Peppermint shrimp deaths

[ShaunV]

Hello everyone. I keep having shrimp die and I don't know why. My LFS claims it could be the temp. 2 peppermints have died within 4 days. Here are my readings today. They have been holding steady for 4 weeks. My temp fluctuates between 76.5-77.2.

Temp: 77.0 degrees
Salinity: 1.024
Ph: 8.3
Alkalinity: 3.0 meq/l
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0

This is a 16.75 gallon tank started on 3/5/2012. The tank is cycled. I have 6 Nassarius snails, 1 tiger Nassarius snail, 1 Turban snail, 1 Nerite snail, 1 porcelain crab, 2 zebra hermits, 2 blue leg hermits, 1 dwarf yellow tip hermit, 1 electric orange hermit(?). 1 Zoa, 1 montipora, 1 frogspawn, 1 Xenia, 2 star polyp, 1 green striped mushroom. No fish. I am looking to put a clown in after quarantining is done in 3 more weeks.

 

[crister13]

I don't think temp is the issue. How did you acclimate them? I would raise salinity to 1.026 because that's what the ocean is at.

 

[ShaunV]

I floated the bag and drip acclimated over 1 hr. the LFS kept his water at 1.025 salinity with 8.3 ph.

 

[ShaunV]

The LFS also keeps his tanks at 80-81

 

[Hooey9]

Test for copper?

 

[ShaunV]

No copper. I have tested source water and tank. I think they weren't getting enough food. One shrimp attacked my frogspawn and I saw it swallow some. So, I think it either died from the frogspawn or lack of food. I have remedied that and everyone is alive and well. No more attacks on frogspawn either, so that is good. Thanks for input.