Snails Died?!

About 2wks ago I bought 8 snails from a LFS to get a jump on some of the algae that I had, I have a order from Reefcleaners.com coming in but I figured whats 8 more, now i'm scared that when they come in the will all die. I noticed that 1 or 2 the other day where behind the main rocks and haven't moved, now theres about 5 back behind the rocks and haven't moved in about 2 or 3 days?? They defiantly did a good job cleaning, theres still more algae so I know they didnt starve, what could have caused this? Ammonia about .25 on Red Sea,Ammonia 0 on API, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, PH 8.2, ALK in the normal range 1.7-2.8. Now I mainly see only 1 moving around. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I have 2 clownfish and I just got a Blue tang right before this happened. I check out the tank a lot even at night and thats when I saw these little translucent shrimp kinda things, 2 long tenticles out of the head and little legs, ill try to catch one next time I see one... I think I saw one just attack a snail? I have also found some red looking fuzzy worms, also some worms that are thread thin and clear with white dots going down a couple times, I've also found 2 or 3 starfish and what I think is a bristle or serpant starfish. but they have been there a while. sorry for the long post but I don't want to waste the order of snails I have coming in. Also I bought this tank second hand and haven't messed with the plumbing, inline with the output is a metal fiting to attach a hose, I believe its brass, ill be removing that tomorrow.

 

If you have Nh3, thats a problem. Any kind of metal is also a problem.


Luna

 

What's your salinity/specific gravity?

What type of algae were they eating and how much algae was there to begin with. Some algaes have toxins.

Also, sometimes snails will eat a bunch and then won't move for a couple of days. If you pull GENTLY on the shell, do they pull right off the rock or do they grab ahold of the rock harder?

 

I've had snails sit inthe same spot for 2 or 3 days without moving and then all the sudden they start back up cleaning again. I dont know why they do this but it seems par for the course in my tank.

 

I believe it was brown Diatom's but there a little longer and clumpy sometimes, also its really dark? also the snails are just laying in the bottom of the tank, some were upside down but I flipped them over just in case.

 

How old is your tank?



Luna

 

When I get new snails they sometimes get flipped over for the first few days. After that I normally only have to flip a snail once a week or so. Turbos are dumb and my sand is very fine so when they fall they sort of get stuck in the sand.

 

I set it up in Sept, and then moved the aquarium to a new stand 3wks ago about 1wk before I got the snails.