Activated charcoal - how to prevent HLLE?

Orm Embar · Jun 20, 2017

I've read articles that activated charcoal particles are linked to HLLE (head and lateral line erosion). I have also read that rinsing carbon before use helps to reduce particulates, and also to use a higher quality carbon.

Is there anything else that would help prevent HLLE? Does anyone use micron bags of a specific size, and would those be helpful? I'd like to keep using activated charcoal but I'd like to keep the chances of HLLE to a minimum. I haven't had any issues, but I also would rather prevent future problems.

TangingOut · Jun 20, 2017

I use ROX 0.8 and hold it in place with sponges and filter floss. New fill gets ran into a bucket until clear(usually 1/2 gal) and I go off of BRS' calculator for volume. Have never experienced HLLE.

ciscomania · Jun 20, 2017

what is HLLE? never even heard of it. I run carbon also

reef lover · Jun 20, 2017

ciscomania said:
what is HLLE? never even heard of it. I run carbon also

Head and lateral line erosion. Most common in surgeonfish.

Elegance Coral · Jun 20, 2017

This is simply my opinion..
I work in the industry and have dealt with HLLE far to many times... IMHO, it's usually brought on by stress, or a nutritional deficiency. I believe the link between GAC and HLLE is due to tangs ingesting GAC dust. Poison control doctors often give their patience carbon to ingest. The carbon adsorbs the poison along with beneficial nutrients , keeping these substances from entering the bloodstream. The same thing happens when a fish ingests GAC dust. The GAC robs the fish of vital nutrition. GAC maintained within the filtration areas of the aquarium system is harmless. It only becomes a problem when dust from the GAC is allowed to escape the filtration and cover the surfaces within the tank. A tang that is constantly grazing these surfaces will constantly be ingesting carbon. Naturally, this would lead to nutritional deficiencies.
These fish are largely herbivorous, but will eat just about anything. Many hobbyists feed them regular prepared foods for the aquarium hobby. As long as they're eating, many hobbyists assume the fish will be fine. While they will eat this food, most won't provide the needed nutrition for these fish. They need their greens. When these fish don't get an adequate amount of algae in their diet, they often suffer from HLLE.
Stress is also a large contributing factor in HLLE. Just as in humans, stress often shares similar symptoms with malnutrition. Weight loss, compromised immune system, lethargy or behavioral changes, loss of skin pigment, and many other ailments or symptoms. As a tang grows, to it, its enclosure gets smaller. It's stress level increases. Tangs that are fed a good diet, and are not ingesting GAC dust, often still show symptoms of HLLE if kept in tanks that are to small.
I think there should be one more symptom added to HLLE. It's often not just the head and lateral line that's effected. Many individuals, especially from the Zebrasoma genus, will show fin loss. This fin loss is associated with the same contributing conditions, and often show up along with HLLE. I believe head, lateral line, and fin loss are all one in the same. Just different symptoms of the same problem.
Peace
EC

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 20, 2017

If you use ROX, which is acid washed and has few particulates, I think the risk is minimal.

I had issues that I think may have related to using Marineland black diamond, and while the individual fish were different, I didn't have issues with the same species using ROX.

Cory · Jun 20, 2017

I wonder if iodine could be a limiting nutrient causing hhle because carbon is very good at removing this, no?

Also theirs a link to this when using ozone with carbon.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 20, 2017

Cory said:
I wonder if iodine could be a limiting nutrient causing hhle because carbon is very good at removing this, no?

Also theirs a link to this when using ozone with carbon.

I actually don't think it to be the primary way that iodide is removed from reef tanks (organism uptake, such as algae dominates, I think), and I'm not sure it binds much from seawater.