Tank trouble

[brad23]

The last 2 weeks or so I've started loseing some inverts, I had a cyno problem and put the filter pad back in my eclipse 3 hud. Now it's mostly gone.

Before I get into it here's my setup,

37g eclipse hud tank, still useing bio wheel.

12-14 pounds of live rock, rest is base.

It's been up and running for 8 months now. Levels are,

ph 8.0
Amonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite .10-.15 always been here.
Tested for copper 0
SG .23 always has been around this.
Temp 81

So here's what happerening, the last 2 weeks I've noticed my hermit crabs have been vanishing, I've seen some legs here and there. I had a Turbo snail die yesterday and today my Brittle star doesn't look to go, he's out in the light and didn't respond to food like he always does.

In the tank I have,

10-12 Hermits don't know the exact number anymore, 4 Turbos, Sandsifter, brittle star, peppermint, 6-line, clown, firefish, lawnmower.

What's going on, why are my inverts diying should I do a big water change. I haven't put much food in the tank the lasy 2 weeks either maybe 4 days a week.

[james_uk]

Sorry to hear this

When you say your S.G. is .23 do you mean 1.023? An S.G. of .23 would surely kill them. In any case I hear at least 1.024 is recommended for inverts. Natural Sea Water has an S.G. of around 1.026

Good luck

[brad23]

Yeah 1.023. It's always been about that to.

[Scuba Oz]

you say you have seen legs, you sure nothing is eating these creatures? Do you have a hitchhiker you did not know about?

Your params sound good, a little low on salinity/ You said you tested for copper? why? did you dose copper at some point in time?

[james_uk]

Wait what am I saying! duh, it is impossible to have an S.G reading of below 1 and a hobby S.G meter wouldn't go as high as 1.23 so you must mean 1.023

Sorry, it's getting late (yawn)

[viceversabrd]

I would definately check for a mantis shrimp if your seeing legs and no bodies.

[brad23]

Originally posted by Scuba Oz
you say you have seen legs, you sure nothing is eating these creatures? Do you have a hitchhiker you did not know about?

Your params sound good, a little low on salinity/ You said you tested for copper? why? did you dose copper at some point in time?

I don't think I have a hitchhiker, I haven't seen or heard anything. What would have killed the snail. And my sick looking starfish. I tested for copper as I have copper in the tap water I use .1, but I have a ro unit so I'm not worried about it.

[brad23]

I did add a peace of live rock a week or two ago, but there wasn't any holes it could hide in. I never see anymore than 8 hermits now, there was 12 or 14.

[Ben CC]

Did the problems start soon after the new rock was added? Did the rock smell fresh?

[brad23]

The rock smelled fine, the hermits had been on the decline before I put this rock in.

Could I get rid of my bio wheel yet or should I wait longer. But the Turbo died after I put the rock in. It was big though maybe it had run it's life cycle.

[discusone]

Hi ,just cruising the new posts.My 2cents,temp is a little high.Try for the mid-low 70s.

[discusone]

Back real quick,thought about this for a minute,you stated you saw what appeared to be legs.Are you sure this is not just a molt?As hermits grow,they shed their old carapace( i.e old skins).If new,larger shells are not avalabile,they take refuge in the rock.They will be vulnerable until they find new lodgings ( a bigger shell).

[brad23]

Originally posted by discusone
Back real quick,thought about this for a minute,you stated you saw what appeared to be legs.Are you sure this is not just a molt?As hermits grow,they shed their old carapace( i.e old skins).If new,larger shells are not avalabile,they take refuge in the rock.They will be vulnerable until they find new lodgings ( a bigger shell).

I have plenty od spare shells in the tank. They might of molted but I don't see any of them anymore.