• what to do if the fish died in the reef?

  • Jonathan6173

What to do if a fish has died in the reef? I can't find the white-breasted surgeon for the second day; he was swimming normally and eating well, but now I haven't seen him for 2 days. Visually, he is not visible between the rocks, and he was about 6 centimeters in size. Could he have already been eaten? Should I search for the dead fish, as the reef needs to be dismantled? Or should I leave everything as it is—if he has died, he has died. The water parameters, particularly nitrates and phosphates, will rise, I understand, due to the dead fish—how critical is this? The system is 700 liters.

Joshua448

If the aquarium is in good condition, all the equipment is working properly, especially the skimmer, there's no need to worry about breaking down the reef; it will only worsen its state. In my opinion, your reef is quite capable of processing waste products without any issues, maybe just the water will get a little cloudy. 700 liters is not the same as 35.

Charles894

Thank you, I will do just that, meaning I won't do anything. But how can it be that a healthy active fish suddenly disappears (dies)? Could it be that something was lurking and caught it at night?

Scott9892

No one can catch healthy fish. You have a long-standing issue. You just don't want to admit it.

Christine864

I'm sure the crypto has nothing to do with it. The UV is constantly working. And the white-bellied has been behaving normally all this time, was active and fed on par with the other fish.

John

Odessa, how many times have you been told not to run ahead of the train, and you still don't hear. The death of the White-Breasted can be due to many reasons, particularly early stocking with a large number of fish, without quarantine, just taking a chance. You want everything at once, but you get nothing and gradually. There is a saying like that. Reconsider your approach to this issue. P.S. Off-topic, no offense, you ask, you listen, but you do everything the opposite. It seems you trust no one. Then you'll have to learn what and how only through bitter experience.

Jenny

A stable system with 700 liters will "not notice" the death of one fish. The corpse will be quickly dismantled into parts by brittle stars and polychaetes, and the decomposition products will be removed by a sea cucumber.