Flame hawkfish losing color

Question
I am a beginner, i have a 75 gallon tank with a wet well, heater and chiller, in the tank i have a figure eight puffer, two butterflies, two blue damsels, a coral beauty, a yellow tang (who unfortunately has lateral line disease, but im not giving upon him, i put that garlic solution into the tank water every night before i feed them), and my flame hawk fish. I've had the tank for about six months everything was fine but now it seems like my hawkfish is losing its color, he still swims around and eats but is a very dull color, i have led lighting but i only keep it on 3hrs a day and obviously its a fish only tank i have about 70 lbs of live rock in there. I usually put about a doz shrimp in the tank once a week for the hawkfish and the puffer otherwise they eat the frozen food that everyone else eats. I'm not sure if he is sick or if hes just losing his color. if you could help me id be grateful

Answer
The Flame Hawkfish diet should include a variety of marine meats, frozen preparations, and live feeder shrimp.

Regarding a loss in coloration in any fish, this typically includes a few different factors including:

It could signify that a fish is being harassed by another fish.

Poor water quality.

A fish is getting old in age.

A fish displaying mating ritual behaviors, can change coloration.

A change in or an addition to your aquarium lighting can often bring out other colors in fish and corals.

A change in color could also signify a sick fish.

TIPS: Try offering a food with color enhancers in it. Also your fish need about 6 to 8 hours of sufficient light per day. If needed put your lights on a scheduled timer. By offering more light per day, (this alone) may start to give your Flame Hawkfish its color back.

General Rule of Thumb:

Fish Only Tanks - 6 to 8 hours of sufficient light per day.

Reef Tanks - 10 to 12 hours of sufficient light per day.

Regards,
Dave

All Experts - Editor

http://www.ocreef.com