Hi all,
I've had 3 emerald deaths in my 10g office tank. The first two came from my first ReefCleaners shipments, and now one of the replacement 2 died. This time, I found it pretty early and was able to inspect.
Warning: sad photos upcoming.
I found the body with a cerith attached to it. Both of the emeralds have been active cleaners, so I don't think it is starvation--the most recent on that died arrived in June.
I didn't see any evidence of traumatic injury. I have observed the two emralds fighting occasionally, and sometimes the green porcelain crab would attack them if they got too close. But no injuries I could tell:
I wasn't able to do tests before I left the office, but the tank has been testing at NO3 ~2-5ppm (supplemented occasionally with NeoNitro), and PO4 high at ~O.5ppm, up to 1.0ppm, even while running Phosguard. Alk swings a bit--try to keep it in the 8.5-9 dKh range, but the tank eats up 1-2dKh per day, so I add All-For-Reef. Ca hovers at 490-500ppm and Mg is over 1600ppm, roughly 1630-1660 range.
Any ideas? The tank has a small gorilla crab in it, which is around the same size as the emeralds if not a bit smaller. There might be some strange worms in there too. I know there was a eunice at some point, but I haven't seen it in months (unlike my Evo, which is a horror movie at night). Other inhabitants: 2x sexy shrimp, RFAs, corals, crocea clam, spotted nem crab, green porcelain crab, pom pom crab, variety of snails, purple firefish and tailspot blenny, and a lettuce nudibranch.
What are some of the possible causes of death? If it was a one-off, I'd be less concerned, but this is three emerald deaths now--and the pom pom crab, spotted nem crab and green porcelain crab have been doing fine since January.
Thanks!
I've had 3 emerald deaths in my 10g office tank. The first two came from my first ReefCleaners shipments, and now one of the replacement 2 died. This time, I found it pretty early and was able to inspect.
Warning: sad photos upcoming.
I found the body with a cerith attached to it. Both of the emeralds have been active cleaners, so I don't think it is starvation--the most recent on that died arrived in June.
I didn't see any evidence of traumatic injury. I have observed the two emralds fighting occasionally, and sometimes the green porcelain crab would attack them if they got too close. But no injuries I could tell:
I wasn't able to do tests before I left the office, but the tank has been testing at NO3 ~2-5ppm (supplemented occasionally with NeoNitro), and PO4 high at ~O.5ppm, up to 1.0ppm, even while running Phosguard. Alk swings a bit--try to keep it in the 8.5-9 dKh range, but the tank eats up 1-2dKh per day, so I add All-For-Reef. Ca hovers at 490-500ppm and Mg is over 1600ppm, roughly 1630-1660 range.
Any ideas? The tank has a small gorilla crab in it, which is around the same size as the emeralds if not a bit smaller. There might be some strange worms in there too. I know there was a eunice at some point, but I haven't seen it in months (unlike my Evo, which is a horror movie at night). Other inhabitants: 2x sexy shrimp, RFAs, corals, crocea clam, spotted nem crab, green porcelain crab, pom pom crab, variety of snails, purple firefish and tailspot blenny, and a lettuce nudibranch.
What are some of the possible causes of death? If it was a one-off, I'd be less concerned, but this is three emerald deaths now--and the pom pom crab, spotted nem crab and green porcelain crab have been doing fine since January.
Thanks!
