Orchid Dottyback - Fin deterioration

[jacryan1]

Hello all

My dottyback is in trouble- these pictures show the fin deterioration over 4 days
The upper fin seems to be better but the tail fin is definitely worse.

Eating/appetite is very good, energy is good
Not hiding during day, has cave in rock at night

Tanks mates:
Coral beauty
Striped goby
2 Emerald crabs (removed day 2)
Wyoming clown (removed day 3)

I really thought the emeralds got to her at night, fins got worse after they were removed
Then I thought clown was be aggressive at night, fins still got worse after the clown was removed

Started dosing StressGuard on day 3

Tank is 8 months old
Salinity: 1.026 had dropped to 1.024 when checked day 3, now back to 1.026
PH: 8.2
PO4: 0.02
Nitrite: .05
Nitrates: 10
Ammonia: 0

Nitrates were at 0 until dosed AB+ for Zoas, not positive if reason for jump, last reading was a week prior to AB+

I have had UV running for months on low GPH (230-250)

Tried to add all information to help with diagnosis
Any help is appreciated

Photos are in order Day 1 to Day 4

 

[pikadab]

I have the same exact problem with the same exact fish. Following -

 

[threebuoys]

I suggest you try to video the tank. Set up your phone or camera so you can walk away for a while. I'm suspicious of the coral beauty. I've found dwarf angels to be very aggressive towards smaller fish like the dottyback. One battered a dottyback I purchased after the angel became dominant in the tank. The fact the dottyback is not hiding is a good sign, but he still could be getting nipped.

 

[JGT]

Looks like a bacterial infection. Would treat in a separate tank using an antibiotic such as Kanaplex, Maracyn or Furan.

 

[jacryan1]

Looks like a bacterial infection. Would treat in a separate tank using an antibiotic such as Kanaplex, Maracyn or Furan.

Pulling Dottyback to QT now, thank you all for quick responses
I'll update progress

 

[JGT]

Had a sim problem with a PBT. Occurred in QT so just did 2 rounds of Kanaplex which stopped the deterioration and the fins have started to grow back.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Pulling Dottyback to QT now, thank you all for quick responses
I'll update progress

Just to confound things - it is possible that something started the injury by aggression, you pulled that animal, but the fins still got worse, now due to bacterial infection.

Furan-2, Kanaplex, Neoplex or other good broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic used in a QT would be the way to go.

jay