Dead Tang In Live Rock

[exposit]

Help! I have a 50 gallon reef with 60 pounds of live rock. It's been up and running for three months now. I purchased a tang that slowly deteriorated and is somewhere in the rock (there are tons of nooks and crannies!). Do I need to go find him? I've got two emeralds, two sallylightfoots, 8 hermits, and two scooter blennies...who I believe will finish him off if he's dead. What are the problems if I just let him decay? I'm currently just running a protein skimmer and doing weekly water changes of 5 gallons.

 

[fixitdude2001]

Ammonia spike may acure depending on the size of the fish, if the critters cant get it broken down fast enough, I myself would take out the tang and give it a decent funeral. even if it ment moveing some rock to get to it..this would be the safest thing for the tank....cya

 

[goldfish]

Get him out if you can. It will be a wonderful lunch for the rest of his tankmates, but the decay is not good for the water.

 

[guppie]

You realy need to find his body. You will get an ammonia spike that might cause problems, I know it is a pain but you will have to move suff around and find it. It is a good idea to remove a fish before it dies. they will always find a place to hide when they are dieing. Good LUck
[ May 24, 2001: Message edited by: guppie ]

 

[shel]

Sorry to hear about your tang. You should find the body and remove it. Watch where the hermit crabs are, they show you where the dead tang is. I lost a lawnnmower blemmie, all I did was look for the biggest hermit crab in the tank, sure enough their he was eating the lawnmower. He is the ring leader of the crabs. LOL You will have to move some LR, but it will be worth it. Good luck!!
Shel