What is Carbon Burn causing erosion?

PedroYoung · Jan 10, 2023

One of my pyramid butterfly’s has some pits on either side of his nose. I’ve had this trio for 5 months now. Sent a pic to the dealer just to ask if he had any idea and he asked if I was running carbon. When I responded affirmatively has said it “looked like erosion from carbon burn”. I don’t know what that means or what the mechanism is that causes damage from Carbon. Anyone have any idea?

Sharkbait19 · Jan 10, 2023

Sounds like he was describing HLLE (head and streak line erosion), which can come from carbon dust in the water. That could be the case here, but I’ll get some more eyes on it:
#fishmedic

Miami Reef · Jan 10, 2023

Last year, around July, I purchased a pyramid butterfly with a similar issue.

I tried almost everything under the sun, but it still died.

Here’s what my deceased pyramid looked like while it was alive.

vetteguy53081 · Jan 10, 2023

I believe as there has been an ongoing issue with these fish, it may be either collection practices or poor quality stock and distribution. As these fish are showing up again and a reef safe butterfly I adore, I have avoided them due to field issues noted.
This is bacterial in nature and you can try seachem Kanaplex in a quarantine setting but success will be hit and miss pertaining to results

Jay Hemdal · Jan 11, 2023

PedroYoung said:
One of my pyramid butterfly’s has some pits on either side of his nose. I’ve had this trio for 5 months now. Sent a pic to the dealer just to ask if he had any idea and he asked if I was running carbon. When I responded affirmatively has said it “looked like erosion from carbon burn”. I don’t know what that means or what the mechanism is that causes damage from Carbon. Anyone have any idea?

The dealer was talking about carbon causing head and lateral line erosion. Two studies were done linking carbon use to this syndrome - one by Disney and one by myself. Here is a link to a write-up about my study:

Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)

This article discusses studies performed regarding head and lateral line erosion in captive fishes. Specifically, carbon use and nutrition as they relate to this syndrome.

www.reef2reef.com