CUC dying off

[dpetty]

I have been fighting algae issues and was using Brightwell Microbactor Clean and Razor. Helped with algae however my CUC pretty much all died along with my Cleaner Shrimp. The algae came back along with Cyano since I bottomed out my nitrates and phosphates. I used Chemi Clean which worked great on the Cyano (did a 20% water change) and then a week later used Blue Life Flux RX for hair algae (this seems to be working on day 5). My nutrients are under control now and I have ordered a bunch of new crabs and snails along with a couple more Urchins. However today I noticed the Urchin I have has died. It looks like I still have plenty of Algae for food. Is this just the chemicals causing this or what?

 

[BlueNem]

Hi

I suggest doing a 50% WC and test for copper because cuc very sensitive to copper.


Regards,

 

[dpetty]

I checked the copper level with Salifert and it looked like 0 or possibly between 0 and .1, very hard to tell with that test kit.

 

[phillyb614]

Even the smallest amount of copper will kill inverts. Dealt with this in my FOWLR tank recently. Should probably send you water to a lab to be tested.

 

[Tamberav]

Where would the copper come from? I doubt it is that.

I wouldn't let those magic potions touch my tank. GHA and cyano can be dealt with naturally.

 

[phillyb614]

It could come from piece of equipment, an algae scraper that has started to rust, some LFSs run copper in their systems, etc.

Could be from a number of places. Once in your system it can leach into your rocks and also slowly leach back out. My inverts kept dying and I had no idea why until I sent my water off to be tested. There can definitely be other reasons, but making sure you water chemistry is good can never hurt.