Undiscovered Dead Fish

[quake120]

I did a quick inventory of my fish the other day and I noticed my fire fish was nowhere to be found. He tends to hide in rocks, so I figured that's why I couldn't see him. Well, I still haven't seen him and my other fish were acting lethargic, so I checked my tank levels:
Ammonia: 0.25PPM :eek:
Nitrite: 0
SG: ~1.023
Temp: 79F
Nitrate: 20PPM
Well, I figured since my ammonia level is up, I assume the fire fish died.
I have checked EVERYWHERE in the tank for him, and short of digging up the entire sand bed, I've checked every crevice for him. I suppose my watchman goby and pistol shrimp could have dragged his carcass under the sand, but who knows. I found a dead Aastrea snail, but I've never had much of an ammonia spike if they die and go a day or two without me noticing.
What options do I have here? Big water change to just keep the ammonia low until the fish decays and is no longer an issue? A complete tear down and rebuild of the tank? An ammonia additive to keep it in check?

[tkeracer619]

I would start with a large water change. The bigger the better.

Some have added water conditioner that makes the ammonia less harmful but a water change is important.

[hollister]

Readings not so important with fish. But oxygen is. Be sure you have good water flow and no lid.

[philosophile]

Check behind your tank... Firefish are jumpers. It probably jumped and is now a mummified version of its former self on the floor sonewhere.

[Triton_Z]

A large water change would be the best option. Seachem Prime could help detoxify the ammonia. I would check your ammonia with another kit, grab one of those in-tank dials or test against the water in your tap. Sometimes kits give unreliable readings. Are you running a skimmer on this tank? Make sure it's clean and working properly.

Give the newly mixed saltwater at least 24 hours to stabilize. I try to age my fresh mixed water for a few days. Aerate the new water as much as possible.

Good Luck.

[Whisperer]

This is when clean up crew get into action. Shrimp, crab, carnivorous snails would have consumed the carcass with hardly any dent in your water parameter.

[J2T]

Yeah, I would be surprised that a firefish would cause a spike like that if a CUC is in place. Sadly I had an Algae Blenny disappear but I never saw a spec of him, I'm assuming the crew took care of his body and I never saw any readings out of line and he was bigger than any firefish I have seen.

[snorvich]

This is when clean up crew get into action. Shrimp, crab, carnivorous snails would have consumed the carcass with hardly any dent in your water parameter.

I cannot stress how important this is.

[Lynnmw1208]

I cannot stress how important this is.

+1 on that. A dead fish doesn't stay for one day in my tank. I rarely have to net anything out because the hermits and nassarius snails take care of it.