What Hyposalinity will kill?

[fingersdlp]

The about.com web site has an article on osmotic shock thearapy / hyposalinity. It was interesting to me that it claimed hard shelled snails and hermit crabs will survive it.

This is different from many opinions I have read here. Anyone know from experience if snails and hermit crabs will survive hypo?

Also will coralline on some rock survive? I know any inverts on/in the rock will not but this rock is pretty much dead except for coralline and hair algea and a few pods. I want to leave it in for its filtration benefits.

Opinions?

Thanks

Brian

 

[kevin2000]

Do you have a link to that article?

 

[fingersdlp]

Here is the link:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bl_hypokills.htm

Brian

 

[Psionicdragon]

Almost all inverts won't survive hyposalinity. From personal experience, some nass snails have survived hypo.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

I have had snails survive also

 

[fingersdlp]

Thanks, anyone have red or blue leg hermit crabs survive?

Brian

 

[CamBarr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7557136#post7557136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psionicdragon
Almost all inverts won't survive hyposalinity. From personal experience, some nass snails have survived hypo.

.

The reason that snails have a better change of surviving is because they are inter-tidal animals. They can handle moderate salinity changes due to adaptations form incoming and out going tides. Just think of a tide pool sitting in the sun as water evaporates the salinity goes up and when the tide comes back in it’s a rapid change. Also acclimating animals can help with lower salinity, I would recommend drip acclamation.

My 2 cents

 

[kevin2000]

My 02

I have no doubt that some crabs would survive hypo .. but unlike the others I think that many snails will have a hard time. Many of common snails that we keep in our tank are reef snails and one of the common reason for premature snail deaths given by Dr. Ron Shimek on his old invert forum was keeping snails at less than reef salinity.

As I recall the authors of that article use a short duration when they use hypo (about two weeks I think) and thats about 1/2 the time period than some others recommend - that may also contribute to the discrepancy between some articles.

Lastly ... not sure but current salinity used for hypo treatments is alot lower than the old days. I think that most current articles reserve words like "osmotic shock" for FW dips and not hyposalinity .. which may indicate that's an old article and if so the SG used might be considerably higher than the 1.009 currently suggested.

 

[Manderin]

thats odd i would have guessed that snails would die first due to their sensativity to salt in general

 

[fingersdlp]

Good points. I removed all the snails and crabs before I started but I missed a few. I will post back if any of them survive. I plan on 5 - 6 weeks at 1.009 provided the fish seem to manage.

Brian

 

[cristhiam]

don't forget to use a refractometer and check your ph constantly. It' a bit hard to get the ph stable at low salinity. I'm going throug hypo too 4 weeks so far.

 

[Psionicdragon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7558586#post7558586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CamBarr
.

The reason that snails have a better change of surviving is because they are inter-tidal animals. They can handle moderate salinity changes due to adaptations form incoming and out going tides. Just think of a tide pool sitting in the sun as water evaporates the salinity goes up and when the tide comes back in it’s a rapid change. Also acclimating animals can help with lower salinity, I would recommend drip acclamation.

My 2 cents

Killed 20+ Astrea within an hour of hypo

 

[fingersdlp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7563124#post7563124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psionicdragon
Killed 20+ Astrea within an hour of hypo

I have a Astrea that is still alive on day 2. I did lower the salinity somewhat slowly spread over two full days - about 15-20% water changes 8 or more hours apart. Maybe some acclimation alowed the snail to adjust? I will be supprised if it survives the full treatment. I also found a turbo and scarlet reef hermit still in the tank (fish only) and they were still OK last night.

I have it at 1.009 (refractometer) and have buffered to keep the ph up.

Time will tell.

Brian

 

[cristhiam]

it takes time to killed them, xenia died at week 2 at 1.009 in my QT some xenia was attached to my hang on filter.

 

[fingersdlp]

After further review... time did tell.

Found at lunch:

2 dead Astrea snails
1 dead Turbo snail
1 dead scarlet reef crab

so within two days of reaching 1.009 they perished. Glad I pulled out all I could find before I started.

Brian