Is my limp soft coral dead? Not yet  10/23/10
Hi, I am new to the saltwater tank hobby. I have a 14 gallon oceanic bio cube tank that has been running for about five weeks. I have a soft coral that is now limp. It originally was upright. Should I take it out of the tank?
<Mmm, I would put it into another established system if you have one... Or at least move this Sinularia from where it is presently... The Sarcophyton next to it may well be poisoning it...>
Will it poison the rest of my tank?
<Not too likely... you'll see it decomposing and remove it, change some water in time>
Is this abnormal?
<In such small systems stocked thus? No, not abnormal... Am attaching a piece (not in print yet, please do NOT redistribute) re stocking small systems w/ Cnidarians>
I attached some pictures of it. I appreciate any help you can give me.
Thanks,
Michelle
<Do read the article and here: http://wetwebmedia.com/alcyoncompfaqs.htm
Bob Fenner>

Clownfish swimming vertical against rock 10/23/10
Hi,
<Hello>
Set up is a 170 gallon reef tank (4ft by 4ft) with quite a bit of live rock (sorry I don't know the exact amount), 2 metal halide lights, live sand and coral, 3 green Chromis, 6 blue damsel/ yellowtail damsels, one small starfish, 2 paired orange clownfish (orcallis I believe) then 2 more black clownfish (orcallis??), one black and white damsel, 2 emerald crabs, 2 cardinal fish 120 sump tank below with 3 chambers (Berlin filtration setup, I think it's called), protein skimmer in the first chamber, live sand, hermit crabs, live rock in the second that filters over into a third chamber that cycles back up in to the tank.
Water parameters are nitrate 0, PH is 8.4, ammonia is 0, nitrites are 0 and have been that way for about 3 weeks steady now. It's an established but moved tank (moved 4 weeks ago and is to the point in re-cycling that the brown algae has turned to green algae with a small amount of red showing up). Temperature is 76 in the mornings going up to maybe 80 by evening.
Lights are on timers from 8 to 8.
Situation is the orange clowns were the original clownfish in the tanks and seemed to be paired. We didn't know better and thought we'd like to have two pairs of clowns in the tank.
<Can/could be done in a system of this volume, shape>
After getting the second pair home, I found out that was a bad idea. We did ask about compatibility at the fish store (the same one we purchased the tank from and who set it up for us), nothing was mentioned. Got the black clowns home, the two larger ones (almost 2 inches) did a bit of spatting (nothing too vicious just some slapping one another with their tails) but it settled down that day.
They've been swimming together fine for almost two weeks with the two larger fish mainly swimming together and the littler ones (about 1 inch) following them. Last night I noticed the black, larger clown looking like it was hiding in the LR with the other three protecting the area it was hanging out in. The black fish appears to be swimming against a rock face vertically in a little alcove of sorts, the large orange is guarding really heavily, the smaller ones are helping guard too. The large black fish comes out to eat,
swims a bit and right back to the rock face. The large black fish is opening and closing it's mouth a lot though (is this labored breathing?).
<Might be>
None of the clowns appear to be fighting and only did that first night, they actually look quite protective of the large black one. I'm concerned because I have heard that two females don't work well, I've read that a
female can change back to a male, I've read they can't and will kill one off, I've read that some people have successfully had two pairs in a tank, I've read some fish mouthing might be Ich starting up (I see nothing to indicate that though beside the maybe heavy breathing). Not really sure if I should be concerned at this point or if perhaps they have laid eggs that we can't see and are guarding the nest. What do you think I am I seeing with this behavior?
<Likely the one fish hiding a bit, perhaps submissive/signaling behavior.
Likely it is trying to adjust to the situation>
Sorry for the length of the email but I wanted to make sure and give you all the details you might need.
Thanks,
Linda
<I would leave all as they are for now; likely all will settle in w/ a few days time. Bob Fenner>

Mouth issue with powder blue tang, RMF's go  10/23/10
Hello,
I've recently acquired a ~4" powder blue tang, and it is in a 30 gallon quarantine tank since Wednesday (going on 3 days now). I have not added any treatments or done any dips, as the fish (surprisingly)
shows no sign of Ich or any other parasites.
<Mmmm>
However, I am curious and slightly concerned about the fish's mouth. This is my first powder blue, and I am wondering if it is normal for them to swim with their mouth open?
<Often, yes... this species lives in brisk water movement conditions, w/ a good deal of consistently high dissolved oxygen... And it takes a beating going from collection (in the Indian Ocean) to consumers in the west... the process is extremely trying, damaging to their blood make-up et al... This fish is actually having a time "catching its breath"...>
I've searched and came across "lock-jaw" and then possibly missing skin around the teeth, but I'm not sure if its anything I should be concerned about. I am attaching 2 pictures, the first is the original picture, the second is a cropped, more zoomed-in focus on the mouth. It is eating Mysis and spirulina brine, but seems to "chew" its food more than usual (which I've never noticed with my Zebrasoma tangs in other aquariums). I should also add that it is a timid feeder... at first I thought the fish might be blind as it was only taking food that would float by and almost land in his mouth; I have since decided he is probably not blind, but possibly just not sure what to do with the food?
<Not much to do... this fish should be "expedited" through quarantine... I do strongly promote dips/baths... and movement to large, stable quarters>
So far, no luck eating algae (I've tried rubberbanding it to my tank ornament). It appears to be in good health otherwise, and I do not see evidence of any pinching or "skinny-ness". The QT contains water from the display tank, diluted down to specific gravity of 1.020; could this be an issue?
<Ah, yes>
I still have it so low because the shipping bag it was received in was 1.010.
<Not uncommon... you know the reasons for this?>
Other parameters - Nitrates/nitrites/ammonia are 0, pH is 8.0. I am planning to do gradually increase the salinity by doing water changes.
<Mmm, up to you. Do keep a close eye... mysterious mortalities of Acanthurus leucosternon are very common... on this specimen, move it as advised above and on WWM, if/when you see sign/s of trouble>
Thank you for checking him out - I'm hoping I am just a "worried parent", but I figure better to be safe than sorry.
<Not easily kept... Do (re)read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/powdbluetg.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Mouth issue with powder blue tang Acanthurus Health\System, MikeV's go 10/23/2010
Hello,
<Hi Steve.>
I've recently acquired a ~4" powder blue tang, and it is in a 30 gallon quarantine tank since Wednesday (going on 3 days now). I have not added any treatments or done any dips, as the fish (surprisingly) shows no sign of Ich or any other parasites.
<Good for you on quarantining this fish. They tend to be more susceptible to Ich than others >
However, I am curious and slightly concerned about the fish's mouth. This is my first powder blue, and I am wondering if it is normal for them to swim with their mouth open?
<To a degree, yes.>
I've searched and came across "lock-jaw" and then possibly missing skin around the teeth, but I'm not sure if its anything I should be concerned about. I am attaching 2 pictures, the first is the original picture, the second is a cropped, more zoomed-in focus on the mouth.
<It looks a little beat up. Probably from being caught, shipping, etc.
With good care, it will all heal.>
It is eating Mysis and spirulina brine, but seems to "chew" its food more than usual (which I've never noticed with my Zebrasoma tangs in other aquariums).
<I feed my Sailfin Tang Strips of Nori and Kombu, 'he' regularly chews them.>
I should also add that it is a timid feeder...
<Very typical of this species. Keep a close eye when it is in the main tank, it can be bullied by more aggressive feeders>
at first I thought the fish might be blind as it was only taking food that would float by and almost land in his mouth; I have since decided he is probably not blind, but possibly just not sure what to do with the food?
<Likely, or just stressed in his environment. It is a good sign that it is eating. Give him a hiding place and keep the tank temperature in the high 70s to low 80s (26 - 27 deg C) Do make sure that the water is well aerated, tangs need a lot of oxygen>
So far, no luck eating algae (I've tried rubberbanding it to my tank ornament).
<It may take a while for it to get used to it, and recognize that it is food. If your local pet store sells it, Caulerpa, maiden's hair, or other macro algaes can be bought and used to entice the fish to start eating greens. Just put the Nori strips in and around the macroalgae.>
It appears to be in good health otherwise, and I do not see evidence of any pinching or "skinny-ness".
<With Tangs, the place to look is right above and behind the eyes.>
The QT contains water from the display tank, diluted down to specific gravity of
1.020; could this be an issue?
<It most definitely isn't helping>
I still have it so low because the
shipping bag it was received in was 1.010.
<Yikes, that is low; wise to bring it up slowly.>
Other parameters -
Nitrates/nitrites/ammonia are 0, pH is 8.0.
<bring this up slowly to around 8.2.>
I am planning to do gradually increase the salinity by doing water changes.
Thank you for checking him out - I'm hoping I am just a "worried parent", but I figure better to be safe than sorry.
<I would not worry here. Just keep a close eye on the fish, slowly alter the tank conditions to better meet its needs. Powder blues are tricky, and not the easiest fish to keep Have a read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/powdbluetg.htm >
<MikeV>

Stars and Stripes puffer 10/23/10
I have had a stars and stripes puffer fish for just about a year now. Over the last week I have noticed that he has been putting either fin into his gills but as soon as I get near the tank he gets excited and which ever is in his gill they come out.
<Mmm, not to worry>
they will be out for the rest of the day until the next morning when I wake up and find the fin in his gill again. he has no white dots of any kind on him and he looks completely fine other then this strange behavior. I did notice today though that he is starting with the labored breathing. I don't have a QT tank to put in him yet. I have to clean one up and then go buy some salt if I need to get him in there as I just did a water change and used up the last I had. I thought it could of been something serious at the first discovering so I bought FURAN-2 by API thinking this might fix the problem
<?>
but then he stopped doing this for about 2 days and now its happening again. this medicine is supposed to cure Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Body Slime & Eye Cloud, Open Red Sores, Fin & Tail Rot, and Bacterial Gill Disease.
<And whatever else ails 'ya>
should I go ahead and get this QT running and treat with this medicine??
<I would not>
or should I look into getting a new medication. I also just recently changed out a Rena 55 filter to a Fluval fx5 yesterday and 3 days ago I changed out a Aquatec 30-60 to a Fluval 405 used all the media from those filters in the new filters so hopefully I didn't do too much damage but all other tank mates are fine. I have a 55 gal tank with 1 live rock and 4 salt water base rock with crushed coral as the substrate water temp is 78-81 all tests are good except for my nitrate which I have been for 2 years trying to lower is around 100ppm but everything is doing good in the tank except for now.
<Do read here re NO3: http://wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm
and the linked files are control above>
this is why I have purchased these two big filters and filled them with nitrate remover in hopes of getting the levels down. I only have a Clown-fish, and a Fire-blood cleaner shrimp
<Strange that the puffer has not consumed this>
plus my (maybe sickly) stars and stripes puffer fish, oh and two hermit crabs.
<And these>
I have read on forums that I could possibly be gill flukes and by the sounds of it is a pain to get rid of 8 weeks in a QT tank doing freshwater dips and what have you. please help in any way you can. Thanks Chris.
<I'd just be patient here... Bob Fenner>

Stars and Strips Puffer fish 10/23/10
Hello I have recently contacted you about my stars and stripes puffer fish asking about gill flukes or why he's putting his fin in his gills. just an update on him he's swimming around fine and dandy now both fins out and he's eating my live rock.
<Good signs>
I'm guessing he's grinding his teeth as they grow like a beaver. I have attached some photos of him in hopes of maybe you can see anything that I am not.
<Appears fine to me>
unfortunately I don't have any of him having his fin in his gills as when I last posted he was active and didn't have them in. I tried to get some close ups of his eyes and various shots of his body. hopefully you can see something I'm not or maybe its just nothing. and as for his labored breathing since my last post that seems to be fine too. I don't know what to do. its just strange why he keeps putting his fin in the gills and then is fine throughout the day.
thanks again Chris
<Welcome. BobF>