White spots on my 6-line Wrasse

[massive attack]

Hi I have 35 gallon, with +30lbs of live rock, UGF, hang-on filter, and powerheads. I also have 1 6-line wrasse, 1 firefish and 2 fire shrimp. The water quality is o.k. (ph 8.5, ammonia 0, nitrates 0, and nitrate <5 ppm)
Last night I adjusted the temperature from 82 to 80 and when I woke up in the morning the 6-line had 4-6 white spots (looked like salt grains). But, when I came home from work they were gone. Is this ich? Would the temperature change have caused this? If so were did it go, did the cleaner shrimp remove it?
Thanks, Mike

 

[pufferlover]

In my mind 82 is to high but a drop of 2 degrees should not cause a problem. Most books advocate a drop of up to 3 degrees at a time is acceptable. Beth is right tho I have had fish that showed spots in the morning gone by evening then back next morning. I have heard that the lights being on and the fish moving about with a small case of Ick the spots will disappear then come back as fish settles for night and lights are off. Sometimes the spots will go and stay away (that is where praying helps a bit) if the fish is strong and can fight it off. If the spots do come back you come back and we will see what we can do for you. I try to keep my tanks at 78 (but in summer even with air conditioning they can creep up to 80-82.

 

[massive attack]

Thanks for the response Puferlover!! What about garlic in the food I've read that helps. How do you go about adding it to the food though? How much garlic per how much food?
Thanks, Mike

 

[@knight]

jwtrojan, too funny ; you made my morning!

 

[pufferlover]

You know that post reminded me that when I fisrt set up my reef tank my Royal Gramma had spots every morning for what seemed like months (weeks actually). Being a new reef I did not want to panic so I waited since it was only fish that had that problem every morning but by evening it was clean then just before lights out it would be spotted again. After a few weeks and with no action on my part other then worrying the fish cleared up and has not had spots at all now for months and months. So there is something to be said for having a bit of patience before you throw all the meds you can get in a tank.

 

[massive attack]

I've noticed this as well with my firefish in the mornings (on occasion). I seems to correspond with water changes... At first I thought it was stress, but then I got thinking, when I change water I adjust the powerheads. When this happens the bubbles they produce often increase. Could it be as simply as bubbles on the fish in the morning? All 3 of these fish are inactive at night, the rocks get bubbles on them why not fish? I would appreciate anyone else's input on my theory...
Thanks, Mike