[poohbugbug]

HI. I woke up this morning to find my new cleaner shrimp dead! Hoping you could trouble shoot with me.

PH 8.2
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0
Nitate 2.5-5.0
SPg 1.024
Temp 78F
Also did Iodine = 0

Have live rock, 1 ylwtail Damsel, 1 Chromis, 1 Maroon Clown, Hermit crabs and snails and 1 emerald crab.

Acclimated in bucket adding 1-2 drops/ second of my tank water for 1 hour.

Any ideas what went wrong. Other tests I need to be doing?

[Ganrin]

My guess would be a sg or ph issue with acclimation. The skunk cleaners especially seem sensitive to sg fluctuations. When I got mine there was a .003 sg difference between my tank water and lfs water, (I tested the water from the bag) so I acclimated for 3 hrs.

[emccullough1]

Iodine may be a issue shrimp need Iodine to molt. But I cant believe you actually have 0 as it is in all the salt mixes. I wonder if your test was accurate. Are the test chemicals in date?

[Cern]

That stinks It could just be the molt keep an eye out for him.

[Fishhead Junkie]

shrimps are so sensitive...it could be anything, SG, water temp, anything. i dropped 2 into my tank too soon and they went belly up within minutes and thats no lie. good luck finding him...i have seen my coral banded shrimps left over molt and thought for sure he was dead..then i would find him happy as a camper in his bright new shiny coat just climbing around.

steve

[rlcline76]

Is the info on your experience level correct? 1 week? You should not be adding livestock while your tank is still in the early stages of cycling.

[poohbugbug]

Hi. No, my tanks been up and running for 1 month. All water tests have been perfect. I started with live sand, live rock...added a chromis....never detected ammonia, only nitrite (0.25ppm) now nitrate has held steady for 2 weeks at 2.5-5. I've added livestock and haven't seen any cycling. I test water every other day. LFS's test confirm my results. Started w/ chromis, added damsel and "clean-up crew", then maroon clown. Just took damsel back b/c he was beating up my clown.