Bleached Kole tang

[crazeemom28]

I am just wondering what may cause my Kole tang to be bleached out? I know stress could be a problem..which we thought was the problem in the begining because we had our black and white heniochus that had a huge white spot on one of his fins and then a couple more came up...our tang also had a few tiny spots on his top fin as well so we treated the whole tank with a couple of different parasite and ich treatments (not at the same time), which I have since learned our stupid mistake since one by one our fish started dying. Our six line wrasse passed first then my black and white clown and then shortly after "nochi" died as well! then we went through this HUGE ammonia spike because apparently the treatments killed off any of the good bacteria we had going in the tank. well we have finally gotten the ammonia under control and all the water parameters are good now but our tang has not returned back to his normal colors. he is still really bleached out. He is also not eating very well.....i didn't see him really eating much at all. He has never really liked the green leafy lettuce or the seaweed salad that was recommended to feed him, so I am not sure what else to offer. we do feed some frozen foods but he doesn't seem to eat those either. before our scooter blennie died we were feeding him some shrimp pellets every once in a while and I have noticed that the tang will try and pick them up and eat some of it...so I have been still putting them in the tank even though all we have now is our maroon clown and the tang because everything else died. but I don't know if it is just because he isn't getting enough to eat or why he is all bleached out. we have gotten some red and green algea growning on our rock now...not sure if that is good or bad because I don't know if he will eat that at all.
I am just at a loss as to what to do for him. I am going to try once again to figure out how to post some pics so you can see the before and after of my baby. any help is appreciated!

PS....I have really learned my lesson (an expensive and sad one no less) about QT tanks that is for sure!!

[crazeemom28]

I can't figure out how to post the pics. I went to the quick reply to my own thread even but I don't see a way to post the pics...did I do somethhing wrong...I know at the bottom of the screen under posting rules it says I may not post attachments...is there a way to turn that off?

[leebca]

Sorry to hear about the problems.

If I understand the situation right now, the Tang is in the disease infected tank? That means the Tang is infected. The combination of reduced nutrient intake and fighting off the disease is using all the fish's energy. There isn't enough energy to go to 'looking sexy' for the sake of procreation. That is, the fish is surviving rather than thriving.

Under these kinds of stresses, the marine fish sometimes stop eating, which only hastens their death. The first stress to attack is to make sure the fish is disease-free.

The Tang should be removed and treated in a hospital tank. In that location, as it heals, it will be easier to get to eat prepared foods, and it can be treated for any disease or condition.

Color and markings should return as these stressors are removed and the fish increases its eating.

Try to feed a variety of things. I'm unsure what 'leafy lettuce' you were trying to feed, but you should be feeding marine macro algae. Don't feed land products to the Tang. Try different macro algae (dried) sold in fish stores. Mysis, blood worms, brine shrimp, clam, scallop, etc. Whatever it will eat, try to add supplements to the food. Those listed in the post on immune system boosters should be the focus ones to use: Fish Immune Boosters

Have you read: Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

If the disease you had a problem with is Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) then all fish should be removed from the display, treated, and the display left 8 weeks without fish in it. Without fish, this parasite will die and you will have a Marine Ich-free marine system.
Regarding photos, I can't help you with that. You can post your questions in the Photo Lab Forum. Poseidon knows a lot about photos (and how to post them).