What kind of water are you using? RO or tap water?
I pick up RO from the store. I'm transitioning back from mixing my own to purchasing pre-mixed.
<span style="color: Indigo">Good. That should rule out impurities that way, assuming the store keeps tabs on its TDS.</span>
Are you testing for phosphate? That can feed algae.
Haven't tested for phosphate in in a couple months, just change out/rinse a bag of phosphate remover every 6 weeks
<span style="color: Indigo">I'd have that checked. At least if everything's OK, that rules it out. If there is significant phosphate, then it can be addressed.</span>
What is your alk? Low alk can make soft corals angry, and it also seems to lend itself to algae and/or cyanobacter growth.
I haven't tested recently, it had never been an issue but, maybe it is now. I use additives rarely but thought the regular w/c with fresh mixed Red Sea or Instant Ocean was enough.
<span style="color: Indigo">Instant Ocean doesn't necessarily have enough alkalinity buffers. Being formulated primarily for FO systems, alk doesn't matter much to the fish (as long as pH is stable). With pH at 8.0, that's not bad but if the alk is low the pH has the potential to drop lower. Or it could be swinging. Best way to figure this out is test at the end of the dark period, right before the lights come on - it will be at its lowest then. Then mid-way through the photoperiod, then again right at the end of the photoperiod. At the end it will likely be at its highest. That will tell you if it's fluctuating. If it is, buffering (and making sure alk is stable) will help with that.</span>
Any natural light making it to the tank? (Direct sun from a window, etc.)
About an hour or 2 when the sun first rises in the morning. It's about 15 feet from the windows.
<span style="color: Indigo">Probably not a huge factor in this then.</span>
Seems that this time of year we see an increase in cyanobacter especially, and nuisance algae. Not sure what the cause is as such, and this year so far (knock on wood) hasn't been as bad as last year.
If you can't QT, antibiotics and focus in the food can be safely used in the DT but if the fish can't see to eat, that poses a challenge.
I have an article on my website about setting up a QT. It *can* be done in a bucket but I recommend some sort of filtration. No carbon if you are treating the water proper, but there needs to be some sort of biological or the water will foul.
Will some LR suffice for bio? I did buy arag alive sand last week with the intention of putting down a fresh layer... Of course that was before the clown's eyes.
<span style="color: Indigo">It can suffice - live rock, but if you medicate, make sure you use a rock that you're OK with leaving out of the display permanently. I wouldn't put sand in a QT, and the live stuff isn't as "instant cycling" as the bag claims. (It's convenient as you don't have to wash it etc., but I wouldn't count on it to support livestock right out of the bag.)</span>
Second link didn't work - third link shows a really full tank. Probably nothing to do with the clown being sick but corals encroaching on one another can encourage them to put out toxins to protect their own piece of real estate. Do you run carbon? That can help remove some of those toxins but some pruning might help relieve the stress from the corals fighting it out with each other for space.
I use ChemiPure or ChemiPure Elite (I think regular works better IMO) Anybody want Kenya or xenia? I've had issues finding takers for some time. I traded in a few pieces of frogspawn and hammer awhile, it just made more room for Kenya...
<span style="color: Indigo">I believe those products remove organics, not sure how efficient they are at removing toxins ... maybe somebody else will chime in on that.</span>
As for the clown, infection could come from something as simple as a scratch or bite, just like if we have a scratch or cut and it isn't kept clean, we can get an infection.
He is rather agressive and the other's don't back down. It is possible
<span style="color: Indigo">Even if it scratched itself against a rock, all by itself, infection is possible.</span>
