Blue Tang Trouble

[Nassarius]

so i have this blue tang that i got about 6 weeks ago, in one of my reefs, she was doing fine, still kinda nervous but she come out and i see her eat what i put in from time to time, but the other day i was changin out one of the powerheads, and ever since she gets in these rubbing spells, on the rock in the back of the tank, this started about 3 days ago, she now has bumps, i dont know if they're from the rubbing, or she trying to relieve herself of the bumps, i havent touched anything in the tank since this happened, i dont want to upset her more, anything i can do?

[JY13131]

What color are the bumps?

[luvmylo]

How big is the tank??? What are your paremeters???? This info would be helpful. Thanks

[Nassarius]

the bumps seem underneath the skin temp is 87F nitrates:5ppm. nitrites,
amm, stable (0). PH 8.3 Alk-2.5. Water parameters are stable, tank is 55G , but shes 2 inches long so she will be transfered to our 125 in 6 mos or so. the tank is full of corals, and macroalgea which she grazes on, she perfers the hawaiin ogo, she nips the tips off.

[Nassarius]

this was taken before the rubing started, i havent got a good one of her with the bumps yet

[Geoff]

it is prolly ich. my silly gold rim has had ich for the past month now. the only fish in the tank to have it. not to concerned. i may try a cleaner shrimp for giggles.

G~

[JY13131]

no giggles! If the fish is otherwise strong, sometimes the cleaner shrimp can make the difference in the ich getting a hold on the fish IMHO

[Nassarius]

i thought ich was white, it seems to be under the skin.

[Geoff]

without pics of the fish we will just be guessing.

G~

[luvmylo]

probably ich too. Could be stress related from the small tank or could just be one of those tang things. Tangs are funny like that. As for cleaner shrimp... I will never have another reef tank without one. Mine works his little but off if something pops up with ich.

[JY13131]

Originally Posted by luvmylo

probably ich too. Could be stress related from the small tank or could just be one of those tang things. Tangs are funny like that. As for cleaner shrimp... I will never have another reef tank without one. Mine works his little but off if something pops up with ich.

[Nassarius]

well thxs for the info

[jenajet]

anyone else think the the tank temp is way too high!

[frankandmaura]

Originally Posted by jenajet

anyone else think the the tank temp is way too high!

Uh, yeah...missed that. I would try to get it down to 80, but do it SLOWLY!!

Although if it is Ick, doesn't the higher temp actually increase the rate at which the Ick goes through its lifecycle, this may be good in the long run...maybe let it go for a while and lower it after the Ick seems to be gone?? Just thinking out loud, anyone else?

[Geoff]

Good Catch Jena!!

yea, bring the temp down. that temp is not super stressfull, but it is a bit above their normal water conditions. you need to take the temp down slowly, this is so the bacteria have a chance to adjust to the new conditions. right now the bacteria's metabolism is cranking. the higher the temp the faster they work. you do not want to crash the bacterial population by shutting them down by a quick drop in temp.

ich is also metabolizing at a higher rate. everything in the tank is metabolizing at a higher rate. this is not necessarily a bad thing, but at that temp when things go wrong they can go wrong in a real hurry.

G~