Porcupine puffer fish with white film

Question
Good morning,
We have a 140 gallon saltwater aquarium with one large lionfish, one clownfish, one damsel, one bamboo shark (about 8 inches long - we have only had him since May when he newly hatched), and one newly purchased porcupine puffer.  The porcupine puffer is small - approximately 3-4 inches in length.  She was purchased on Thursday, June 18.  We went through the acclimation process and she appeared to be fine with the tank.  Only, she will not eat and late yesterday evening I noticed a film covering the right side of her body beginning right behind her eye and covering about half her body length.  This morning the film has grown and covers her right eye also.
A 10% water change was done the same day we purchased her.  We have checked the water quality and I have listed below the readings.  Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  She is a personable little fish and I would really hate to lose her.  We have removed her from the main tank and have her separated from the other fish.

Ph - 8.0
Alkaline - 180
Nitrate 2 - 0
Nitrate 3 - 20  

Answer
Hello Angelic,

sorry to hear about your lionfish, but seperating him was probably wise.

You can try to treat him with some cupramine or melafix but, I have not seen many survive from these types of illnesses.

But, should he not make it please consider not replacing him, as he will grow and will eat your other fish, as soon as he is big enough to get them into his mouth...


good luck


bill