film on rocks and ich. ::warning, it's a long one::

anyone have any thoughts on the filmy rocks? those were the best pictures I'd been able to get of it.

 

i cant really see anything out of the ordinary with your rocks. if its that clear stringy mucous like stuff i noticed in one of your pics, it looks like some sponge.

 

Is your number still 911? Too many fish=Disaster

 

Too many fish? 10 in 100 gal is too many?? that seems crazy to me... I was told it would be great. In fact, I was lead to believe that I could still put more fish in there with them as long as they were small, like clowns or something.

I've had luck housing 3 tangs together before, in fact I have 5 in a 200gal that I don't have a single problem with, they get along great. It never crossed my mind that it would be a thing here in the 100gal, especially since they were so small (with exception of PB) and would mature together.

It appears as though I have been getting bad information all along... I suppose it's wrong to assume that someone knows what they're doing b/c they have been in business for years. I don't believe they are setting me up to fail, but maybe they just do it different and it doesn't work for me. ??:-/

Like water changes. "I don't see a point behind them. As long as you're staying on top of your parameters it's not a necessity... we don't ever do them. Not even at home..." <-- fish guy. So, since he's been successful why should I assume he's wrong? ... Or that it wouldn't work for me I should say.

I've had tanks for 3-4 years now, always smaller (29gal, 55 gal... we've moved up and on) and this is the first time I'd had something like this happen. It's kinda discouraging cause I thought I had it down then whammo.

Nu-2reef, yes that's it. The LFS said it was something like that. He described it as "die-off from the sponges" but he also said if i waved my hand at it, it should come off and it does not as easily as that. It feels really slick, and is slowly coming off with all the flow.

Coralline, I still really think it was ich. The PB was never skinny, which if I read correctly seems to be a symptom?... He was my biggest eater up to 2 days before he passed. I obviously could be wrong though so, if it was a lateral line disease that caused the demise of my PB, is that something that like ich stays as long as there are fish? Do I treat it? If so, how? All my tests are still in check, can I assume my water quality is good? Or is there something I'm missing? Tell me what's right please. All the research that I've done on ich or other diseases leads 2 different ways. Leave it fallow and it'll die or it'll never go away just try to make super fishes with garlic or other additives and they'll be less sensitive... I don't feel I have any kind of clue anymore.

Please help! I cannot see myself giving up this hobby whatsoever... but at the same time, I cannot see myself being responsible for death b/c I don't know anything different than what I've been told/read or asked about, and it appears that is not enough.

 

With regard to the film please, it is whitish or cream colored, fuzzy (fluffy) or green or brown?


Ich is so frustrating. As long as the tank has fish in it for the parasite to feed off it will complete it's life cycle. The fish may not appear to be symptomatic as they have developed some resistance but will easily succumb or become symptomatic when stress is present. The only way to rid the display of Ich is to leave it fallow (or use medication). Enhancing the diet is a great idea but again as long as any stresser is present it lowers the fishes immunity and the fish become symptomatic.

Tangs are always going to be a challenge with it come to Ich. Any change in water quality, bullying, or decline in nutrition and they will become symptomatic. For this tank I might consider a UV filter, while it will not eradicate parasite it may knock it's numbers down to assist the fish. Ich spends a portion of it's of life cycle free floating and the UV may be of some assistance.

You can use a QT, treat the fish with either copper, hyposalinity, or formalin. Leave the display fallow for that time period. The issue is you need a cycled QT and a decent size one. All introductions to the tank in the future will needs to be QT'd and possibly treated.
Or you can try to avoid tangs in the future, make sure you have excellent water quality, no over crowding, excellent nutrition, no bullying, perhaps a UV filter and then ride it out until the tank becomes stable again.

 

I think stray voltage may very well have been my problem... it seems to be the only thing that makes sense, other than aggressive tangs.

Corailline, the film is clear/whitish. It's fluffy, flowy looking and feels a little slimy.

 

Please review the 1st link, looking specifically at Chrystophyates at the end.

Bacterial and Algae Hitch Hikers

Relevant but focus is dino.

Dinoflagellates - Predators, Pathogens, and Partners by Eric Borneman - Reefkeeping.com