Clown disappeared

[underpar]

Hi,

About six months ago, I added two true percs to a 95 gallon reef system. At the time, the only other fish were two green chromis. After about one month, one of the clowns just disappeared, leaving no visible remains. Two months ago, I added a flame hawkfish and an exquisite wrasse. All has been well until today; the other clown has also disappeared.

Any thoughts on what might be happening?

Thanks, Fred

 

[Arati]

Did you check the overflow?

Is the tank covered?

Do you have cats,dogs or kids?

How big was this most recent one?

Maybe a Mantis but they usually leave a mess, and most spearers are small.

 

[reefbegood]

maybe he did a free willy

 

[underpar]

I've got good news to report and then some.............

I checked the overflow and, sure enough, lurking near the surface was a little clown. So, with net in hand, I tried to fish the little bugger back to the other side. He retreated into deeper waters necessitating a flashlight to aid in the recovery. Would you believe that when I shown the light down into the return chamber, there were two clowns swimming around. The first missing clown has been there all this time. Getting them out was a bit tricky, but both are safely home.

What bothers me somewhat is my failure to problem solve as thoroughly as I might have done. It never occurred to me to check the overflow. One of a reefer's lesson-to-be-learned!!!

Thanks for your help, Fred

 

[basser1]

Don't feel too bad. Us "All-in-One" tank owners have this problem with our tanks! It's common for clowns to go"chamber diving" in the rear chambers. I've solved it by cutting some plastic gutter guard to fit the chambers and have not had any more missing clowns!