problems...

Discussion in 'ASAP' started by Jason, May 30, 2003.

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  1. Jason

    Jason Plankton

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    Over the couse of the past month and a half I have lost three margarita snails and today I came home and found my emerald crab dead. Each time the same thing happens, i check the tank in the morning and they're all moving around eating algae and that evening they're upside down and dead. I checked my water parameters and everything is ok (alk, nitrite, ammonia, nitrate), and the rest of my livestock, which consists of 5 reef hermits, 4 other margarita snails, a scooter blenny, and a bunch of copepods and peanut worms, is all doing fine. Does anyone have any ideas? ???
     
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  3. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    Hmmm... how old is the sandbed? Medicate your tank at all prior? Copper? :-/
     
  4. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

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    Hi Jason,
    I have a few question
    What is the actual readings your getting for Amm,Nitrite,Nitrate. What is the SG?
    What is the Temp in the Tank
    How old is the tank
    How much LR do you have?
    What is the source of your water?

    J
     
  5. Jason

    Jason Plankton

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    Ammonia 0
    Nitrites 0
    Nitrates 5-10 ppm
    SG 1.024
    PH 8.1
    Temperature 74-76 F
    The tank is a year old, the live rock has been in for 10 months
    30 lbs of live rock
    Water source is deionized tap water

    I've never medicated the tank.
     
  6. Jason

    Jason Plankton

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    I just retested and the ph is 8.4, nitrates are right at 5 ppm, everything else is the same
     
  7. Craig Manoukian

    Craig Manoukian Giant Squid

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    How many gallons is your tank?
     
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  9. Wrassman

    Wrassman Peppermint Shrimp

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    Mar 9, 2003
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    Stockbridge, GA,Georgia
    [glow=Green, 2, 90%]Hey Jason,

    Check the Alkalinity of your tank. It's probably a little low. With snails dying like that, that is usually the cause (if everything else has been ruled out).

    I don't know what to tell you about the Mithrax sp. I lost a Sally Lightfoot like that one day. Only thing in the tank that died. Was eating great the day before. Sometimes tank deaths are just mysteries.

    But, I would check into the alkalinity. Don't get just an el-cheapo kit; get a FasTest or a Seachem Marine pH and Alkalinity kit. They aren't expensive, and they will give you some much needed information (like what your dKH is).

    HTH[/glow]
     
  10. karlas

    karlas Fire Goby

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    i agree with wrasseman check the alkalinity this is one major thing that people seem to miss alot. maby try up your ph to 8.2-8.3 its not much of a raise but it might make a difference not sure but i would try it