I have a question

ray Meadows · 02/19/2008, 10:03 AM

I have not been able to keep any snails alive in my tank since set up about 4months ago. Yesterday I posted on my LRC about my strange snail behavior and I may have got a answer. I was told that since my tank was bought used that the original owner may have used a non aquarium silicone. I beleive it may be in my sump. I was just wanting to know if there was anyway of letting the silicone run its course and I might be able to add something to absorb what ever it is leeching into my water.and do regular water changes.everything else in my tank is great from my fish to all my corals to my crabs. It only seems to affect my snails. So right now I am doing the best job I can at keeping the tank clean myself. If anyone has an idea let me know.
THANKS ALOT
Ray

OranguTang · 02/19/2008, 10:13 AM

I highly doubt that to be the case. Are you testing for nitrates? Any other inverts in there?

ray Meadows · 02/19/2008, 10:27 AM

Yes I have sand sifter. If my nitrates were hi wouldnt my corals suffer.

techigirl78 · 02/19/2008, 10:27 AM

What kind of snails are you getting? Some are cold water. Since you can keep corals and crabs, I think it may have more to do with the snails.

ray Meadows · 02/19/2008, 10:32 AM

I have lost everything from turbos to aster snails that is all Ihave tried so far. My water temp is 78 to 80

stingythingy45 · 02/19/2008, 10:40 AM

The fact that you stated"non aquarium silicone".Non aquarium silicone has a mold/mildew inhibitor blended into it.I'm not sure what this would do to you snails.But it could definitely be a factor.
What do you mean by"I think it's in the sump"?

ray Meadows · 02/19/2008, 11:13 AM

the guy jerry riged the return bulk head .I think he put it in backwards and then he siliconed the you no what out of it inside and out. All the other improvements we made to the sump we used aquarium silicone bought at our lfs. could I put some kind of a bag of chemical absorbent in there. I'm already running carbon in there right now.

stingythingy45 · 02/19/2008, 11:26 AM

The problem is,even if you use something like Chemi-clean,Chemi-pure it's still going to leach out.Even copper will leach out of silicone for yrs.
How long do the snails live before they die?
Are you acclimating them with a drip for at least 1 1/2-2 hrs?
Just looking for what might be another cause.
You don't have any copper/brass fittings anywhere do you?

ray Meadows · 02/19/2008, 12:42 PM

no copper or brass fittings they don't just die. The last snail I put in is still alive just paralized. It ate some alge and moved around in the tank for about 6 hours. Then it just does not move eat or do anything. And it might take a week or two for it to die but you can see it moving inside of its shell.sometimes it will look like they are almost trying to get rid of there shells. like ther flexing there body out of their shell. And yes I am acclimating for a good 1 to 2 hours

OranguTang · 02/19/2008, 01:13 PM

Water change schedule? How often are you testing water? Filtration?

Gotta look at the entire picture

ray Meadows · 02/19/2008, 02:40 PM

I normally do a 20gal water change every month. And I test at least once a week. Iclean my skimmer cup about every four days. I also run phosgaurd a bag of de nitrafier ahd carbon in my sump

02/19/2008, 10:03 AM	#1
ray Meadows Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 9	I have a question I have not been able to keep any snails alive in my tank since set up about 4months ago. Yesterday I posted on my LRC about my strange snail behavior and I may have got a answer. I was told that since my tank was bought used that the original owner may have used a non aquarium silicone. I beleive it may be in my sump. I was just wanting to know if there was anyway of letting the silicone run its course and I might be able to add something to absorb what ever it is leeching into my water.and do regular water changes.everything else in my tank is great from my fish to all my corals to my crabs. It only seems to affect my snails. So right now I am doing the best job I can at keeping the tank clean myself. If anyone has an idea let me know. THANKS ALOT Ray

02/19/2008, 10:13 AM	#2
OranguTang NULL Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 977	I highly doubt that to be the case. Are you testing for nitrates? Any other inverts in there? __________________ -Marc

02/19/2008, 10:40 AM	#6
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	The fact that you stated"non aquarium silicone".Non aquarium silicone has a mold/mildew inhibitor blended into it.I'm not sure what this would do to you snails.But it could definitely be a factor. What do you mean by"I think it's in the sump"? __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

02/19/2008, 11:26 AM	#8
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	The problem is,even if you use something like Chemi-clean,Chemi-pure it's still going to leach out.Even copper will leach out of silicone for yrs. How long do the snails live before they die? Are you acclimating them with a drip for at least 1 1/2-2 hrs? Just looking for what might be another cause. You don't have any copper/brass fittings anywhere do you? __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

02/19/2008, 01:13 PM	#10
OranguTang NULL Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 977	Water change schedule? How often are you testing water? Filtration? Gotta look at the entire picture __________________ -Marc

02/19/2008, 10:27 AM	#3
ray Meadows Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 9	Yes I have sand sifter. If my nitrates were hi wouldnt my corals suffer.

02/19/2008, 10:27 AM	#4
techigirl78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,739	What kind of snails are you getting? Some are cold water. Since you can keep corals and crabs, I think it may have more to do with the snails.

02/19/2008, 10:32 AM	#5
ray Meadows Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 9	I have lost everything from turbos to aster snails that is all Ihave tried so far. My water temp is 78 to 80

02/19/2008, 11:13 AM	#7
ray Meadows Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 9	the guy jerry riged the return bulk head .I think he put it in backwards and then he siliconed the you no what out of it inside and out. All the other improvements we made to the sump we used aquarium silicone bought at our lfs. could I put some kind of a bag of chemical absorbent in there. I'm already running carbon in there right now.

02/19/2008, 12:42 PM	#9
ray Meadows Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 9	no copper or brass fittings they don't just die. The last snail I put in is still alive just paralized. It ate some alge and moved around in the tank for about 6 hours. Then it just does not move eat or do anything. And it might take a week or two for it to die but you can see it moving inside of its shell.sometimes it will look like they are almost trying to get rid of there shells. like ther flexing there body out of their shell. And yes I am acclimating for a good 1 to 2 hours

02/19/2008, 02:40 PM	#11
ray Meadows Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 9	I normally do a 20gal water change every month. And I test at least once a week. Iclean my skimmer cup about every four days. I also run phosgaurd a bag of de nitrafier ahd carbon in my sump