Clowns look moldy!

So I think my tank is having some problems....

Came in today and my clowns look moldy. They both have a white fuzzy/powder looking coat on their heads mostly, extending across the back. It's not on their bellies. The male is missing a section of his dorsal fin, like one section between spines. He seems the worst, there's what looks like slime or something hanging off one side of his head. It really looks like one of his stripes are sloughing off.

Tank params were reef normal a few days ago, will test again today.

ammonia - 0
nitrites - 0
nitrates - trace
pH 8.2
alk 2.5
calcium 400
phos 0
temp 79

R/O water, reef crystals...

dosing with Seachem calcium, carbonate, and reef plus. Less than directed.

Feeding on frozen mysis and aquadine flakes 3-4 x a week, DT's 2x a week.

anythign else?

-Doug

 

This sounds very much like the dinoflagellate called Marine Velvet as opposed to clownfish disease (which would be black).

Can you get a pic?

 

not answered in above post:

Salinity: 1.025

Magnesium: dnk

Test kits you own: api, instant ocean
Liquid or Strips: liquid (api calcium) rest are powders
Are they Expired?: no.


Tank size? 58g
Estimated total system? 65g

Reef, fish only or, freshwater? Reef

Current inhabitants? What and how many? 2 occ. clowns, 1 potter angel, 3 chromis
Clean up crew? tons of snails, hermits, tiger tail, sand sifter star, conch, chitons, limpets, lots of macros.

How long has your tank been set-up? 3 months or so.

Substrate.
Type? sand & CC.
Depth? 1-2" varies

Live rock? yes
How much? 60#
Did you recently add some? just a bit w/ some corals, less than a pound.

Filtration.
Type? sump/refugium
Protein skimmer? Yes
Do you wet or dry skim? moist...on the dry side
Maintenance schedule for filtration? clean out the polishing pads every few weeks, siphon out the sump a bit, wipe out the gunk from P/S every 2 weeks or so.
Drilled tank/hang on back overflow? overflow
Sump/refugium. What's in it and how much? 3# LR, skimmer, pH probe, macros...
Macro? What kind? chaeto, graclia, mermaids brush, xmas trees

Lighting.
Lighting type? 2x 150W 15,000K HQI
Age of bulbs? 2 months

Feeding
What? frozen mysis and aquadine
How much? 1 cube or 6-8 flakes alternating.
How often? 3-4x a week.

Water change schedule.
How much? 15-20%
How often? 10-14 days
What salt brand? I/O Reef Crystals
Water source? RO/DI


Do you have a ground probe? no.
What kind of flow does your tank have? 500gph from return, a K1... had a MP40W but it's wetside fell off, waiting for replacement.

Recently added Blue Vet "Red Slime control" for cyano outbreak, did a water change about 5 days ago after it ran its course...

-Doug

 

Thanks a ton Inwall... worried it might be too late tho?

after looking up both marine velvet and Brooklynellosis I think it's the later... seems to be similar treatment?

Anything anyone else can add?

 

Heres a few more things to consider but I agree sounds like its most likely marine velvet. Do you have a QT?


Uronemosis-

Early signs of infection is skin discoloration, leading to ulceration. May be confused with bacterial infection at this point. Skin sloughs and may also become pitted.

Rapidly fatal if internal organs are effected. Treat with a freshwater bath or medicated bath or formalin and malachite green.



Brooklynellosis-

Excessive mucus production, labored breathing and loss of color.

Treat with freshwater bath or medicated bath.

 

I just lost 2 fish, a yellow tang and a clownfish, to marine velvet....and I gotta say it was heartbreaking. They were fine one day and then the next, they were gone. From what I was able to read about velvet, is that it can take 6-12 days before you start seeing any symptoms, but as soon as you do, it is usually too late.

I hope everything works out for you and that it is not Velvet!