovator · 07-18-2008, 12:04 AM

Looks to be pitting from facial erosion, hlle. Nutrition is always suspect with tangs and surgeonfishes; however, stress is always an underlying factor. Algae outbreaks don't necessarily mean there is a water quality problem.

stacey+tony · 07-18-2008, 12:29 PM

hello i had the water tested today and the ammonia is 3.0,and this is probaly the cause hoprfully,the guy at the shop suggested doing frequent water changes is this the quickest way to get the ammonia down,and thanks everyone.by the way i have a powder blue tang,lipstick tang and regal tang, 2 damsels, butterfly 3 clowns, 1 humbug and 1 wrasse.

**Ziggy953** · 07-18-2008, 12:42 PM

If you have ammonia showing up in your tank either it is not cycled or you had something die. How long has this tank been set up?

Ammonia is converted to NitrIte via bacteria and then to Nitrate.

stacey+tony · 07-18-2008, 01:12 PM

yeah we had a star fish die in the tank about 2 weeks ago the tank has been set up for bout 5 weeks,prior to that it had been set up for 8years.the live rock that i have is turning a crapy red colour to,gona get some more pics p.s the regal is looking little worse today.

07-17-2008, 04:34 PM	#1
stacey+tony Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 18	help needed please well hello everyone i wonder if anyone could tell me if i have a serious problem in my tank or am i just paranoid? i have several fish in a 5ft tank and just lately ive noticed my regal tang itching up against the rock and what looks like to me a sort of rash around it's fascial area,there's no whitespot's on him so i done some research on the net and in fish shops and some of there regals look like they have the same markings around the face.but what about the itching up against the rocks he's not lost no appetite.help Last edited by stacey+tony; 07-21-2008 at 12:14 PM.

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07-17-2008, 04:43 PM	#3
stacey+tony Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 18	cheers can you also tell me if this is also what they do,he's been bolting around in the tank like a mad man sometimes and going to the top quite alot is this part of there behaviour to.thanks.

07-17-2008, 06:36 PM	#5
ryshark Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 532	Is that cyano in the background of the first picture? Getting the water parameters would definitely be the first step. What are your "several" other fish. Is one of them picking on the Tang. I have a blue tang also, they all have those freckle spots on the face. In my past experience, rubbing up against the rocks usually ends up in a parasite outbreak.

07-18-2008, 12:04 AM	#7
Innovator Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,587	Looks to be pitting from facial erosion, hlle. Nutrition is always suspect with tangs and surgeonfishes; however, stress is always an underlying factor. Algae outbreaks don't necessarily mean there is a water quality problem.

07-18-2008, 12:29 PM	#8
stacey+tony Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 18	hello i had the water tested today and the ammonia is 3.0,and this is probaly the cause hoprfully,the guy at the shop suggested doing frequent water changes is this the quickest way to get the ammonia down,and thanks everyone.by the way i have a powder blue tang,lipstick tang and regal tang, 2 damsels, butterfly 3 clowns, 1 humbug and 1 wrasse.

07-18-2008, 01:12 PM	#10
stacey+tony Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 18	yeah we had a star fish die in the tank about 2 weeks ago the tank has been set up for bout 5 weeks,prior to that it had been set up for 8years.the live rock that i have is turning a crapy red colour to,gona get some more pics p.s the regal is looking little worse today.