Snails dying - need help

[mjwz06]

I can't figure out why my snails are dying. Three of my turbos have died in the past two weeks. What's left in my 90g tank are about 3 turbos, 5 astreas, and 3 nassarius. I've also noticed my serpent star isn't doing well.

But, I have 2 peppermint shrimp that are doing fine, and my hermit crabs seem to be ok too.

Tank specs:

90g w/ 15g sump
100 lbs LR
protein skimmer
MP40 powerhead

salinity: 1.027
pH: 8.2
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 5-10 ppm
phosphates 0
7.9 dkh
Calcium 390 ppm
Copper 0 ppm

Bioload:

1 yellow tang
1 clown
2 damsels
1 diamond watchman goby

2 peppermint shrimp (definitely ok)
3 turbos (dying)
5 astreas (dying)
3 nassarius (dying)
10 red hermits (ok?)
2 emerald crabs (ok?)
1 serpent star (dying?)

Frogspawn, buttons, GSP, mushrooms


The tank has been up for about 6 months. I've had the CUC for the last 5 months. I have plenty of brown algae (or diatoms), so I don't think they are starving to death. So much, in fact, that it's started to take over my green star polyps...the GSP was doing so well, but now it barely shows itself anymore.

I'm using RO/DI water, with 15% changes every 2 weeks.


Here are some possible explanations:

1. About 2 months ago, I stirred up all the detritus in my sump by mistake. The detritus covered everything, and triggered the massive algae growth. But my ammonia and nitrates continued to test low, so I wasn't too concerned. Although this is when my GSP started to act up.

2. I had a metal hose clamp in my sump, which started to rust. But I removed it two weeks ago and bought a Copper test kit. The test results are consistently 0 ppm.

3. I've been topping off with RO/DI once a week (when my sump gets low). I used to slowly pour the water into the sump with a cup. I've since gotten lazy, and pour the bucket of RO/DI directly into my DT. But either way, it's about 3-4 gallons at once. So I didn't think it would matter.

3. I feed once a day (twice on the weekends). I try to rotate between: frozen bloodworms, mysis, and brine shrimp, as well as nori, Formula 2 pellets and flake food.

Your thoughts and tips are appreciated!!

Thanks,

 

[fatdaddy]

Sounds like your nutrient rich.

Can you pump out the detritus from the sump on your next WC? I use a small powerhead w/ 1/2" hose for doing this.

You could try a large WC, but I'm not sure what else.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Where are you taking your water from for your tests? Take it from the bottom of the tank to do the water tests.

 

[mjwz06]

Sounds like your nutrient rich.

Can you pump out the detritus from the sump on your next WC? I use a small powerhead w/ 1/2" hose for doing this.

I siphoned most of the detritus out during the last WC. And I've been using a toothbrush to clean the rocks right before each of my WCs too.

Excess nutrients will explain the algae problem, but would this explain the dying snails?

Where are you taking your water from for your tests? Take it from the bottom of the tank to do the water tests.

Interesting idea. I've been taking my water from the top, but I will try this tonight. Thanks!

 

[mallorieGgator]

I was taking my water from the top as well and was getting zero readings but having diatom bloom, and green algae accompanied with my cycle. My LFS told me to take readings from the bottom of the tank and whatta ya know, I was in the middle of the tank cycle!

 

[Floowid]

3 to 4 gallons of fresh water is quite a lot for a 90 gallon system at one time and can cause your salinity to waver. Having your salinity off is bad, but having it change constantly or rapidly is very bad. Consider topping off regularly, daily would be best, and adding some type of auto top off system is preferred. Starfish are probably one of the animals most easily affected by rapid changes in salinity.

Now snails, they come and go. They get eaten, they fall on their backs and die, and get eaten. They are like little mobile snacks just waiting to be eaten. If you have hermit crabs, there go a couple snails. If you are never righting snails, there go a couple more. You can't always diagnose a problem in your tank from dead snails.

 

[gonpostal]

3 to 4 gallons of fresh water is quite a lot for a 90 gallon system at one time and can cause your salinity to waver.

+1. It's not a good idea to let your salinity fluctuate constantly. Only topping off once a week is definitely not good. I'd suggest getting an ATO system, you'll be glad you did. If not, try to top off every day.

 

[Sk8r]

autotopoff.com has reasonably priced dual float switches. Your salinity is best kept between 1.024-6.