Spots on FISH!!

On my yellow tang their is a white line on him that came from a spot and it is getting bigger, he does not look good, my damsel is not looking good, and my chip(starfish) has white spots on the tips of it. Sorry cant take a pic. The tang had a white spot on it then it grew into a white line. Please HELP

 

If its a line it sounds like lateral line disease. If you've got it on your other fish and its just spots then it is probably ich. Try a freshwater dip then qt them.

 

Its lines on the yellow tang. How do I do a freashwater dip? Lines are the same on both sides and where the rear fin meets the body. How can I treat it?

 

yellow tangs have two small barbs or tangs near their tail where it meets the body. these are white.

 

Exactly, here is a link to some photos and info on the zebrasoma varieties of tangs (which is what you have;D )

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zebrasom.htm

You can clearly see the 'scalpel-like blade' in the area between the tail and body. This is normal. Is there white areas anywhere else on the tang?

You mention your damsel not looking well, why not?

How long has your tank been up and running? With a 30 gallon tank, you should have between 30 and 45 pounds of live rock, unless you are keeping a fish only tank and have a wet dry filter as well.

What types of animals do you intend to keep? Just fish? coral? Starfish are tough to keep alive. With only 5 pounds of rock, I would bet he is slowly starving. Do you have sand? Is it very fine sand?

Sorry for all the ???, just trying to help you out!;D

 

I kinda jumped into this a little fast. The tang has white lines running down its sides. I plan on only keeping fish. What else would I feed to starfish. I ordered a Bio-Wheel 350 it should be here friday. I have to wait to order more live rock. I have to wait until the 24th to order more.

 

Tangs can also have a very faint white line running the length of the body...very skinny..., it could also be lateral line disease.

How is your ammonia? Nitrite and nitrates? What about the salinty as well. I am guessing your tank is not cycled (6 plus weeks of running with no animals at all?)

It is a very expensive lesson, learning about salt water tanks Patience is a virtue we all learn...The key is to take your time, and read all you can! Mike Paletta's book, 'The new marine aquarium' is a very good, inexpensive noob book, if you haven't gotten a good book yet. I would start there.

PS, Welcome to 3 Reef and this great hobby!

 

This hobbie rules. I will have my water checked tomarrow. I should be getting that biowheel 350 by friday. With that going do you guys think that they will be alright. I also did about a 40% water change last night. The salinity is right in the middle of the green on they hydrometer. Also the line was not on him when I got him.

 

Well, I would like to tell you they will be OK, but likely they won't. A biowheel is an OK filter for saltwater, but you would be better served by a wet/dry if only keeping fish (starfish, btw, are not fish) or a protein skimmer if you will be keeping other animals.

I am going out on a limb and will bet your ammonia is high. Too many fish, too quickly , with really, no filtration.

Invertebrates, such as starfish, shrimp, snails, crabs, and the very tiny crustaceans that inhabit the substrate and rocks of a salt water aquarium do not like any ammonia and tolerate much lower levels of nitrite and nitrates than do fish.

Hopefully, they will be OK....let us know how your water checks out tomorrow!

 

What do you mean by a wet/dry. Last night I switched out about 40% of the water. Do you guys think that changing that much water 1-2times a week and a biowheel 350gph and the little live rock I have get me by until not this friday but the week after when I can get more live rock.