Sick Emperor Angel HELP!!!

[7duster3]

I have had this guy for a bout a week now and everything was normal (eating shrimp krill mysis, brine and spectrum pellets) until this morning. I made a durso stand pipe and took the glass top out and replaced it with egg crate last night so i know he was a little stressed out before i went to bed but i woke up to this. My water levels are right on and ph is good. It has lost all coloration and has a grey tint. It almost looks like velvet. My lfs recommended Ick Attack by Kordon and a minute and a half fresh water dip, but i dont think ick attack will do the trick, He is breathing faster then normal and has got me really worried. I hope i caught this in time. How and what can i treat him with?

 

[sepulatian]

What exactly does this look like? It is hard to tell from the pictures. What are the water readings? If it is velvet, ich attack would do nothing for it. Do you have a cycled quarantine tank?

 

[7duster3]

It's hard to get a picture of him because i have a cave going upwards that he likes to hide in. the best picture i have of him is the 2nd one where he is pale in complexion. It isn't in just one spot, it covers his whole body. There doesn't appear to be spots of ick. I guess we could relate what he looks like to the fish at the bottom under "stressed fish" : https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/127010/diseased-fish-pictures
water readings
Hydrometer for salt: 1.023
Nitrate: 25
Nitrite 0
Alkalinity: 180
and no my qt tank is still in cycle. I have a 60 gallon FOWLR tank and 20 gallon sump. Only things in it are 40 lbs or lr 4 turbo snails and a bamboo shark ( i know i know) The angel and the shark get along pretty well as my emperor is much larger then my shark. They sleep in and stay around the same caves. ill try to get some better picks if i ever catch him out...

 

[beth]

I would say environmental stress. And those nitrates are too high. Why do you have so much nitrates?
As you know, you have to decide if you want an aggressive tank, with aggressive fish, or a reef-like tank. This fish may be feeling intimidated by the shark, even if there is no aggression (yet). Instinct is instinct.

 

[7duster3]

I do regular water changes bi weekly, the only thing that i have changed is my drain pipe which i doubt is the culprit here. Do you think a larger pre-mature water change will lower nitrate levels enough? The shark for now is the center point of the tank so getting rid of the emperor will more then likely happen but i need to get him healthy before he goes right? He isn't the most attractive fish right now, i doubt anyone will take him. After i made my durso pipe i noticed my water looking a little murky, but i think that's because i stirred things up a bit down below.
Im sure your right on about stress Beth, Is there any way i can lower it without removing him right away.??

 

[beth]

If changing the drain pipe created murky water, than that could well cause stress. It doesn't take much for these fish to get stressed, and show it.
I think you need to assess your tank situation to determine what is causing the nitrates. Are they typically that high? How do you have your system set up?

 

[rcreations]

25 Nitrates is not all that high for fish in my opinion. That would not have caused the stress.

 

[7duster3]

Well guys and gals, he didn't make it. I am almost positive it was due to stress and think i was to quick to jump to something beyond me capacity. I watched him go in my makeshift qt tank.

now i need to figure out what i can safely put in my tank that will survive.
thanks for all of your help once again
bryce