Dead fish removal

solid14th · 10/12/2007, 08:43 PM

I have a 120 gal tank (eatabished 2 months with an ocellaris and a bangggai cardinal). Last night I bought a wrasse and purplefire fish at a LFS. After a 1 hour drip acclimation I placed them in the tank. The wrasse was fine but the firefish was breathing rapidly and sank behind the rock work. I haven't seen it since. If it has died I have no idea where it is. Do I have to tear apart my rockwork to fish it out or can I put a crab (reef friendly?) in to "recycle" the dead fish? I only have snails as a clean-up crew so far b/c I have heard differening opinions on the safety of having crabs in a reef tank.

demonsp · 10/12/2007, 08:55 PM

It is best to remove but if you have a good cleanup crew then the fish wont last long. You can try blowing it out with a powerhead.

beaglelax · 10/12/2007, 08:56 PM

you sure its dead i had one of them and i was moving rock and to my surprise it was still alive just hiding..i thought the same as you maybe just give it some time

Mavrk · 10/12/2007, 08:58 PM

Try directing a powerhead behind the rock to see if you can flush it out. Otherwise:

Do you have a skimmer? Run it wetter. Keep an eye on your levels. And perhaps do an extra water change this week. The bristle worms will eat it up. Firefish are pretty small, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

The one thing that concerns me is that the firefish was exhibiting signs of either ammonia poisoning or low oxygen saturation. It could have been stress, but make sure your levels are good.

Mavrk · 10/12/2007, 08:59 PM

If it has only been a day or two, then don't do the powerhead thing since it might just be hiding and you don't want to stress it out any more.

Aquarist007 · 10/12/2007, 10:16 PM

yeah---I would leave it be--I doubt you are going to get much of a spike but if you don't see if for a couple of days do a 20 per cent water change to be safe

solid14th · 10/13/2007, 08:17 AM

Thanks evertone. So far my levels are still at 0 so I will continue to test and see what happens.

loosecannon · 10/13/2007, 11:04 AM

Serdikoff, A Serpent star would be More reef friendly.

solid14th · 10/13/2007, 04:20 PM

Thanks Loosecannon.

Aquarist007 · 10/13/2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Serdikoff
Thanks evertone. So far my levels are still at 0 so I will continue to test and see what happens.

that's what I thought--I lost a really good size anthias--once--no spike and the brittle star didn't have to cook that night

10/12/2007, 08:43 PM	#1
solid14th Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Philly burbs Posts: 234	Dead fish removal I have a 120 gal tank (eatabished 2 months with an ocellaris and a bangggai cardinal). Last night I bought a wrasse and purplefire fish at a LFS. After a 1 hour drip acclimation I placed them in the tank. The wrasse was fine but the firefish was breathing rapidly and sank behind the rock work. I haven't seen it since. If it has died I have no idea where it is. Do I have to tear apart my rockwork to fish it out or can I put a crab (reef friendly?) in to "recycle" the dead fish? I only have snails as a clean-up crew so far b/c I have heard differening opinions on the safety of having crabs in a reef tank.

10/12/2007, 08:56 PM	#3
beaglelax Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: monroe, ny Posts: 326	you sure its dead i had one of them and i was moving rock and to my surprise it was still alive just hiding..i thought the same as you maybe just give it some time __________________ When life hands you lemons make lemonade Lead follow or get out of the way Current Tank Info: 75 F/O - 220 F/O - 525 F/O for now soon to be reef

10/12/2007, 10:16 PM	#6
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	yeah---I would leave it be--I doubt you are going to get much of a spike but if you don't see if for a couple of days do a 20 per cent water change to be safe __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

10/13/2007, 08:17 AM	#7
solid14th Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Philly burbs Posts: 234	Thanks evertone. So far my levels are still at 0 so I will continue to test and see what happens. __________________ Genetic blends with uncertain ends on a fortune hunt that's far too fleet --N. Peart Current Tank Info: 120g reef

10/13/2007, 11:04 AM	#8
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	Serdikoff, A Serpent star would be More reef friendly. __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt

10/12/2007, 08:55 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	It is best to remove but if you have a good cleanup crew then the fish wont last long. You can try blowing it out with a powerhead.

10/12/2007, 08:58 PM	#4
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Try directing a powerhead behind the rock to see if you can flush it out. Otherwise: Do you have a skimmer? Run it wetter. Keep an eye on your levels. And perhaps do an extra water change this week. The bristle worms will eat it up. Firefish are pretty small, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. The one thing that concerns me is that the firefish was exhibiting signs of either ammonia poisoning or low oxygen saturation. It could have been stress, but make sure your levels are good.

10/12/2007, 08:59 PM	#5
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	If it has only been a day or two, then don't do the powerhead thing since it might just be hiding and you don't want to stress it out any more.

10/13/2007, 04:20 PM	#9
solid14th Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Philly burbs Posts: 234	Thanks Loosecannon. __________________ Genetic blends with uncertain ends on a fortune hunt that's far too fleet --N. Peart Current Tank Info: 120g reef