[shellybasso]

I've had my saltwater tank for two years. I've maintained the same three fish since then, lots of live rock and a small amt of coral. Problem is that about 7-8 months ago something went wrong in my tank. Levels were always fine, the only thing I can think of is that the heater broke, so I bought a new one. At that same time my other corals died, a few snails died and whenever i get new fish they never make it.

Now my tank started getting full of alot of green and brown algae so I purchased a reef cleaner package with hermit crabs and snails. After they ate like crazy for a few weeks, my tank is crystal clear, water levels are fine AND NOW THE SNAILS ARE DYING.

ANY IDEAS?

[horseshoecrab]

I have snailes dying as well, I have a 20 gal. tank with 4 snails. I can't see any algae so thay maybe starving to death.

[shellybasso]

Hi - thanks, maybe that's all it is, we'll see...

[horseshoecrab]

I've been doing some research and information is hard to find, I did find out that snails are very sensitive to salt changes, it seams we like a very stable tank around 1.025 my tank is around 1.022, which should not be a problem, but Ive been told 20 gal tanks are a challenge. I don't know whats wrong, I'd like to see someone with some experance help us here.:confused:

[horseshoecrab]

Thats right, I killed my snails, I didnt mean to, but I did. I'm new to all this, infact I just started 5 weeks ago with a 20 gal. tank. I read all I could, but the information is just overwelming.:confused: I got my new tank and wanted a reaf tank, so I began to build my tank careful not to make any mistakes, I ask all kinds of questions at every step, testing everything as I go. But I like to fiddle with things to make them better, I have a sump the makes a loud sucking sound. I didnt like that so I tryed different things to get rid of that awfull sound, and finally came up with a very good solution. What I did was to put a small tube into the sump return drain, and no more bad sound, but I used a copper tube, not realizing that copper would poison everthing:eek: . The first to go are the snails, invertebrates and live rock,:mad: If I'm lucky, I will be able survive with just a massive tank cleaning and refillter with a lot of carbon. We will see, if not Ill have to start all over from scrap, starting with a new tank. This is very bad news, wish me and my fish luck.

[c-c]

I grieve in your loss, you guys. I bought 2 turbo snails and now have about 50 to 75 snail babies. I didn't plan it, it just happened that one night we noticed all these snail babies crawling up the tank glass. I thought , OH NO an invasion.:eek: But during the day light hours they hang out on the live rock camoflauging themselves. They may be eating the microbs on the live rock.

Shelly, do you test for Calcium? You need high calcium levels for your invertebrates. Are you using a calcium supplement?. Snails and corals possess calcium carbonate skeletons and shells and therefore, for these animals to thrive and grow, they need to extract calcium from the water. Calcium test kits are available, and levels should be maintained at 375 to 475ppm (parts per million) in a reef tank. I never test for calcium because the kit is expensive but if you take a sample to the pet store they may test it for you.

Also phosphates can cause algae blooms.
A phosphate level in excess of 0.10 ppm will cause an algal bloom, so reduce phosphate levels by increasing aeration and using a protein skimmer. Try to maintain a phosphate level less than 0.05 ppm. Phosphates enter your aquarium primarily through excretion by fish, the breakdown of uneaten food and tap water. The hermit crabs, serpent starfish, etc. help eat the detritus which prevents the accumulation of "fertilizer" necessary for algae to grow. If you have a book called Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies found in many pet stores, like PETCO, I got this information from Chapter 14.

Since I am not sure what I am doing to cause these snails to proliferate, I'll tell you about my tank and see if yours is similar. I have a 65 gal. fish and reef tank, 2-3 years of maturation with 2-3 in. sand bed, some crushed coral on top, a canister (Fluvial 305) filter, a fan cooled lamp with Dual Daylight (10,000K & 6,700K) and Dual Actinic (460nm &420 nm) along with 2 Lunar lights, then about 75 pounds of live rock, and 3 power heads for current and oxygenation. I have done partial water changes every two weeks, and regularly clean out the foam sponge pre filters on the power head which collect excess food and fish poop. ( I tend to overfeed )

Then I add minerals weekly. Currently using Kent Marine products. Liquid calcium, Strontium & Molybdenum, Tech 1, Coral Vite, Zooplex and Phytoplex. Lately I started using a product called Kent Marine Liquid Reactor which I love and the snail babies must love too.
Hope this helps.
c-c

[horseshoecrab]

The massive tank cleaning and carbon did it I have new snails now and they are doing well, but my starfish is slowing dieing, looks like his legs are rotting off, maybe the result of copper poisoning, any ideas?:confused:

[c-c]

Hey, c-c here,
I added coppersafe to a tank and it killed a green brittle star and a long-spine sea urchin. They died slowly the same way your star fish died. The spines of the urchin slowly fell off. Even though I did a massive cleansing, I was unaware of how hard it is to get rid of copper once it seeps into the live rock. :rolleyes: When I put new water in the tank, the copper safe that had previously soaked into the rock, bled out slowly into the new, killing the inverts.

My suggestion is to make sure you "bleed out" all the copper from your live rock before you use it again with any sea stars, snails, or urchins.