Actually, it's gone past anecdotal. Use low ash, acid washed, high quality carbon thats rinsed well and not tumbled.
Start with the link I linked to in this post.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/any-ops-on-decent-activated-carbon.270448/#post-3245038
And there's these
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/activated-carbon-affirmed-as-causative-agent-for-hlle-disease
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blo...ted-in-inducing-head-and-lateral-line-erosion
And from Boomer's comments to the affirmed article
Boomer
5 years ago
The theory was small sharp <carbon> dust particles would get into
lateral line and bounce around because of the hair cells causing the
erosions and subsequent fibrosis."
This is not new news, it has been mentioned many times in the last 20 years, about participles getting into the neuro masts. Researchers keep for getting that many do not get HLLE, even when using massive amounts of GAC. You are NOT suppose to be allowing the GAC dust to get into the tank, good pre-rising usually stops this or using a filter floss at the output. And not ALL HLLE is from GAC.
Lastly, this new article by M. Andrew Stamper are some of his findings from 2 years ago, as I have posted them on fourms
A couple of observations on this complex issue.
We are currently putting the finishing touches on a manuscript
describing the dynamics of HLLES in ocean surgeons housed in water
polished with carbon. We are aiming for the Journal of Aquatic Animal
Health.
• Ed Noga’s group has proposed to talk about a HLLES as a
depigmentation clinical sign instead of a syndrome…Corrales, J; Ullal,
A; Noga, EJ Lateral line depigmentation (LLD) in channel catfish,
Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Journal of Fish Diseases. Volume 32
Issue 8, Pages 705 – 712.
• It is important to note there are possibly two phenomenon happening which are being labeled HLLES.
o One phenomenon affects the lateral line which takes two forms.
o One affects the neuromasts within the lateral line-has been documented with heavy metal toxicity.
o One causes an erosive “dermatitis” also known as Chronic Erosive
Dermatopathy. We have found this version with the use of activated
carbon and ozone.
Baily, J E, Bretherton, M J, Gavine, FM, Ferguson, HW, and
Turnbull, JF. 2005. The pathology of chronic erosive dermatopathy in
Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) Journal of Fish
Diseases 2005, 28, 3–12.
The second phenomenon is known as “epithelial thinning” which is
caused by high levels of cortisol…ie stress (multifactorial). Ed
Noga’s group describes this in…Udomkusonsri, P., E.J. Noga and N.
Monteiro-Riviere. 2004. Pathogenesis of the Acute Ulceration Response
(AUR) in hybrid striped bass. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 61:199-213.
• Telling the difference….
o HLLES-Erosion starts at the pores and increases until they coalesce and the erosions blend to make a bigger ulcer.
o Thinning happens over a larger generalized area. Where the
epithelium starts to become transparent and eventually thins to a point
where an erosion takes place eventually resulting in an ulcer.
• We don’t know why the epithelial thinning and HLLES has a higher
affinity for the facial region. We do know there is a significantly
higher population of goblet cells within the facial and lateral line
regions of ocean surgeons. We are currently looking at mitochondrial
populations of the cells in these regions to see if they have a higher
energy need and may be more susceptible to electron disruptions.
• Current controlled experiments using ocean surgeons:
o Coconut carbon has been repeatedly used at different main stream
and side stream experiments. It causes very predictable HLLES in full
stream as well as side stream which keeps the TOC below 0.5 ppm. Very
little HLLES develops in the same side stream experiment where the flow
is reduced allowing a 1.0 ppm TOC.
o HLLES develops in fish housed in water exposed to ozone but ORP
of the environmental water at around 320 mV (no net oxidants compared to
control systems).
o There have been two vitamin deletion studies with controls (Vit A
and C) performed by the University of Florida. Vitamin A was negative.
Vitamin C was equivocal and needs to be rerun.
o In-line UV did not cause it.
o In-line foam fractionation did not cause it but this experiment needs to be rerun.
o Metals-Application of carbon had no significant manipulation of
metal concentration. No significant difference in aquarium tanks that
had HLLES verses ones that did not.
HOWEVER…on open question is the speciation of metals available to the
fish…One thing in common with ozone and carbon is the manipulation of
DOCs. Carbon absorbing it until it the carbon is saturated and ozone
chewing it up into smaller molecules. Is it possible that metals may
be more toxic in these environment (i.e. toxic enough for these cells
but not being overtly toxic) because they are not bound by the DOCs.
This is a very complex question and is cost prohibitive to investigate.
• Carbon Dust-Our later carbon studies had 1 micro filters in-line
(post carbon). Histopath did not show any carbon particles within the
tissues. Another thought is there are plenty of silicates (diatoms) in
the water which would be more affective source of irritants. Carbon
dust would provide a large surface area for absorption but I am not
convinced it acts as and irritant.
• Weight of fish per gallon…a ratio of 2.4 grams of fish/gallon
(when the fish reach 30 grams and start to show breeding colors we
average 6 fish/75 gallons) seem to keep most of the social stress at
bay. We controlled for social structure to make sure this was not
causing any HLLES signs.
• Healing of lesions during these experiments…Most of these
experiments are a yes/no question. If using controls you can tell if a
variable is causing the syndrome early in the HLLES process. At least
in ocean surgeons, if you stop the experiment just when you start seeing
HLLES and you do not have any complicating issues, the lesions heal
fairly quickly so the euthanasia question should be need to be
performed.
M. Andrew Stamper D.V.M., Dipl. A.C.Z.M.
Research Biologist/Clinical Veterinarian
Disney's Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives
Walt Disney World Resorts
