Could it be ICH (long)

[imajonzin]

I have had my 58 gallon for about 4 months. I had two clowns for several months with no problems. I then added a blue tang, spotted maderin, and a queen angel. I noticed the tang scratching himself on my liverocks but did not think anything of it. Things were fine for a few days, we went on vacation and came back and my tang was dead. The other fish in the tank were seriously stressed when I got home, posibly due to there dead roommate. I did a 15% water change and things have improved greatly. My problem is I see spots on my angel and mandarin. They look like small oxygen bubbles stuck to them.. they even come and go. Is this ICH or bubbles? Need to know which way to go from here, considering UV in main tank and setting up hospital tank but not sure if it is needed. Thanks

 

[beth]

Ich looks as if the fish has been sprinkled with salt. If the "bubbles" can be blown off, etc., then it probably is bubbles [not very likely, though]. Ick doe have the habit of appearing and disappearing before a full-fledged outbreak becomes visible.
I can tell you right now, the fish you have are totally inappropriate for your set up. Tangs and queen angels belong in large tanks and they are not "beginner" fish. Maderians belong in well established reef tanks and taken care of by knowledgeable hobbyists who can attend to their nutritional and environmental needs.
What is the ammonia reading in your tank?
I'm not trying to bash you or dissuade you, but the truth is, those fish will not do well with you at this point.

 

[imajonzin]

Thanks for the information. Please dont feel you are bashing me when giving me nfo. I am new to the aquarium hobby and rely on experienced people to help out. I bought the tank, added 50 pounds of live rock, a magnum 350 with carbon, 50/50 light, and a few damselfish to start the cycle. I waited about two months and then added a pair of clown fish. Then another two months ago I added the latest fish. He said the mandarin will do fine, I was also told that the queen will not grow anymore because of my tank size. He did say that the tang would grow larger. I feed them flakes twice a day and brine shrimp once a day. I am testing the water tonight, I can tell you I am running at around 78 F at 1.020 salinity. Will a UV sterilizer speed up the process of cleaning my display tank of disease? Is there any fool-proof way to prove if it is bubbles or not on my fish?

 

[beth]

You will need a plentiful supply of copepods, which is the food source for mandarans. Without this particular food source, they will not live long. A well established larger reef tank can supply this natural food soruce, however, your size/age tank cannot.
Additionally, the diet that you are feeding the tang and angel, is not appropriate. Both need a good deal more variety than that, preferably NOT flake food. Both fish also need a very healthy diet of veggies, such as seaweed selects, etc.
When you started the hobby did you get any books to read?