Dead fish "fell" deep in rock structure.

[SicZ06]

Not sure what to do - but I know you all will!

I can't catch / saw the fish dying and blew it grabbing a dead chromis. (Small / less than an inch) It sadly dropped deep down in my rock structure and now I can't reach it. Do I let mother nature / the system process it? Or ruin / dig up my 18 month old rock structure I'd rather not move? Info to help your decision =

65 gal
good amount of LR and bio blocks 18 month old system
Omega 130 Protein Skimmer
BRS 5" Mini Reactor running carbon that I just turned on
I do weekly WC / will do a big one a few times

Added the fish, a second chromis and a Coral Beauty Angel 2 weeks ago. I haven't seen any fights - added them to the tank that has 3 other fish, a blenny and a shrimp that all get alone well. I mean I think! Everything else in the tank seems to be doing great / LPS and softies all look good. I looked at all the other fish, they seem to be doing fine / no spots. Thank you!


78.9 , 1.026
cal 400
Alk 7.9
ph 8.2
phos .01

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ok here's the big question, what do you have for clean up crew?

 

[Jdubyo]

I personally would try to get it out. Is it something a pair of long forceps would be able to reach?

 

[phatduckk]

You can’t poke around with an acrylic rod or anything?

Maybe stick a maxi jet or something to try and blow it out?

 

[Hugh Mann]

If you have a decent carnivorous CuC, it shouldn't be a problem, can have it cleared up in a day or two. Be ready with Prime just in case.

That being said, it is best if you can remove it, perhaps long tweezers, or even a wooden skewer, notch some barbs in it and harpoon the carcass.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

If you have a decent carnivorous CuC, it shouldn't be a problem, can have it cleared up in a day or two. Be ready with Prime just in case.

That being said, it is best if you can remove it, perhaps long tweezers, or even a wooden skewer, notch some barbs in it and harpoon the carcass.

Exactly! Maybe it's time to pick up a big brittle starfish!

 

[laverda]

I would not give it a second thought and just leave it. That is the job of bristle worms, hermetic crabs and snails amongst others in your tank.

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

I would not give it a second thought and just leave it. That is the job of bristle worms, hermetic crabs and snails amongst others in your tank.

+1

 

[laverda]

The only dead fish I ever removed from my tank was my 14” sail fine tang when it died after 26+ years. I only removed it due to how big it was. Most I never even see the body. They just disappear.

 

[jeffrey750750]

Turkey baster is very helpful

 

[Leah Ryan]

Turkey baster is very helpful

Yes! I have 2 ways that I remove a dead fish I can't reach:
1. turkey baster
2. ice pick

 

[jeffrey750750]

Yes! I have 2 ways that I remove a dead fish I can't reach:
1. turkey baster
2. ice pick

Thumbs up on the ice pick, lol

 

[Leah Ryan]

Thumbs up on the ice pick, lol

Just be 100% sure that the fish is dead!

 

[mindme]

In that size tank and that size fish I wouldn't worry about it unless you don't have stuff that will eat it.

 

[SicZ06]

thank you all for the help! I'll try again today with the long forceps and try blowing it out with a jet.

 

[brandon429]

your ammonia spike from it has come and gone already. so if there's urgency it can't be for that. we have tracked full tang degredation on seneye and the entire system never left thousandths ppm nh3

 

[ScubaFish802]

your ammonia spike from it has come and gone already. so if there's urgency it can't be for that. we have tracked full tang degredation on seneye and the entire system never left thousandths ppm nh3

At this point you’re only going to stir things back up. I’d bet there’s not much left of it already in a 65 if any