Fish died and cant get him out!

[jrod11]

My clownfish died and is behind a 2 foot pile of live rock. I can barely see the dead fish. If i wanted to take him out i would have to move all of my corals and rocks. Is it really bad to leave a dead fish in the tank?

[rcerulli]

dead fish = ammonia. Do you have a clean up crew to eat the dead fish?

[Caliloaner]

Yes it is... Unless you have an urchin or some kind of scavanger that will find him very quickly... You may get an algae bloom from all the nitrate that will produce from your live rock/sand because of the ammonia breakdown of the dead fish... I would do whatever neccessary to get that fish out...

[tedmc2]

I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if it is in the 125 gal tank. Clean-up crew, worms, and other critters will make a quick meal of it.

[Sk8r]

If you have snails, small hermits, and bristleworms, he'll be gone by morning. Don't move the rock. They always die where you can't reach them---whatever 'they' are. That's why I praise bristleworms so highly.
And a 125 g reef? probably large enough that a single clown won't make a hiccup in the chemistry. If you have any doubts, keep some Amquel in your emergency kit: knocks ammonia back immediately and is safe for even sps corals.

[Blown 346]

I agree with the 2 above posts. Dont worry about. there is plenty that will find it and get rid of it for you. If it was a smaller tank where this could be a problem then I would remvoe it. But like said already, with that large of a system that fish wont even put a dent in it.

[jrod11]

I do have 5 crabs that i am sure will get after it very quickly. not to mention the bristleworm (i have seen one that is 5 inches, i might have more in there. creepy) hopefully it will just be a nice snack for them.

[backej1]

I agree with the guys above - just leave him and let the "cleanup" crew do their job.

[Sk8r]

Very little bad happens naturally in a reef that doesn't prove a windfall for something further down the chain...

But very sorry about your clown.

[jrod11]

this is the second time that I have had a clownfish die in the tank. I got both of them from the same pet store.....no longer buying from them any more. This most recent clown broke out in a virus or something within 12 hours. half of his body was covered in a clearish white film. total bummer

[J-Burns]

A 5 inch Brissle worm ? If he is fat - about the size of a finger- you may want to trap him.

[reefergeorge]

By now it should be gone. I had a dwarf lion die one night and there was nothing left but a snail pile the next morning. It will be fine.

[james37128]

I am curious, just how long it will be there, can you update us when you can no longer find it?

[waxy]

Get a cleaner shrimp, they go straight to something when it stops breathing.

[cloak]

You could use a powerhead/pump to move it around to where you can grab it.

[cpl40475]

expensive meal for a CUC though.
sorry for the loss

[mcginnisandrew]

one time i had a few dead hermit crab bodies stuck behind a pile of rock that i couldnt reach, i used a powerhead and blew them around the pile to where i could reach them

[rayvette]

I had a chromis die a few nights ago. By the time morning came, two hermits and a peppermint shrimp looked like they were at a Vegas buffet. An hour later, all that was left was the skeleton.

[zhenjw]

Originally posted by jrod11
this is the second time that I have had a clownfish die in the tank. I got both of them from the same pet store.....no longer buying from them any more. This most recent clown broke out in a virus or something within 12 hours. half of his body was covered in a clearish white film. total bummer

I feel ya, same thing happened to me with 2 gobies and a blenny. I acclimated and everything and they still ended up on a hermit's dinner plate. Convenience(it being the closest lfs), is not worth your wallet. Yet some places have awsome inverts yet stock cruddy fish.