Help my yellow tang. Is this hlle? Bacterial?

[rinckemd]

Is this hlle? Bacterial infection? Nutritional? I've had him a while, but he's gotten worse recently. Still a huge eater.

 

[Humblefish]

Yes, looks like HLLE to me: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hlle-head-lateral-line-erosion.259916/

Possible causes listed below:

1) Stray voltage - Use a titanium ground probe & test your tank for stray voltage.
2) Running carbon - Don’t use it, or use only premium grade carbon.
3) Nutritional deficiency - Feed high quality nutritional foods. Some have had success reversing the effects of HLLE by soaking food in “fish vitamins” and also feeding nori.

 

[ngoodermuth]

My first thought is infection, but I'll wait for the experts to chime-in. What does he eat? Any behavioral symptoms?

Edit. Whatever he said^ [emoji38]

 

[rinckemd]

I feed rods daily and he gets some dried nori which he doesn't love. He eats some ulva that grows in my tank too. But he's not happy. I've checked for stray voltage, but I'll do it again here. I run carbon 24/7, and that's my guess. I'll take it offline for now.

 

[melypr1985]

It certainly looks to be HLLE to me as well. what kind of carbon are you running?

 

[rinckemd]

I run triton, and have been using their carbon too. Pretty high flow, maybe too much?

 

[rinckemd]

My first thought is infection, but I'll wait for the experts to chime-in. What does he eat? Any behavioral symptoms?

Edit. Whatever he said^ [emoji38]

I don't notice him scratching on anything. The white patches on his body are new in the last couple weeks. He's had some white on the head for a while. One other angel has some white on her head, but minor looking.

 

[4FordFamily]

That looks like both an infection and HLLE to me... the dorsal fins and red pectoral and anal fins make me wonder if both aren't at play here. I've not seen a tang end up this way without an infection.

 

[Brew12]

I run triton, and have been using their carbon too. Pretty high flow, maybe too much?

Do you have it tightly packed to keep it from tumbling or vibrating? You don't want the carbon rubbing against itself releasing dust into the water.

 

[rinckemd]

Do you have it tightly packed to keep it from tumbling or vibrating? You don't want the carbon rubbing against itself releasing dust into the water.

You know I am such a fool. I've been tumbling. For years. How did I miss the memo on that. I'm stopping that and going to watch this guy for improvement. Thank you.

 

[Brew12]

You know I am such a fool. I've been tumbling. For years. How did I miss the memo on that. I'm stopping that and going to watch this guy for improvement. Thank you.

You are far from the first! As a general rule, GFO tumbles, GAC gets packed tightly.

 

[TheLadyCrash]

You are far from the first! As a general rule, GFO tumbles, GAC gets packed tightly.

I never knew this and run both 24x7. Thanks for the fly-by lesson.

 

[Humblefish]

You are far from the first! As a general rule, GFO tumbles, GAC gets packed tightly.

Good catch!

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Looks like infection, tattered fins looks like he is being picked on and a touch of HLLE. Be sure he is getting Nori soaked in Selcon daily. Carbon may or may not be the problem. Lack of proper nutrition and stress are a big cause of all these problem. Tangs forage for food all day long and should be fed a good varied diet frequently, but should always have Nori available every day.

 

[rinckemd]

Looks like infection, tattered fins looks like he is being picked on and a touch of HLLE. Be sure he is getting Nori soaked in Selcon daily. Carbon may or may not be the problem. Lack of proper nutrition and stress are a big cause of all these problem. Tangs forage for food all day long and should be fed a good varied diet frequently, but should always have Nori available every day.

I'll be sure he has some every day, thanks. I'm not sure what happened to the back fin. It's a pretty peaceful tank really. Just him, flameback angel, mystery wrasse, clown, and a copperband butterfly.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

my tangs seem to get their find nipped when they sleep but have not had it happen since my angel is no longer in tank.