Purple Tang HLLE

[pufferenthusiast]

My Purple tang has developed a case of HLLE and I usually do not feel inexperienced but as of now, I do. I’ve tried feeding a half sheet of OMEGA ONE green nori seaweed every day and doing New Life Spectrum Thera+A pellets after a recommendation but I’m at a loss. I could really use some better recommendations of what to do.

I did a 10% water change yesterday since Nitrates read 20-40ppm.

 

[W31Olds]

HHLE seems to be common with Purple Tangs. Diet is important but I believe Water Quality more so. I have one finishing QT right now that came with minor HHLE and continued while treating with Copper. I only ever fed Nori daily, frozen Brine, and Spirulina Flakes. No Supplements. The Copper treatment finished and he's now all healed up. Probably took about 10 days and his appearance was very close to yours. Are you running any Carbon and I would check your RODI System.

 

[pufferenthusiast]

HHLE seems to be common with Purple Tangs. Diet is important but I believe Water Quality more so. I have one finishing QT right now that came with minor HHLE and continued while treating with Copper. I only ever fed Nori daily, frozen Brine, and Spirulina Flakes. No Supplements. The Copper treatment finished and he's now all healed up. Probably took about 10 days and his appearance was very close to yours. Are you running any Carbon and I would check your RODI System.

I don’t use RODI as it’s not a readily available thing for me + don’t have a hookup/space for one, oh but I wish. I read that Copper makes it worse? But I will try your advice.
Edit: I had a yellow tang prior to my purple tang, never had any HLLE issues with him in this tank.

 

[bluemon]

HHLE seems to be common with Purple Tangs. Diet is important but I believe Water Quality more so. I have one finishing QT right now that came with minor HHLE and continued while treating with Copper. I only ever fed Nori daily, frozen Brine, and Spirulina Flakes. No Supplements. The Copper treatment finished and he's now all healed up. Probably took about 10 days and his appearance was very close to yours. Are you running any Carbon and I would check your RODI System.

I don’t use RODI as it’s not a readily available thing for me + don’t have a hookup/space for one, oh but I wish. I read that Copper makes it worse? But I will try your advice.
Edit: I had a yellow tang prior to my purple tang, never had any HLLE issues with him in this tank.

They weren’t suggesting you use copper.

Do you run any carbon?

 

[pufferenthusiast]

They weren’t suggesting you use copper.

Do you run any carbon?

I do, but it hasn’t been replaced recently. I ordered some to replace. They had said they USED copper, which is why I said that. But I had thought copper was bad? This is a photo I just took. I’m not sure what else to try. I plan to order Selcon concentrate as well.

Edit: I also have a hippo tang in here and it has no signs of HLLE

 

[bluemon]

I do, but it hasn’t been replaced recently. I ordered some to replace. They had said they USED copper, which is why I said that. But I had thought copper was bad? This is a photo I just took. I’m not sure what else to try. I plan to order Selcon concentrate as well.

What kind of carbon? Do you have any pictures of the product?

How are you using it? Tumbling in a reactor? In a bag? I ask because carbon is a known cause of HLLE

 

[pufferenthusiast]

What kind of carbon? Do you have any pictures of the product?

How are you using it? Tumbling in a reactor? In a bag? I ask because carbon is a known cause of HLLE

I just read the HLLE article written on here, will remove carbon once back home and do a filter clean as I’m long due for one. (I’m actually unsure if I still have carbon in the filter). I read that sunlight helps so I’m doing that.
Temp runs 78-80F
Salinity 1.022

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Any ozone use?

 

[W31Olds]

Puffer, sorry for the confusion. My Purple had a case of HHLE when received that worsened during my QT Protocol copperpower treatment. After I discontinued the Copper, it healed up so that's why I suspect water quality is important. Use of Carbon and not using RODI Water are contributing factors. I always use RODI Water during QT and Carbon has to be the correct type.

 

[pufferenthusiast]

Puffer, sorry for the confusion. My Purple had a case of HHLE when received that worsened during my QT Protocol copperpower treatment. After I discontinued the Copper, it healed up so that's why I suspect water quality is important. Use of Carbon and not using RODI Water are contributing factors. I always use RODI Water during QT and Carbon has to be the correct type.

This purple tang is in my Display. I have removed my carbon from my filter and replaced it with some more floss. I also noticed that one of my media bags that I had in my overflow looked absolutely disgusting, I removed that and threw it away. (Looked like brown mold had grown all over the mesh bag, was obstructing flow too)

 

[pufferenthusiast]

Any ozone use?

No, never thought of or even used ozone before. I’ve heard it’s pricy to run and maintain.

 

[56longroof]

Get your water quality up and feed heavy. I had great success doing this.

 

[pufferenthusiast]

Get your water quality up and feed heavy. I had great success doing this.

I just did a 10% the other day since nitrates were at 30-40ppm, FOWLR tank. Removed carbon from filter and cleaned with tank water, I’m not completely convinced it’s my water quality YET since my hippo tang shows no HLLE, just the purple. Someone else said that they seem more susceptible than other tangs. I will buy 10-20gal RODI saltwater from my LFS and replace some of my tank water to help.

 

[exnisstech]

Poor fish. I've had this one a bit over 8 years. PE mysis has been a staple the entire time. I also have fed many of the commercial frozen offerings as well as making my own from the seafood counter. I feed nori but not daily. I do feed formula one and two pellets but they are more for treats.

I kept this hippo for over 5 years with zero HLLE.

Feed and feed some more. I flood the tank 3 - 4 times a day with treats in between.
This is a light feeding.

 

[TheReeferer]

Soak food with selcon AND vitachem

 

[56longroof]

I just did a 10% the other day since nitrates were at 30-40ppm, FOWLR tank. Removed carbon from filter and cleaned with tank water, I’m not completely convinced it’s my water quality YET since my hippo tang shows no HLLE, just the purple. Someone else said that they seem more susceptible than other tangs. I will buy 10-20gal RODI saltwater from my LFS and replace some of my tank water to help.

Your water probably wasnt the cause but better water quality will help with healing. HLLE isn't usually fatal but infection can set in. You'll be surprised how fast it will turn around with diet and water parameters in check. I noticed real improvement in less than 30 days. The first two pictures are a week apart and the last is the fish now. I've been running Rox carbon with no issues also.

 

[CookieM]

Your water probably wasnt the cause but better water quality will help with healing. HLLE isn't usually fatal but infection can set in. You'll be surprised how fast it will turn around with diet and water parameters in check. I noticed real improvement in less than 30 days. The first two pictures are a week apart and the last is the fish now. I've been running Rox carbon with no issues also.

that's a beautiful tang, glad it pulled through!

 

[56longroof]

that's a beautiful tang, glad it pulled through!

It a miracle it's even alive. I bought it in that condition at a reduced price. When it was delivered the vendor didn't put any heat packs in it in the middle of winter. The water was 54° it's a tough fish for sure.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

When it was delivered the vendor didn't put any heat packs in it in the middle of winter.

If you don't mind - what vendor was this? I'd like to avoid them.

 

[56longroof]

If you don't mind - what vendor was this? I'd like to avoid them.

Liveaquaria. They have seriously declined.