Tang sick? Pics, please advise

[kmoze2001]

On the left is a couple weeks ago, on the right was taken today. Disregard the yellow coloration difference, that's a function of the lighting, but those spots around his eye concern me, they appear redder to the naked eye than to the camera.

http://nykevin.smugmug.com/Aquariums/Fish-Tank/IMG201002211421/808621137_cMRHc-XL.jpg

[kmoze2001]

Other than the spots, he's feeding and acting completely normally.

[ktellerman]

He's definitely stressed. What are your specs?

[kmoze2001]

Testing now, all prior tests have been good, was planning a water change anyway this weekend.

[kmoze2001]

But if it's stress related, it may be related to the photography, he doesn't like the lights and the way I set them up today he REALLY doesn't like.

[kmoze2001]

Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- >10, <20
Alkalinity- 4 mEq/L
SG- 1.022
pH- >8.0 <8.2

So whatever the issue is it ain't that.

[ktellerman]

How big is your tank?

[jim t]

I would keep plenty of clrpa or some kind of algea for him to eat. Keep
him feed well until you figure out what is wrong

[kmoze2001]

The guy at the LFS had a similar comment, I'll make sure he always has a fresh sheet in the clip, may add some romaine for variety. It's a 55g, yeah he'll likely grow out of it, that's my strategy for talking the wife into upgrade.

[Toddrtrex]

Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- >10, <20
Alkalinity- 4 mEq/L
SG- 1.022
pH- >8.0 <8.2

So whatever the issue is it ain't that.

Should raise up your SG to 1.026. It appears to be the start of HLLE, which is believed to be caused by water quality issues and diet --- improve both and it should stop, and might even reverse.

[kmoze2001]

Thanks, yeah I'm doing a water change with 1.023 tonight and will slowly add.

[hemi-cuda]

What kind of light is on the tank? Wattage and Lumens if you know them. We used to take Tangs with definite Hole in the Head Disease from tanks with very low light levels, Ya know, just basic 40 watt bulbs, and put them in reefs with MH lights or VHO Bulbs or both and the condition went away after several months. Just my experience.

[kmoze2001]

Just a standard "comes with the tank" single tube. Upgrading has been on the to do list, just haven't yet.

[hemi-cuda]

Well, High quality frozen food with algae(Or even HIGH quality flake food with Spirulina Algae) will help and natural food like caulerpa will also add to the health of the fish IF he's used to consuming it. I would look for what I call ''Pot Holes'' in and around the head. These ''Holes'' will be very noticeable. The fish should be fine as we kept fish with this condition for a very long time(Just looked bad) in environments without strong light for several years. We all need the rays of the sun for our health in small amounts(Doctors, Blah, Blah, Blah.), but there is some debate as to the sun's ray's on reef inhabitants especially fish. My experience say's strong light helps Tangs/Angels especially. We all know corals need the rays of the sun to survive, but to keep fish in their best shape I believe strong light and the conversion of calcium and vitamin D from the light are as essential to fish health as it is to the corals we all keep. My Iguana did the best when we gave her direct sunlight even though it was through a glass window.

[kmoze2001]

OK, well we did a 5 gal water change (just shy of 10%) tonight, was gonna do 10 but am gonna keep the other 5 gals to increase the SG via top-offs, and we'll keep an eye on the guy. Looking at him now, no worse, but no better, so we'll see. Still acting more or less normal though I've seen him dart around the tank a bit tonight, something he's done before but it feels like it's happening a bit more. Could be my imagination, though. Also got frozen with algae in it.