Something in the water??

[gjh289]

My current set up, live rock and 4 inch sand bed, has been running for over two months and is completely cycled as testing indicates. Here is the problem...Except for some blue leg crabs no other inverts seems to survive the first day. My water parameters are good and are as follows:

Salinity 1.025
Nitrite not detectable
Nitrate not detectable
Ammonia not detectable
phosphate not detectable
calcium 416
mag 1300
PH 7.9 - 8.1 swing between night and day
Temp steady 78

I have tried two cleaner shrimp, toadstool leather, sand sifting starfish, and numerous snails all dead within 24 hours. WHAT I AM MISSING????? I drip acclimate all critters for over an hour and have even tried up to four hours. I can not figure out what the heck is going on. Any ideas? oh and all fish are fat and happy with no issues (Perc x2, cleaner wrasse, yellow tang, green chromis) Thanks

 

[Ilsimen]

Maybe copper contamination?

 

[jener8tionx]

copper?

 

[chrisstie]

What're you using to measure your salinity?

 

[gjh289]

I have never used copper....ever. I'm also running carbon.

 

[gjh289]

refractometer

 

[israelnajar]

The only animals I have every dripped are fish. Try just temp acclimating. Float them for 15 minutes and then take them from the bag and put them straight into the tank.

 

[gjh289]

israelnajar, thats what I used to do years ago but since ordering online the directions ususally say to float, drip, or add a half cup every 15 min. Anything is worth a try at this point.

Also all the water I use is RODI with 0 TDS.

 

[bderos]

gjh289, i know this is off your topic but ive been trying to figure out a good website to order new animals and stuff...what website do you use?

I would try just floating the little guys for 15 minutes and then adding them to the tank...that's all I've ever done and i havent had a problem. Good luck and let us know what happens.

 

[gjh289]

http://www.reefs2go.com/

http://www.liveaquaria.com/

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/

 

[Icefire]

I would try a Poly filter or a copper test kit.

Where is the rock coming from?

 

[gjh289]

I purchase the rock from Tampa Bay Live Rock. It's all Florida rock.

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/

 

[gjh289]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14345087#post14345087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Icefire
I would try a Poly filter or a copper test kit.

Where is the rock coming from?

Thanks for the poly idea. I just ordered some.

 

[martinhal]

I would test for copper. You need to know what you are dealing with before you take any action to correct it.

 

[jener8tionx]

Although you didn't intentionally add copper, it could still be in there. Run carbon and test. A bunch of us aren't suggesting carbon for no reason.

 

[ejwasson]

I have a load of TBS rock. Is it possible you have a mantis shrimp, large gorilla crab, or even a rock crab that's killing stuff? I had all of the above.

Eric

 

[Skins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14344232#post14344232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gjh289
I have never used copper....ever. I'm also running carbon.

I'm not saying it's copper. However, just because you never dosed copper doesn't mean it cant get into the tank. Is your tank new? Used? If used, do you know who used it before? Did they dose copper. Was it used for freshwater? I won't even think of buying a used tank from someone I don't know if it was setup FW. The problem is the copper leaches into the silicone.

I put my inverts floating in the sump for 40-45 mins and use my refractometer pipette to squirt in some tank water every 5 mins.

 

[Skins]

Oh and something is seriously amiss if your toadstool died within days. They are very, very hardy.

 

[gjh289]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346244#post14346244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ejwasson
I have a load of TBS rock. Is it possible you have a mantis shrimp, large gorilla crab, or even a rock crab that's killing stuff? I had all of the above.

Eric

I know there are a couple smaller gorilla crabs tucked into the smaller holes in the rock work. Even though they are small I will try and get then out as I can. As for a mantis, I have never seen one but anything is possible. Thanks

 

[gjh289]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346279#post14346279 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Skins
Oh and something is seriously amiss if your toadstool died within days. They are very, very hardy.

The tank, acrylic, was purchased brand new by me and has never seen FW or copper. I couldn't agree more that the toadstools are hardy and something is very very amiss. WHAT IS IT? I'm slowly losing my mind here. Thanks for the reply.