I agree, if it died crabs/bristleworms would not waste any time at it... If you have a reasonable-enough volume of water it shouldn't matter that much if it's just a single fish. (reasonable-enough volume depends on the maturity, but likely 50+ gallons and you're good... my 300+ gallons I wouldn't think a bit about it -- except that it does suck to lose a fish)

.... If it is alive, then it'll come out at some point.

OK, I ripped most of the tank apart; no trace of my tang. It's as if he found a portal to someone else's tank....

I tested the water, and all the params were normal; the Ca and Alk were a little low, so I did a 10% water change. I plan on testing the water religiously every couple of days. over the next couple of weeks.

Question for canreefers: what is an indication of a dead fish in the tank? High ammonia? High nitrates? High PO4?

cyano

I would say that moving rocks around and stirring crap up in your tank would cause more harm than a missing fish. Plus you most likely stressed out the other fish while doing so. It's best to let nature take its course. People worry way too much in this hobby.

^ +1

+1

Did you look behind the tank? Maybe it jumped? Or.. CUC did its job.

There's no way he could've jumped; I have a pretty good cover.

I think it's the CUC. I'm still clinging to the remote hope that he might mysteriously reappear...