Black growth on clown

[doctor6477]

Hello Beth,
I have 2 X SW tanks this will be in my small 20gal....I have a Maroon Clown that is fed 1 time daily, he is active and shows no listlessness and eats well but on his pectoral fin he has a couple of small black growths about like pinhead size.... I have twice picked and scraped them off with tweezers and then did a meth/formalin 5 min soak but each time the growths come back. I thought originally they were louse but picking them doesnt seen to help? By the way thanks for all the pics catorgorized like you did in the forum

 

[beth]

Hello, doctor6477, and welcome to the forums.
Are these growths irregular in shape, or symetrical? How big are they? Only in the fins, same spot all the time? They could actually, be just that, "growths" or cysts. Do they get bigger the longer they stay there?
What are you feeding your fish?

 

[doctor6477]

Irregular.....Pinhead size....only on 1 pec fin....returns in same spot now there are 2 or 3 and more irregular in shape than the first....Last time I scraped it off there was some like "crusty stuff".... Ocean nutrition Prime Reef ...once daily... Only fish in the tank...
Thanks Beth
Chris

 

[doctor6477]

Yes bigger when left alone

 

[beth]

Look in the Diseased Fish Thread at the top of this forum, and the pictures there of the tank with black ich. Look anything like that?

 

[doctor6477]

No I had wondered about that also but the spots are not so small.... they are not pinpoint... they are pinhead and larger(a little)...............Quick other question in my 80 gal tank I have full reef, corals,canister+ sump, skimming, 440 VHO... some fish, perfect water parameters... 3 of my fish are yellow tangs about 2mo ago 1 tang appeared to have HLLD red, pitted nose, face, eye, LL so I changed up foods with more variety nori and such and he looked to get better.... Other 2 remain gorgeous plump specimins but the affected 1 has become paper thin but with good color and eats "OK" I think hes slowly on his way out? looks like an old man LOL any other ideas besides age? I do not have a ground probe (but am getting one after reading all you advice) but I would think if it was a tank problem the other tangs would not be so healthy.... OK I've bothered you enough. Your great thanks... maybe I'll post a pic when I'm not on my way out to work
Chris

 

[beth]

Yes, install the grounding probe, both in tank, and if you have sump, also there. Use zoecon to soak food. What are you feeding the fish? How much algae are they getting?
As for the black growths, they may just be that, growths. I especially believe that because the come back in the same spots after you have already removed them.
Do you have a camera that you can post a picture of this if they grow back?
Are you using carbon 24/7?