inverts die quickly such as hermit crabs, snails, shrimp, urchin.

[99jeepin]

I need some help. My fish are fine but inverts die quickly such as hermit crabs, snails, shrimp, urchin.
PH is 8.4, temp is 79, shows 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates,
posphate tested at LFS showed small amount. Salt is 1.22
Copper was also tested but was negative
I put in 2 hermits awhile back were dead in 24 hours. The live rock had Aiptasia and it is gone.
I need advice from the folks that have dealt with this.

 

[Krypt]

I am guessing the 1.22 is a typo and you mean 1.022. That salinity is too low for inverts. They need the normal oceanic salinity of 1.026. You say you tested for copper, have you ever used copper in that tank before? Also what is your reading on ammonia?

 

[99jeepin]

Thanks
Yes typo 1.022, ammonia is showing .25ppm. No copper has been introduced to tank. Recently installed R/O.

 

[Jimbo7]

I kept a tank at 1.023 for years and no problems with my inverts. Some are much more fragile though with acclimation overall. How do you filter your RO? Seems like it might be an upfront issue with the source water. Chuck has a good point though, did you ever use copper? Even it the tests read negative, often even slight trace amounts can be deadly.

Silly question, but what kind of fish do you have?

 

[Jimbo7]

Oops, you got in between us while i was typing. Do you have a DI unit as well? and how are you acclimating them?

 

[trackfast]

How do you acclimate them to your tank?

 

[99jeepin]

I spent almost two hours to acclimate the fish and inverts. Small amounts of tank water added to bag. The R/O DI unit was purchased from Filterdirect using filters that came with unit. The source water is from a well and LFS really stressed the RO/DI unit. Copper has not been used.
I have a 300 gallon acrylic tank with 4 different tangs, 1 yellow foxface, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, 2 cardinals, 2 clowns, around 100 lbs of live rock and 4 large pieces of lava rock.

 

[Jimbo7]

Hmmmm. Got me stumped for the moment.

Do you hear any clicking or snapping noises when the lights go out?

 

[trackfast]

Do you get the inverts from the same place? (I'm stabbing in the dark.)

 

[melosu58]

Ammonia is not helping out. Where is it coming from?

 

[austinsdad]

You got ammonia. That's likely the problem.

How long ago did you cycle? And how?

 

[Krypt]

I agree with Ray, if you reading ammonia, you have issues. The ammonia should always be 0, that's most likely the cause of your inverts demise.

 

[mr_X]

first guess would be ammonia. it's toxic at any level. i have heard that lava rock leaches heavy metals. my 2nd guess would be the lava rock.

 

[Jimbo7]

Ooo. Did not see that ammonia reading. Might want to double check that.

 

[99jeepin]

Yes crabs came from same place. Not sure where ammonia is from never has showed any before. This is driving be crazy. I really like watching the different inverts. I will try anything at this point
Thanks to all

 

[mr_X]

well, if they were dying before you had detectable ammonia, i would definitely chuck the lava rock.

 

[HN1]

Present ammonia will kill inverts. Something hide and die? 0 Nitrates is good, but suspect especially with ammonia there. Can you describe your system?

 

[ccCapt]

4 large pieces of lava rock.

I agree with Doug.
Do you know where that came from? Some can leech heavy metals.

 

[99jeepin]

My system is a 300 gallontank with an algea scrubber from Inland Aquatics, 30 gallon diy sump, two pumps one for scrubber another to move water, RO/DI from Filterdirect with auto fill, started using filter socks two week ago. Lighting is the weak part of the setup. Just using 2 four foot fluorescent lights Tank has been up and running for 8 months ago. Added live sand and rock No fish or inverts were added till the sixth month. A
I am new to saltwater had freshwater for years. So I know I will be making errors. I retested the ammonia again today and now showing 0. Not sure what I done to to mess it up. Will test again tomorrow night. Using the API Master Test Kit.
How do I test for heavy metals

 

[cabezon]

So you had a tank running for six months with nothing in it? Then unless you added dead shrimp or food it never cycled.