snails/crabs dead

newfishie · 09/26/2007, 01:41 PM

My tank is 6 1/2 weeks old and I have added invertebrates (12 turbo [I think] snails, 12 hermit crabs, 4 emerald crabs, 4 conch snails) and fish (2 false clows and a royal gramma) only last week. The fish seem to do fine, but I've had a few invertebrate deaths already: 2 emerald crabs, 1 turbo, 1 conch and 2 hermits (I found their legs only).

Question: do you think this indicates a problem in my tank or are invertebrates not that hardy? Do the hermits molt? Also, would you take out the dead invertebrates or leave them in the tank. (I read the shells help the tank's calcium levels)...

My water parameters are:
1.0225 salinity, temp=82, ph=8.2, alkalinity=12.6, calcium approx. 400, ammonia=0, nitrite=0, nitrate=10-20.
(am most concerned about the temperature and the nitrate..)

arts007 · 09/26/2007, 03:01 PM

The temp is fine as long as its not swinging all over, Nitrates at that level should not kill them off like that-- Is this a new tank or used, was there any copper meds dosed in the tank ever, are you using RO/DI water?

newfishie · 09/26/2007, 04:50 PM

new tank. am using tap water with the aquarium pharmaceuticals tap water filter; no copper meds ..

09/26/2007, 01:41 PM	#1
newfishie Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 21	snails/crabs dead My tank is 6 1/2 weeks old and I have added invertebrates (12 turbo [I think] snails, 12 hermit crabs, 4 emerald crabs, 4 conch snails) and fish (2 false clows and a royal gramma) only last week. The fish seem to do fine, but I've had a few invertebrate deaths already: 2 emerald crabs, 1 turbo, 1 conch and 2 hermits (I found their legs only). Question: do you think this indicates a problem in my tank or are invertebrates not that hardy? Do the hermits molt? Also, would you take out the dead invertebrates or leave them in the tank. (I read the shells help the tank's calcium levels)... My water parameters are: 1.0225 salinity, temp=82, ph=8.2, alkalinity=12.6, calcium approx. 400, ammonia=0, nitrite=0, nitrate=10-20. (am most concerned about the temperature and the nitrate..)

09/26/2007, 03:01 PM	#2
arts007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 600	The temp is fine as long as its not swinging all over, Nitrates at that level should not kill them off like that-- Is this a new tank or used, was there any copper meds dosed in the tank ever, are you using RO/DI water? __________________ Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99% perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad. Current Tank Info: 120g SPS reef tank. 2x 400 watt Reeflux 12k on lumenbrights

09/26/2007, 04:50 PM	#3
newfishie Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 21	new tank. am using tap water with the aquarium pharmaceuticals tap water filter; no copper meds ..