Fungus on Emporer Angel

[ocd_mariner]

Ive got a juvy emporer angel that looks like it has some sort of fungus growing on its fin. I thought at first it was a torn fin, but thats not the case. Can anybody help me figure out whats wrong?

Here are two pics, please let me know if others would help.

Thanks in advance for any input.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/ccollinsreef/DSCF1425.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/ccollinsreef/DSCF1422.jpg

[eyebedam]

I like the zoa rock in the corner. Thats nice.

[Pickupman66]

Hard to tell. I am assuming you are refering to the Spike looking growth on the dorsal fin?

[Angela Short]

Hmm, can't really tell either. Is it fuzzy looking or just whitish? A true fungal infection is rare in SW as most funguses don't grow well in high salinity but there is always a exception to the norm.... Any way to get a pic with a flash to better see the fin? Its kinda glowing and looks deceving in the pic to me.
Also how long has it had the symtoms and can you get actual water parameter numbers? Do you do water changes regular as in 1x a month? A good water change or 2 has been proven to work miracles in mystery diseases. Even if you do good water change routines I would still start with a big change first.

[ocd_mariner]

Water params and flash pic coming soon.

[turboex901]

i would hate to mis-diagnose the issue as i am no expert on disease, but i had a harlequin tusk that looked very similiar. i had an opinion that it was vibrio and i treated for it and it made vast improvements but not quick enough and unfortunatly it didnt make it. i would put a post in the west tenn. board and ask the user " just dave" his opinion. he owns kermits reef down there and his disease and disease treatment knowledge is unreal. i hope it works out for you, gorgeous tank, gorgeous fish, and way to push the envelope shoving an imperator into a reef. me and you both apparently have the same interest of trying "non reef safe fish" in reefs:) <~~~steve

[turboex901]

sorry for the double post but heres the tusk when it got very bad after 3 weeks or so. i also thought it was a torn fin, does this look similar? the area im describing is right behind the fin.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c134/turboex901/100_2074.jpg

[Angela Short]

I agree Dave has very good advise on fish diseases but try to get a better pic first :)

[ocd_mariner]

I managed to get this pic before my camera died. I dont think its gonna be as good as what you wanted to see, but I wanted to go ahead and post the water params.

Unfortunately, I bought the fish this way. In every other respect, the fish is the picture of health. Great disposition, eating like a pig, attentive, etc. I thought that maybe this was a torn fin from shipment/display tanks, and that it would be minor to heal.

Here are my current water params
PH - 8.2
Alk - 7 dKh, a little low still
Calcium - 435
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
Mag - 1275

Thats everything I can test for.

And for the mediocre pic. Ill get a better one as soon as I get back with some batteries :)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/ccollinsreef/DSCF1440.jpg

[ocd_mariner]

Here are the absolutely positively best pictures my feeble skill allows me to take.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/ccollinsreef/DSCF1481.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/ccollinsreef/DSCF1477.jpg



/crossing fingers

[Angela Short]

I have never seen anything like that. Very weird. How long have you had this fish and did it just appeare suddenly? If its getting worse a trip to a QT with meds is your only option other than trying melafix(bacterial) or primafix (fungal) or both but read the bottle first which can be used in a reef, especially since yours is so lightly stocked with corals right now. I have had good sucess with this in FW fish but turn your skimmer off for sure it makes it go nuts!