Need help cuc dying off!

You should also check out The Ocean Connection on Portland near the hospital. They don't have the pretty set-up of the reef shoppe, but the owner (Steven) is very friendly and helpful.

If you want to meet more of the local reefers check out the Upstate Reef Society forum located at http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=117. They are planning a local frag swap in February.
 
yeah, the cracking is something you might hear more frequently with lights off, and they can be nasty.

If the snails pretty much sat in the same spot out of the bag, it sounds like something(copper) in the tank, or something(ammonia filled water) in the bag did them in upon their arrival.

And about the rotting snails and crab. I think with a few snails, in that size tank, they should be ok, and will become food for your shrimp most-likely. The crab might concern me depending on size. Can you use a powerhead in-hand, used to "blow" out the snails? It would definitely be better to have them out, although for 2-3 snails on that system, im sure it could process it fairly well. The question mark in my mind is the crab depending on size.
 
well you have to eliminate all possibilities
how many and what type of hermits do you have if any ?
it is possible the emerald killed them and now after a large feast is molting they can be opportunistic feeders
 
the crab was fairly small he was only about 1/2 inch i am going to try to suck him out during the water change tonight. problem is he is perfectly wedged under a rock due to me trying to get him out already
 
That is the other reason i would like to get the crab that i believe is dead out to see if its just a molt. I figure its dead since all my snails have died. I do not have any hermits as the LFS advised against them since theyt are opprotunistic.
 
I did get the Emerald crab out finally. Its a shame he was a really cute little guy! What do you guys think eventually about adding another sometime? I hear crabs really arent the greatest in a reef
 
Personally, I stay away from crabs in my tank (and my personal life..lol). They wiped out all my snails in my last set up. Some might be ok but I say why risk it.
 
What do you suggest as a good CUC for a 120 with 29 gallon sump. I apparently had pretty high nitrates and low alk so my LFS said and he also said that when I do my water change which I just got done with these numbers will rise. He also told me that my salinity was a little high at 1.027 but said that shouldnt have killed off my snails and my emerald.
 
ok, what low alkalinity will do is allow VERY EASILY for swings in parameters. That may be part of the reason, and if your nitrates were up(may take quite a few WC's) that could also be the reason.

I would say maybe 30 ceriths, 10 turbos, and 30 dwarf blue-leggers. I know some people don't like the hermits, but I think the dwarf species stay small enough that if you throw a few small empty snail shells, you should be ok. I'd also add a brittle or serpent star, maybe 2, and something that sifts and moves sand pretty well. I have 2 sand-sifting cucumbers, you can use sand-sifting goby or stars.
 
IMHO, a cleanup crew needs something to eat. Or they turn on each other in hunger. I watched my first cleanup crew eat each other while the first forum said don't feed them. My tank was very clean at the time. I do think you need to slow down. Make sure you are well thru the cycle. Then slowly add livestock. Let your tank tell you that you need cleaners. When it starts growing algae, then add a few snails.
 
Yea I think I will hold off on cleaners for now! I do however have some hair algae thats why I was adding the snails! Do you guys know if its normal for 1 of my fish to be a little skittish after a water change. This is the first change that Ive done with them in the tank and all my parameters IE Temp and Salinity were perfectly matched. The female clown is acting normal but my male is hanging right behind his favorite cave. They both are relatively skittish when someone walks by the tank as they are pretty new Ive had em a week now!
 
I would think normal. It may also take them a while to recognize YOU vs. just a big mass moving past the tank. Over time I am sure they will get used to you and this process.
 
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