HLLE and heavy metals

Fastpitch · Mar 5, 2020

I continue to have HLLE problems with blue tangs and am out of ideas. I have removed carbon, been supplementing with Selcon and Zoe, installed a grounding plug and tested negative for voltage. The last blue tang I had died from HLLE. The current blue tang I have is getting progressively worse.

Wondering where I go from here. Is it possible that heavy metals may be a cause. Thinking maybe metasorb might help?

Miller535 · Mar 5, 2020

Fastpitch said:
I continue to have HLLE problems with blue tangs and am out of ideas. I have removed carbon, been supplementing with Selcon and Zoe, installed a grounding plug and tested negative for voltage. The last blue tang I had died from HLLE. The current blue tang I have is getting progressively worse.

Wondering where I go from here. Is it possible that heavy metals may be a cause. Thinking maybe metasorb might help?

Absolutely can be from metals. My hippo had horrible HLLE before I sent my water to be ICP tested with Triton, to find out I had high copper levels, and Tin

Fastpitch · Mar 5, 2020

What did you use to correct? Cuprasorb? Something else?

Miller535 · Mar 5, 2020

By time I figured it out, he actually had holes in his top fin, had lost a lot of his color, and was breathing heavy and wedging himself in rocks, CONSTANTLY. I am happy to say after getting the metals out. His color has returned, and his fin has even healed very nicely. As did all the marks on his face

Miller535 · Mar 5, 2020

Fastpitch said:
What did you use to correct? Cuprasorb? Something else?

I can not stress enough to get the ICP test. Because there is not a one fix for all metals. Knowing the kind of metals you have in your water will help you choose what you need to do. In my case with the high copper and tin, I used Triton's detox with water changes. It took months of doing it though. And re-tested my water with Triton several times after. If metal you also have to figure out where is is coming from, a rusting screw, cracked heater, metal above tank or sump rusted....