Anyone have this happen?

Cherie cook · Jul 11, 2018

So my tank is newish...started middle of April. 80 gallon "cube" star fire glass tank from SCA. Mixture of live rock from LFS and base rock. Two 360we Kessil Tuna blue lights, octopus skimmer, tunze return pump. Using a filter sock with carbon depending on circumstances. So I tried to QT everything AMAP....fish with copper power for 45 days, metronidazole for 10 days for worms. Everyone lived except for one tiny jawfish that was basically DOA. Now slowly over the last week all fish moved to display tank, after being symptom free the whole time. All was well for a week...then suddenly two days ago my two spot bristletooth tang has a SPOT. Eating and moving well, very occasional flashing. Only one being bothered by the spot is me. Day 2 first spot is gone but another 2 on the other side noted...dang! Fish still acting normally. Only one being bothered is still me. Day 3, today, all spots gone...fish still acting normally, only one concerned is...you guessed it, me. Looked like ich to me. But does my tank "have it" now? No other fish show any signs. What about adding anything new? Really confused.

Toofattofish · Jul 11, 2018

It might be lympho. Bristletooths tend to get them. Can you post a pic?

Cherie cook · Jul 11, 2018

Unfortunately, no...he is way too fast, shy and elusive for any photographic skills I might possess. But the spot seemed small and regular, as well as fleeting. If it was lympho would that be terrible? As I said, today there are no spots at all.

Flippers4pups · Jul 11, 2018

May be nothing or..... Just keep a eye out for the next few days.

lapin · Jul 11, 2018

Only time will tell at this point as to what it is and what to do. Tangs and ich go hand in hand. Beautiful fish but a bit high maintaince. Copper will work but its not 100% perfect. Proper dosing is the issue. Low levels will keep it in check but will not rid the fish of ich. Good old article: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/

GoldeneyeRet · Jul 11, 2018

Lympho will not come and go like that.

Ich will come and go, but that is pretty fast....

I would bet on bits of sand. Keep an eye on all the fish and be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best.

Good luck

Toofattofish · Jul 11, 2018

GoldeneyeRet said:
Lympho will not come and go like that.

Ich will come and go, but that is pretty fast....

I would bet on bits of sand. Keep an eye on all the fish and be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best.

Good luck

That's true. But also ich isn't usually just one spot at a time. I think we've all been freaked out about whats turned out to be sand.
Just get ready to start treating if something does pop up.

ca1ore · Jul 11, 2018

Plus lympho usually presents as white 'tufts' on the fin margins. I've never had it on the body of any of my fish.

ca1ore · Jul 11, 2018

One of the reasons that you will read so many apparently conflicting stories with ich is that is consists of many different strains, with differing levels of potency. Thus an ich infection can wipe out your tank; or it can be managed - I have personally experienced both. So, one of three things is true. Either it's something else, perhaps grains of sand, and your tank remains ich free; it is a less potent strain and you will see no further symptoms from your existing fish population; or it's a more potent strain and within a few days it will be everywhere. If it is the middle one, you may believe that your tank is ich free, but upon introduction of a new fish, discover otherwise. My council always is to wait and see if it's going to be a big problem, then do something about it.

Cherie cook · Jul 12, 2018

ca1ore said:
One of the reasons that you will read so many apparently conflicting stories with ich is that is consists of many different strains, with differing levels of potency. Thus an ich infection can wipe out your tank; or it can be managed - I have personally experienced both. So, one of three things is true. Either it's something else, perhaps grains of sand, and your tank remains ich free; it is a less potent strain and you will see no further symptoms from your existing fish population; or it's a more potent strain and within a few days it will be everywhere. If it is the middle one, you may believe that your tank is ich free, but upon introduction of a new fish, discover otherwise. My council always is to wait and see if it's going to be a big problem, then do something about it.

Well this makes a lot of sense....thank you!