Tang Found After 4 months

N

newoldandy

Membership Expired
So about 4 months ago I had a tank melt down (120 gallon). Think it was the macro algae caulerpa in the sump. All turned white and then all the coral begins to die. None of the zoas, mushrooms, leathers, xenia or other random frags made it. Super annoying. The yellow watchman goby and clownfish were fine, but the regal tang looked a little ragged and then disappeared. I assumed he died too and the crabs were feasting on him. Lost a few shrimp too. I did multiple water changes but it did not appear to help any of the coral, maybe it was just too late. Then I got busy with work and left the tank alone for a while hoping it would recover but considering if I was going to start over or shut it down or what. I have been doing regular water changes but have not added any new coral or fish to the tank. I finally see some improvement - coraline is growing, small balls of what I assume is blue sponges are growing, tiny feather dusters (?), ball anemone, etc are coming back.

Today I had quite a surprise to see the regal tang in the sump. He must have been in the overflow the last 4 months and finally got sucked down into the sump. Not sure how he survived, but wondering if I should do anything to help him out. I put him in the main display and he ate a little bit but has mainly been swimming upside-down under a rock. Lost a lot of color too. Vary pale blue.
 
Temporarily moved to the emergency forum here. Hopefully someone can give you directives to help him. I'm pulling for him ... good luck!
 
Keep algae in the tank at all times for him to pick at. Maybe put it close to the area he is hiding.


Sent from pay phone in the airport.
 
Thanks - I put some algae near him per your suggestion but he hasn't touched it yet. He is starting to come out from under the rock every now and then. I feel terrible for not checking the overflow box for him, but I also have no idea how he could have made it back there since it has a screen zip tied to it and he is too big to fit between it.
 
Yeah that is strange. But I know mine will fit under a rock that I have no idea how he could fit. But keep algae in the tank at all times for him to get healthy and fat.


Sent from pay phone in the airport.
 
That's an amazing story. I was missing a clownfish for about three months, but it was living in the sump under the floating refugium. He was HOSTING the intake of the Mag pump - which is nuts. lol Glad he was okay -- moved him up to the display and he lived happily for years.

I'm glad you found your tang and having it in the display should be good. He'll find things to eat with way more territory to forage in. I'd focus on regular feedings and hopefully see him get interested once more.
 
Grats on finding him alive :) hope the guy makes it. I have had the same experiences with my fire shrimp and sally lightfoot missing for weeks, then I suddenly see them. I had a brittle star make in to my refugium some how I found him this weekend.
 
i have a couple shrimp in my fuge. too much junk in there to get them out. they seem to be happy so they have their own little paradise to themselves.
 
Just to chime in with a similar story, I found my YWG in the sump after he was missing for a couple weeks. Managed to fish him out and put him back in the DT. Few days later I was cleaning the protein skimmer and there he is in the sump AGAIN. Tore apart everything, caught him, and returned him to the DT. After that, I couldn't find him for a while and feared for the worst. A couple months later I saw him in the refugium. I assume he had been down there the whole time. He was almost completely white. I put him back in the DT and he hid for a few days but eventually he started eating and was back to normal. I guess he learned his lesson because he hasn't been down there since.

Maybe reduce your lighting for a while to help him readjust. The sump is probably not nearly as bright as your DT. He should be OK. Good luck, little tang!
 
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