I have two problems

[Djones1220]

Please help,

I have a 29 gallon tank, a yellow tang about 4 inches, 1 clown fish, 4 damsels. The problem is I keep getting this brownish growth all over everything in the tank, grows even more the more the lights are on. What is this and How to control it?

Also noticed yellow tang as a small round spot almost looks like a scape but getting bigger on his left side and might have a little at the top of his head. What might this be and how can I treat.

Any help appreciated,
Deb

[Birdlady]

Welcome to 3 Reef! Nice to have you here!

A 29 gallon is a wee bit small for the size attitudes you have in there Aren't there fights all the time? The tang could have lateral line disease, but I would need to see pics. It could be a fungus or something else...I can't really tell from the description.

The brownish growth, is likely either diatoms or cyanobacteria.

Could you give us a bit more details on your system? How long has it been set up, what kind of filtration, lights? Do you have or plan to have corals? etc...

The key to nuisance growths (algae, diatoms, cyano) is really water quality. With 6 fish in a 29, that may prove difficult. Do a 20% water change every week (twice per week even) until the problem subsides is one recommendation. I need some more details to help any more so if you could post that for me...

[Djones1220]

Hello Birdlady,

Thanks for the quick response, You can probably tell i'm new to this but love my fish! Inherited the tank so bare with me, I have introduced about 10 lbs of live rock thus far, the filter is a TetraTek Pf150/wet/dry filter. Lighting is just a 15w tubular bulb, came with the tank. I've had the tank set up for about 10-12 weeks. Tested the wter this morning at 7.8 ph, .25 amonia, 0 nitrite and 40 ppm nitrate which I know is high. I also did a 25% water change 7 days ago and planning another today. Any suggestions? As far as battles with the personalities amazingly the addition of the yellow tang has been a positive as he seems to protect he damsels from the yellow clown fish who thinks he rules the tank. The clown doesn't mess with the tang, it has actually brought the damsels out to the front of the tank more often where they used to always hide in the back. Thanks for any help.

[Birdlady]

OK, so no corals...good.

Adding the LR to a tank with fish can be dicey, as the rock needs to 'cure' or get a buildup of bacteria to work as your filter...there is usually die off of sorts from the rock as well, causing the ammonia spike.

Alot of folks will cure their rock in a separate rubbermaid tub or other inexpensive container with powerhead and water changes for about 4 to 6 weeks ..(for future reference)

Keep the temps on the lower end if possible, around 76 if you can. Ammonia becomes more toxic with higher temps.

Is this the filter you have..

http://www.tetra-fish.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=283

If so, you will definitely need to upgrade your filtration. That is barely the right size for your tank (up to 30 gallons). Plus, I would not keep that as the sole source of filtration. You should invest in an under the tank 'wet/dry' if you will keep fish only. Good Protien skimmer if you want to keep corals eventually.

You will also need alot more flow to keep the tang happy (which may be difficult) see here for info on tangs..

What about tangs?

They get very large, fairly quickly , are fast swimmers, and need room. Plus, they poop alot, so are a heavy burden on the filtration setup. For more flow, you might need to add powerhead inside the tank.

I hope I am not overwhelming or discouraging you! The Liverock is a step in the right direction! Keep reading and posting questions!

There is a decent fairly new book, The New Marine Aquarium by Mike Palletta (I can't remember if the word 'new' is in the title, it may not be) that is very good and relatively inexpensive, to get some solid basics from.

[Djones1220]

Here's a pic of Tang hopefully helps with diagnosis, Thanks

Originally Posted by Birdlady

OK, so no corals...good.

Adding the LR to a tank with fish can be dicey, as the rock needs to 'cure' or get a buildup of bacteria to work as your filter...there is usually die off of sorts from the rock as well, causing the ammonia spike.

Alot of folks will cure their rock in a separate rubbermaid tub or other inexpensive container with powerhead and water changes for about 4 to 6 weeks ..(for future reference)

Keep the temps on the lower end if possible, around 76 if you can. Ammonia becomes more toxic with higher temps.

Is this the filter you have..

http://www.tetra-fish.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=283

If so, you will definitely need to upgrade your filtration. That is barely the right size for your tank (up to 30 gallons). Plus, I would not keep that as the sole source of filtration. You should invest in an under the tank 'wet/dry' if you will keep fish only. Good Protien skimmer if you want to keep corals eventually.

You will also need alot more flow to keep the tang happy (which may be difficult) see here for info on tangs..

What about tangs?

They get very large, fairly quickly , are fast swimmers, and need room. Plus, they poop alot, so are a heavy burden on the filtration setup. For more flow, you might need to add powerhead inside the tank.

I hope I am not overwhelming or discouraging you! The Liverock is a step in the right direction! Keep reading and posting questions!

There is a decent fairly new book, The New Marine Aquarium by Mike Palletta (I can't remember if the word 'new' is in the title, it may not be) that is very good and relatively inexpensive, to get some solid basics from.

[Birdlady]

Hehe..they're fast, aren't they! Are you wondering about the white line thing? That just looks like a regular fading pattern...My yellow tang would go nearly white when it slept or was stressed. It could be stressed out. It is still hard to tell from that picture... Does the skin look intact or like a wound?

[Djones1220]

Hello,

I'm concerned about the darker circle area above the white line just directly behind his eye. It seems circular, a little pitted looking. Hope that helps it tough showing with these pics plus getting him to clow down a little to take. On my way to the aqaurium store to get a bigger filter and more live rock, (just a note when purchased from the aquarium store it's under water and I'm assuming ready for placement in the tank as they wrap in paper to keep moist until I get home. Thanks for all the quick help to this newbie.

[Matt Rogers]

I second Birdlady on the skimmer for sure.
Do you have any powerheads? I suspect your circulation could be pretty week too. If you take care of that and the filtration, there is a good chance your tang's health will improve. Start a new tank fund, that tang will outgrow that tank eventually.

[Birdlady]

I would hold off on the live rock right now...you have ammonia that is too high and that would make it worse.

Live rock is under water at the LFS, but you don't know when it arrived, or how long (or short) at time it has been there. It is always best to assume you will get an ammonia spike with new rock.


I still really cannot be sure on the tang....it may be the start of lateral line disease...don't know tho.

[condiman]

I am also with birdlady on this and as for the tang it may be the start of LLE