White Mouth on Clown Fish

[CaymanLoversII]

Hi -
I have not posted much lately, mainly watching and enjoying a nice, stable tank. And then . . . . clown fish has a problem and I am not sure if it is physical or disease.
The problem - the clown has developed a white area on his bottom lip. Yesterday it looked a little eroded away but today not bad. No hairy filaments and no white spots on the body. No spots on the other fish. I change about 5 gallons every week.
75 g. reef has been up over 3 years with no new inhabitants for 2 years. Residents include the golden maroon clown, a yellow tang and a coral beauty. The BTAs and some soft corals plus 5 heads of what I believe are montipora. Temp stays 79 - 81, pH 8.2 - 8.35 (day) salinity is down a bit.
Only change in the tank is that I have noticed a little green hair algae getting started in various spots in the tank.
I have started up the QT tank but want to check with the pros before taking the drastic step of catching her and moving to the QT.
Suggestions?

[VWD]

I think If it was my clown and it started looking better today, Hold off on the QT tank. Will only stress him out. He may have cut it or did some kind of demage to it, May be healing itselt now. The hair algae I think I would be doing more Water changes and use RO/Di water if You don't all ready.

[ScruffyRubicon]

My 4" Gold Stripe Marroon Clown has a similar whitening of the lower lip. It has been there for almost a year and I just attribute it to age. Once it showed up, it has never changed (smaller or larger). I think maybe it is from all of the digging he does while cleaning around his space.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Now that I think of it, mine showed up after switching from crushed coral to a DSB. Maybe the sand is a little more abrasive.

[TheReefer12]

The clown will dig around in the sand clearing an area for himself. Mine has done this and he has had a white spot around his mouth. I would not associate it with any disease. It may go away depending on your clown's behavior.

Brian

[CaymanLoversII]

Thanks! I'll take a look tonight and see how she is doing. I use RO water but I'll step up the water changes.
Steve