Snails and Hermits dying?

[HowardJ02]

I only have about 2.5 gallons of RO/DI freshwater left. Could I use distilled water by the gallon in a pinch that I can get at the grocery store?
If so, I could do another ~50% water changed tonight on the 20 gallon..

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Got the tank all put back together..
Nitrates are through the roof in my little "QT" 5 gallon..

The 20G is still cloudy from the new sand but it has a better level of nitrates.. but still about 60ppm I would guess.

The 5 gallon had to be at the 160 level.. it was a darker orange/red.

Should I put the clown and inverts into the 20 even though it's still cloudy??

I did a water change with roughly 8 gallons of fresh RO/DI that I mixed up when I put the 20 back together.

Do you think the nitrates are high because of the tap water still left in the system??

What's the roof in the QT ?
Is that all tank water in it still?

If so yes do a lil water change in the QT it's prob fine.

How's the fish?

I'd let the dt tank settle and keep the fish monitored. Is has to have been a long day for you both.

 

[mgoesma]

Have you tried a copper/heavy medal renal media?

 

[HowardJ02]

Have you tried a copper/heavy medal renal media?

I didn't bother doing anything with copper because my LFS tested it today and there wasn't a trace.

 

[HowardJ02]

What's the roof in the QT ?
Is that all tank water in it still?

If so yes do a lil water change in the QT it's prob fine.

How's the fish?

I'd let the dt tank settle and keep the fish monitored. Is has to have been a long day for you both.

I'm mixing ~3 gallons now to change the 5G.

This is stressful! I've never really had any real problems with saltwater.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm mixing ~3 gallons now to change the 5G.

This is stressful! I've never really had any real problems with saltwater.

It must have been time to learn something new.
It usually means your about to move up a level.

A gallon or the IMO is fine. Do another in the morning maybe. Just am paranoia.

 

[HowardJ02]

After a 3 gallon water change on the 5 gallon... still not even close to being good?

 

[HowardJ02]

Well, here's a little look at what I've been up to today..

1: before with old sand
2: draining
3: goodies arrived
4: put back together with new sand
5: my house is now a wreck
6: 5G "QT"/holding tank

 

[HowardJ02]

Really hard to get a "normal-to-the-eye" picture with the lights, but here's the 'scape.

The rock in the 5G goes on top of the rock on the right.

And the bigger AquaClear on the right isn't staying.. it's just helping clear things up while the AQ50 is on the 5G.

 

[Monkeytank]

Here is a great thread for reference about all things water related:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Specifically, your nitrates are still pretty high. Here is an article about nitrates. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/8/chemistry

 

[Monkeytank]

You could add some Seachem Prime to detoxify your nitrites and nitrates: http://www.seachem.com/prime.php

 

[HowardJ02]

Here is a great thread for reference about all things water related:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Specifically, your nitrates are still pretty high. Here is an article about nitrates. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/8/chemistry

Thank you! Those are very helpful!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

After a 3 gallon water change on the 5 gallon... still not even close to being good?

No. that's horrible

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well, here's a little look at what I've been up to today..

1: before with old sand
2: draining
3: goodies arrived
4: put back together with new sand
5: my house is now a wreck
6: 5G "QT"/holding tank

Awesome. !!!!!!


Dude yer a reefer. Who need a nice house when ya got a tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm not a fish expert by any means. From all I under stand. It's ammonia that's the word thing.
The nitrates are bad yes. But I don't think for just a fish it's detrimental.
You have enough water to slowly change out
The QT water. It I think will give you time to figure out the tank.
Keep check on the QT for am and the fish should be fine.
@Humblefish #reefsquad can you confirm if your around?
Ugly tank issues. High nitrates. Quick QT Slowly doing water changes in QT and dt long term

 

[ntsekov]

IMO if you put a new sand, use the occasion to put bacteria, the cloud is amazing for it and it would be skimmed with time or settle everywhere.

Also add carbon, and check ammonia.

 

[Humblefish]

Nitrates won't affect fish until it reaches the hundreds, and most inverts/softies/LPS can tolerate 40-60 ppm. (Helps if they are allowed to slowly adjust to it.)

But most SPS, starfish, urchins and other "sensitives" can't take more than 5-10 ppm.

 

[jsker]

I am looking at new tank, and parameters are bouncing around until the bio load settles in. Also with the new tank there is not enough algae in the system for feed and the snail and hermit starve.

 

[HowardJ02]

I would understand not having enough algae and starving, but the snails died within literally hours, if that. So I really don't think that was the case here.

I still have 1 nassarius, and 2 hermits alive in the QT. Hoping it stays that way.

Thank you everyone for you help, I really appreciate it!

 

[Humblefish]

Just to add; Dinoflagellates release toxins into the water and IME that will kill snails in short order. But hermits and most other livestock seem more tolerant of it.