55 gallon reef aquarium in which you have had 3 pipefish they all disappeared without a trace do bury themselves the bottom substrate is crushed coral.?

It is unlikely that your pipefish buried themselves in the crushed coral substrate of your reef aquarium. Pipefish are not known for burying themselves in the substrate, and they typically inhabit areas with dense vegetation or coral growth where they can camouflage themselves and find food.

There are a few possible explanations for the disappearance of your pipefish:

1. Predation: Pipefish are preyed upon by larger fish, such as groupers, snappers, and moray eels. If there are any predators in your aquarium, they may have eaten your pipefish.

2. Disease: Pipefish can be susceptible to various diseases, such as bacterial infections, parasites, and nutritional deficiencies. If your pipefish were sick, they may have died and their bodies may have been consumed by other organisms in the aquarium.

3. Environmental factors: Poor water quality, such as high levels of ammonia or nitrite, or sudden changes in temperature or salinity, can stress pipefish and make them more susceptible to disease or predation. If the environmental conditions in your aquarium were not ideal, this could have contributed to the disappearance of your pipefish.

4. Stress and anxiety. Sometimes pipefish may become stressed or anxious, and as a response, hide away or bury themselves in the substrate. This is a more likely explanation if your substrate is fine-grained sand rather than crushed coral. However, it is unusual for all 3 pipefish to disappear at the same time.

5. Jumped out of the tank. Pipefish are known to be jumpers and if your aquarium does not have a secure lid, they may have jumped out and ended up on the floor or in another part of the room.

To prevent the disappearance of your pipefish in the future, it is important to:

1. Quarantine new animals: Before introducing any new animals to your aquarium, quarantine them for several weeks to ensure that they are healthy and disease-free.

2. Maintain good water quality: Regularly test the water quality in your aquarium and make sure that the ammonia and nitrite levels are zero, the nitrate level is below 20 ppm, and the pH is between 8.1 and 8.4.

3. Provide adequate food: Pipefish are carnivores and need to be fed live or frozen foods, such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, or chopped seafood.

4. Provide sufficient hiding places: Pipefish need places to hide from predators and feel secure. This can be provided by adding live rock, PVC pipes, or other decorations to your aquarium.

5. Avoid overcrowding: Overcrowding can stress pipefish and make them more susceptible to disease. Only keep a number of pipefish in your aquarium that the size of the tank can comfortably support.

By following these tips, you can help to ensure the health and well-being of your pipefish and prevent their disappearance in the future.