It's been alright, I actually have dark brown hair but for some reason that picture decided it was black that day haha. Glad to hear that you haven't had any other deaths. Im still confused when it comes to my snails..
I checked the calc, alk and mag just two days ago and all were pretty good. I don't have the exact parameters right in front of me but if memory serves correctly, calcium was about 370, alk was 8.1 and mag was around 1200. mag is a little low but not too low right? I do weekly water changes and I use instant ocean reef crystals. Should I dose in tiny amounts maybe once a week? My snails are soo lethargic and havent moved from the same spot in going on 5 days now which means they are not eating. I know they are not dead bc their foot is indeed attached to the glass right above the sand. If I hold them up to the glass gently with my hand they will attach to the glass but if i place them on the sand they act like it hurts their foot to touch the sand just like you were describing. It is so strange. It's not like there isn's anything for them to eat either, there is plenty of algae from me possibly over feeding a bit. Any thoughts on my siutation would be appreciated. ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero and nitrate is less than 5ppm. temp is 78 and sg is 1.025.
Yep, all the params are fine but the Mg and Ca are kinda on the lower side. Try dose some very slowly and in tiny amounts. The Instant Ocean is supposed to be high in Mg, so just add small, if so... Make sure the tests are actually accurate first.
I almost aways have undetectable nitrates/phosphates.
My specific gravity is 1023. Yours, at 1.025, is more favorable to the Mg.
To me the major concerns with the snail's problem in discussion could be:
1) Quantity of snails per system.
If too many in a small system, normally less food...
I've had tons of snails in a 55gal. system for years reproducing like crazy when I had metal halides. Plenty algae!! Was a very well balance system. So it's relative.
2) Temperature and water chemistry (Ca, Mg, Alk, Sr).
Balance needed. Stability is good in the long run. I've also had Turbo snails for long time in a system with stable temperature around 80°F+ (again, metal halides). I do believe that in a lower temp. they tend to do best. I find them in the low temperature environments in the wild.
3) Snails' size and species. Turbo snails tend to have the problem more than any other species I've tied. The problem happens more often with adults than with juveniles IME. Trochus spp. are probably among the best to keep.
4) Lack of the right algae for them. There are some species of micro algae that the snails just don't eat. most of them are green. They like when the brown algae is in abundance IME. So many times, when the system is still getting mature, the presence of brown algae is great for the snails. With the time the system tends to have more green algae than brown algae. The number of snails per gallons should decrease.
5) Good water flow with great dissolved oxygen. Pumps towards the surface are great for that, specially when there is no sump. The drop in the overflow helps to add oxygen in the water.
6) Normally crystal clear water is also good for them!! I'm using carbon more often lately (not too much!) and making sure the water changes are doing it's job replenishing trace elements. I also add some amino acids for my zoas and I believe that helps some of the snails' needs (?). A good skimmer will also be a great help here with the constant removal of dissolved organics!
7) The presence of phosphates will help the algae to be there for the snails, yes. I know that is checked when I'm feeding the fishes and zoas, and I know that phosphates shouldn't be in excess, so the balance needs to be reached. Common sense.
I don't ignore the possibility of bacterial infection on their feet. And If so, that would be probably related to their immune system with lack of elements like Mg in the water and/or temp. Of course could be related to more than 2 aspects and that is still a great question mark in my head!!!
Monitoring Mg and alkalinity were the major changes I've done to test for the problem. I see them as the best easy solution, generally speaking.
The combination of factors and stability are very important.
Hope that helps a bit.
Good luck to you!
Grandis.
