Turbo Snail Sealed

[edm3d]

I want to preface this post by saying that I've recently had 2 trochus snails die on me back to back already :'(.

These are the parameters of my tank measured on 05/16/2026

Ammonia - Not tested
Nitrie - Not tested
Nitrate - 7ppm
Salinity - 1.026
Phos - 0.12ppm
Mag - 1430ppm
Alk - 8.2dKH
Calc - 395ppm

This turbo has not been moving much for the last 3 days, and just this morning I found it closed up like this. Does this mean that it is nearing it's end? Plenty of film algea on the tank glass as you can see

 

[Privateye]

It might be worth checking to see if it's alive. If it's dead then it's better to remove it.

It's tough to say based on the behavior. They do that when they're stressed. If you had low levels of copper in the system they'd do the same thing.

I doubt nitrite is your issue, but it might be worth looking at the ammonia. Perhaps copper too.

Alternatively, you could try using some Purigen. When I had snails dying in a freshwater tank and I had no clue why, I added Purigen to the filter. Problem solved. The tank was in an old building in NYC, so I'm guessing some copper plumbing played a role.

Or, you could try adding a Poly Filter. When thousands of dollars of inverts were dying in a store I worked at, we added one to the sump. It turned blue, indicating copper. So we took apart the new pump we installed and found a brass mechanical seal (i.e. designed for swimming pools). Swapped the pump, did a water change, problem solved.

 

[edm3d]

It might be worth checking to see if it's alive. If it's dead then it's better to remove it.

It's tough to say based on the behavior. They do that when they're stressed. If you had low levels of copper in the system they'd do the same thing.

I doubt nitrite is your issue, but it might be worth looking at the ammonia. Perhaps copper too.

Alternatively, you could try using some Purigen. When I had snails dying in a freshwater tank and I had no clue why, I added Purigen to the filter. Problem solved. The tank was in an old building in NYC, so I'm guessing some copper plumbing played a role.

Or, you could try adding a Poly Filter. When thousands of dollars of inverts were dying in a store I worked at, we added one to the sump. It turned blue, indicating copper. So we took apart the new pump we installed and found a brass mechanical seal (i.e. designed for swimming pools). Swapped the pump, did a water change, problem solved.

I have a RO/DI system at home, my TDS is reading 0. I've also been having these snails for 3 months (all purchased from the same LFS). Correct me if I'm wrong, but if TDS reads 0 there shouldn't be any copper in the water correct?

 

[Privateye]

I have a RO/DI system at home, my TDS is reading 0. I've also been having these snails for 3 months (all purchased from the same LFS). Correct me if I'm wrong, but if TDS reads 0 there shouldn't be any copper in the water correct?

Correct, but if there's something in the system leaching copper (e.g. anything brass) then you wouldn't see it in your source water.

 

[edm3d]

I have a RO/DI system at home, my TDS is reading 0. I've also been having these snails for 3 months (all purchased from the same LFS). Correct me if I'm wrong, but if TDS reads 0 there shouldn't be any copper in the water correct?

Correct, but if there's something in the system leaching copper (e.g. anything brass) then you wouldn't see it in your source water.

Ahh got it! I didn't think of that. I will do so, I don't think that anything in the tank is made out of brass, but you never know!

 

[BryanM]

I would consider having an ICP test done to potentially ID any contaminants that might be in your tank.

 

[edm3d]

I have a RO/DI system at home, my TDS is reading 0. I've also been having these snails for 3 months (all purchased from the same LFS). Correct me if I'm wrong, but if TDS reads 0 there shouldn't be any copper in the water correct?

Correct, but if there's something in the system leaching copper (e.g. anything brass) then you wouldn't see it in your source water.

Big chunkers is dead :(. Took it out to inspect it and it smelled rancid, just like the other snails I had taken out to clean up for my hermits.

 

[edm3d]

I would consider having an ICP test done to potentially ID any contaminants that might be in your tank.

Been wanting to get this done, what is your go-to for ICP testing?

 

[BryanM]

Been wanting to get this done, what is your go-to for ICP testing?

Oceamo-MS was my go to, but I recently switched to the Triton method, so I'm using their ICP tests now.

The Oceamo-MS is a better test.