What could be happening with my inverts

[rfgonzo]

For the last month and a half I've been having issues with snails and also starfish. Nothing has died but at the same time nothing is moving around the tank everything is lethargic or flipping over. I have even purchased a few new snails just to see what happens. The new additions also stay put and do not move. At first I thought it might be stray voltage, after checking the voltage on a multimeter I read .008 in the DT, and sump. This is extremely low so obviously a non-issue. Then I checked for copper. I get zero copper on a salifert and also Hanna checker. I added a poly filter just to be sure, still no signs of copper. All parameters stay consistent last test was done on the 17th December.
Cal, 410
Alk, 8.9
Mag, 1250
Amm, 0
No3, .02
P04, .001
Salinity, 1.025
pH, 8.4
Temp, 78
Only thing I use for filtration is biological and also a skimmer, no other mechanical or chemical so I'm not concerned with stripping any Trace elements. I also do 32 gallon water changes weekly.
I have no clue at this point what else could be causing the issue. Nothing has died but obviously something is wrong the brittle star legs are even falling off.
There is plenty of algae in the tank so they're not starving, even more so now since they haven't been cleaning the tank.
All fish are perfectly fine no issues whatsoever.
I'm looking for any other suggestions.
I also thought I might have blown a heater but all four heaters are fine. I also changed all DI resin, membrane and cartridges in my rodi system just for Peace of mind.

 

[wrott]

Double check SG w/ a couple of different refractometers.
And low levels of Cu are undetectable(get ICP test if you want).
High Mg will definitely slow down snails--stop dosing if you are.

 

[rfgonzo]

The refractometer that I use is also used on my other systems that are thriving. SG's not the issue. All water changes come from the same water.

ICP test could be my next step.

My Mag is not on the high side.

And the other thoughts?

 

[Seasidenj]

Maybe high nitrites

 

[FoxFace Fish]

Just a opinion but in a month if nothing has died what’s the issue maybe they just like where they are

 

[rfgonzo]

Just a opinion but in a month if nothing has died what's the issue maybe they just like where they are

I don't believe starfish particularly care for their legs falling off. Just saying.....

 

[outssider]

how's the coral in that tank doing?....if it's cu/metal, they should be suffering too !!

 

[FoxFace Fish]

New plan wait for night and with a dim light check for parasites on the snails and starfish

 

[rfgonzo]

how's the coral in that tank doing?....if it's cu/metal, they should be suffering too !!

Coral and anemone were doing bad. Thats when I first suspected cu. I removed all coral and anemone to a diffrent tank and all are back to normal. I letf 1 GSP rock in the tank for observation, it still is completely closed up and suffering.
How would copper enter the tank? I have not added anythink to this tank in about 9 mo, except for water changes. I would think even if it was from my copper water lines in my house / RO/DI water and salt it would need to be a lot of copper leaching from the pipes. Plus it's the same water I use for all my other tanks that are doing great. I'm Stumped.....

 

[rfgonzo]

New plan wait for night and with a dim light check for parasites on the snails and starfish

Thanks, I've tried that, even searched for a possible mantis. Nothing

 

[outssider]

Coral and anemone were doing bad. Thats when I first suspected cu. I removed all coral and anemone to a diffrent tank and all are back to normal. I letf 1 GSP rock in the tank for observation, it still is completely closed up and suffering.
How would copper enter the tank? I have not added anythink to this tank in about 9 mo, except for water changes. I would think even if it was from my copper water lines in my house / RO/DI water and salt it would need to be a lot of copper leaching from the pipes. Plus it's the same water I use for all my other tanks that are doing great. I'm Stumped.....

it may not be copper, it could be some other metal. If you're running ro/di your copper pipes should not be the issue.....investigate pumps, heater and anything else in contact with the water in the tank

 

[artieg]

Predation?

 

[rfgonzo]

it may not be copper, it could be some other metal. If you're running ro/di your copper pipes should not be the issue.....investigate pumps, heater and anything else in contact with the water in the tank

I replaced all four heaters last week. I also checked all equipment and pumps. Everything looks fine, the only thing I did not check is my chiller.
Could the chiller possibly be the issue? If so I'm not even sure how I would check it.

 

[outssider]

I replaced all four heaters last week. I also checked all equipment and pumps. Everything looks fine, the only thing I did not check is my chiller.
Could the chiller possibly be the issue? If so I'm not even sure how I would check it.

If the chiller is made for aquarium use, it has titanium innards... So I don't see how that could be a problem but you're getting into an area I know little about. I have never heard of anyone ever complaining about their chiller contaminating their tank with oxidizing metal

 

[rfgonzo]

The chiller is made for aquariums. It is a AquaEuroUSA chiller. I'm gonna keep running GFO, Carbon and Poly filter pads and see what happens. If no change in a month. I will shut down and start all over.

 

[outssider]

The chiller is made for aquariums. It is a AquaEuroUSA chiller. I'm gonna keep running GFO, Carbon and Poly filter pads and see what happens. If no change in a month. I will shut down and start all over.

That's the same chiller I'm running.....