MISSING: Copperband Butterfly

[Joycerino]

Hello all,

Before posting, I'd like to thank you all as you have been instrumental in setting up my first reef tank.

I've had my tank up and running for approximately 6 months. Prior to asking, here are my system params/stocking list.

135 gal display tank
65 gal sump with skimmer/ fuge with chaeto and live rock.
120 lbs live sand
100 lbs live rock

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
Phosphate-0
Calcium-420
Salinity - 1.024
Temp-78.5

Lighting T5 Quad

Stock:
Hippo Tang
Yellow tang
Pair of Ocellaris clowns
Sand sifting goby
Flame Angel
Copperband Butterfly?!?!?

10 Hermit Crabs
2 Scarlet banded cleaner shrimp
3 emerald crabs
5 turbo snails
5 Tongan nassarius snails
10 small snails (Unk species)

Zoa colony
Green star polyps
Xenia
Flower pot corals
Fuzzy mushrooms
Branching hammer corals

So, approximately 2 weeks ago I purchased a copperband butterfly, after watching him eat frozen food and watching him in the lfs for a few days.

A week later, the copperband was eating frozen food and was staying at the opposite end of the tank as my tangs (my yellow is a little bossy and territorial over his side).

Long story short, I returned from a three day trip and noticed my copperband was missing... As in, gone. As in, without a trace. I have a tight fitting lid, and there is no way he could fit into my overflows. All of my other fish, corals, inverts are happy and healthy.

I have used a flashlight to check every crevice and cave with no avail. He is totally MIA. Is it possible he died after I left and my clean up crew has totally erased his existence with the precision of the wolf (Pulp Fiction reference)?

Should I give it another day or two? Is it possible he is just hiding? Sorry for the questions. I've been in freshwater for 10 years but fairly new to reefkeeping.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated....

The only change I made in my system prior to leaving for the weekend was dosing the tank with "Purple Up"

Thanks,

CJ

 

[Joycerino]

Sorry for the terrible format.... I posted using tapatalk on my phone. Obviously not a ringing endorsement.

 

[EllieSuz]

A clean up crew can decimate a fish carcass overnight.

 

[snorvich]

CBB need peaceful tank mates and those tangs may not be. (Purple up does nothing useful).

 

[Joycerino]

Thanks, I guess I've resolved myself to the fact that my CBB has gone the way of old yeller.

He was quickly becoming my favorite

Anyone have experience with foxfaces? Maybe I could give that a try with my softies and lps.

Also, the lfs told me if my calc and KH were in check, that my mag levels could be causing the lack if coralline algae growth. He suggested trying purple up prior to dosing mag. He said they've had good experience with it.

I'm no chemist. I just play one at home.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

There is a good chance that the yellow tang and/or the flame angel harassed the cbb, it died, and the cleanup crew polished it off.

 

[snorvich]

Also, the lfs told me if my calc and KH were in check, that my mag levels could be causing the lack if coralline algae growth. He suggested trying purple up prior to dosing mag. He said they've had good experience with it.

I'm no chemist. I just play one at home.

What are your calcium, alkalinity, magnesium levels? Testing weekly is best.

 

[Joycerino]

dkh @ 10
Calc @ 420

I test weekly, but I don't test for mag. I do water changes every other week with instant ocean reef crystals which I'm told should have kept my mag in check.

 

[Donkeykong]

Do you have any coraline currently? With proper cal alk and mag levels coraline will spread as long as it has a source. Stuff like purple up is not needed and just something else to sell people. If you have no rock with any coraline, I would get a piece form your LFS that has a good amount of purple and place that in your tank. As for the CBB, the clean up crew had a good weekend. Sorry but that is probably the best bet on that.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

You should test the mag as well. Scrape any coralline algae off the tank walls and it will float around and spread to the rocks.