Help, Sick Hippo Tang

[ltvidal]

Hello there.
I have a blue hippo tang (one of two that I raised together for the last 6 years) that keeps laying on the sand. He breaths but does not swim. No other fish picks on him as of yet but I am worried about it. I have that fish ever since I started the tank 6 years ago and he is my faiv.
No ick that I know but I can spot a few dots on him now. The other tang looks fine and swims fine. I moved some rock in my reef tank a few weeks ago but he was fine up until the day before yesterday.
This tang does not eat but his belly does not look skinny or sick.
Should I dip him in RO to treat the Ick?
I am also treating the water with Anitibacteria medication.
Please help I am lost.
Sgt. EV
PS the pictures are of the tang some with and some without my MH lights on.

 

[beth]

Is this fish in the display tank? You can't treat the display tank with antibiotics. Antibiotics will kill off your bio-filter, your live rock, your live sand, etc. What are you using?
What kind of tank do you have your tang in, and water are the water readings?

 

[ltvidal]

Beth,
It is in my main tank (display). My reading were 0 Amonia, O nitrite 20 nitrates PH 8.4 temp 76-82 without and with lights on Sal. 1.024. reef tank with bio balls and live rock and sand.
I am treating with Senrty AQ Mardel, Maracyn Plus Antibacteria.
I was told by the local saltwater store that its reef safe and I should treat on 1,3,5 days and do a 20% water change on the 7th.
I do have coral in it both soft and hard.
Please help, I am lost.
PS.
He is better today however, he does not eat has a bit of a swollen belly and he is very sluggish. I see some white spots on him (like snot dots) because he does not swim around.

 

[deejeff442]

how often do you check the water?
if you have 20 nitrate that means you had an ammonia spike .cant get nitrate without haveing ammonia first.he might have been affected by the toxin and is just not recovering like the other fish.
did something die in the tank?
i would do a large maybe 20%-25% water change to get rid of the meds the lfs told you was ok(which is not)maracyn plus isnt for saltwater mayracyn two is.
good luck hope he makes it.

 

[ltvidal]

Water is fine. Nothing died. I check the water almost every other day with a home kit. Ammonia nitrites were 0 Nitrate is at 20. protein skimmer is off and I took the bag of carbon out. Nothing died but one coco warm.
I am lost. the fish store told me that the med are for both fresh and saltwater, and the label indicates the same.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Happy, safe and healthy New Year to all
Sgt. Vidal

 

[beth]

That medication is absolutely NOT reef safe. It is an antibiotic. Inverts have low tolerance for antibiotics, and aquarium biofilters will die off. Stop using it.
LFS's commonly give terrible advise. Did you read the brochure that comes with that medication? I believe it advises the use of a hospital tank.
Tangs have low tolerance of a tank environment that is not able to export nitrates. This is very likely the issue with your tang.
I would do water changes now every other day until you've done a complete water change out of your system.

 

[ltvidal]

Beth,
and everybody else,
Thank you very much for the advice, and A HAPPT AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
I did a 30 gal water change and and seized the use of the medication. I dipped him in RO water and monitored him for 3 min after 3.5 min he started to slow down again, so I took him out and placed him back in the tank. My coral is fine and so are the other fish in the tank. I was told to add live bacteria to help the bio balls and filtration is that true?
The tang is hiding in the live rock and appears as if he is resting (upright this time).
I am serving and protecting tonight so...
Enjoy the new year and toast one for me.
truly from the bottom of my heart Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
Sgt. E. Vidal

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by LTVIDAL
http:///forum/post/3199429
Beth,
and everybody else,
Thank you very much for the advice, and A HAPPT AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
I did a 30 gal water change and and seized the use of the medication. I dipped him in RO water and monitored him for 3 min after 3.5 min he started to slow down again, so I took him out and placed him back in the tank. My coral is fine and so are the other fish in the tank. I was told to add live bacteria to help the bio balls and filtration is that true?
The tang is hiding in the live rock and appears as if he is resting (upright this time).
I am serving and protecting tonight so...
Enjoy the new year and toast one for me.
truly from the bottom of my heart Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
Sgt. E. Vidal
Glad to hear it seems better
AND I'd like to say THANK YOU to you SGT. E. VIDAL

 

[ltvidal]

You know what? it's sad but true, 365 days have passed since my last "thank you."
I will let all of my officers know tonight.
You have made my day/night.
Sgt. E. Vidal

 

[deejeff442]

i am assuming you are a peace officer?yea not many thank you on that job.
i am a vol.firefighter ,my chief already called me today to ask if i could behave and show up for calls tonight.guess i am getting ready to cut some drunk slob out of a rolled car tonight.tell ya what i never gave the police much respect till i joined the station.our ass. chief is a policewoman and i have met alot of really great sherrifs and troopers since i have joined.
as for the hippo why did you do a r/o dip?
that really stresses a fish and imo should only be used as a final resort to ich.
we get alot of newer hobbiests here getting some bad advice from thier lfs.
there are some awesome people on here with alot of knowlage .most of us that have been doing this for a while have learned well before these types of forums existed hell before the internet.best to get multiple opinions rather than trust one lfs.
is your hippo eating today?