OMG 2 fish dead

[keith10]

I don't understand it. I got home from work to find my 6-line wrasse and my Royal Gramma dead. Being eaten by the clean-up crew.

The first thing I did was check my perimeters. 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, Ph 8.3, 1.030 Specific Gravity. 0 nitrates.

I don't have a phosphate test yet. The tank is 3 months old

My tank is a 37 gallon reef. 30 pounds of LR, 10 pounds of LS, Falco Hawkfish, Percula clown, Banded coral shrimp, 20 blue legged hermits, 20 assorted snails, 1-emerald crab Small serpent star.

I feed the tank once a day.I saw the hawkfish eat a hermit crab. I think he has been nipping the legs of the starfish.

Can I get some feedback from you kind folks. I am tending to blame the hawkfish. Could the tank be over crowded?

 

[Antics]

I think its hard to say with any certainty what killed them. I've known emerald crabs and coral bandeds to catch and eat fish. Both clowns and hawkfish can be aggressive towards tank mates. I personally don't think those 4 fish in a 37 gallon is overstocked, but everyone has their own opinions on stock levels.

How old were the fish, when were they introduced, etc.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Your SG is really high. It should be between 1.024-1.026. What are you measuring your salinity with?

 

[keith10]

I'm not sure on the age. They were both about an inch in length. The last time I feed the tank, everyone seemed to eat.

 

[keith10]

Thanks for the reply. I am beside myself. I thought I was doing everything right.
I am measuring it with a standard hydrometer.

 

[Grkgod36]

Thanks for the reply. I am beside myself. I thought I was doing everything right.
I am measuring it with a standard hydrometer.

your salinity as mentioned above is very high ,get rid of that junk hydrometer and do your self a favor and get a refractometer,

could be due to the salinity,i know when my salinity creeped up at that level my yellow tang was on its deathbed. by the time i figured it out, i was able to take it down and save him

 

[DLreef]

If the fish were only an inch long, I would blame the coral banded shrimp. They are not reef safe and can easily kill a small fish. Emerald crabs are as peaceful as they get IMO.

 

[keith10]

YOU FOLKS ROCK. 10 years ago I had a 90 gallon reef and this site was instrumental in the success I had with the tank. Then the dreaded aptasia outbreak whipped it out. It is a blessing that there are such great folks here to help. THANKS

I will knock the salinity down as soon as I get home tonight.

 

[evan47]

I wouldnt take it down too much in one go it will do more harm than good.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

YOU FOLKS ROCK. 10 years ago I had a 90 gallon reef and this site was instrumental in the success I had with the tank. Then the dreaded aptasia outbreak whipped it out. It is a blessing that there are such great folks here to help. THANKS

I will knock the salinity down as soon as I get home tonight.

I saw something that said you don't want to change more than .01 a day on salinity. Someone who is not a complete newbie might weigh in. I think rapidly up or down one is worst then the other, but I forgot which one.

Sorry about the loss good luck

 

[li76]

When my Falco Hawk developed a taste for shrimp, he had to go.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

If the fish were only an inch long, I would blame the coral banded shrimp. They are not reef safe and can easily kill a small fish. Emerald crabs are as peaceful as they get IMO.

Yes, they can and will catch and eat fish.

I wouldnt take it down too much in one go it will do more harm than good.

Yes, do it slowly over the next couple of days.

As mentioned, ditch the hydrometer and buy a refractometer.

 

[Grandlotus]

...whoa that is a super high salt level!

I check my salinity weekly along with Alk and Calicum, ect.

 

[heathlindner25]

If the fish were only an inch long, I would blame the coral banded shrimp. They are not reef safe and can easily kill a small fish. Emerald crabs are as peaceful as they get IMO.

"Peaceful " and" emerald crab" are two words that should never be in the same sentence.
Lost over $300 worth of acans to an emerald crab.... still hurts

 

[Marchillo]

When you top off your tank are you topping off with regular RODI water or mixed salt water. You should top off with fresh rodi not saltwater as salt stays behind. Not trying to state the obvious here. But just in case. I didn't know that at first.