All shrimp died

[Kristy3693]

Hello, I am puzzled. I bought 3 peppermint shrimp and a cleaner shrimp about 2 1/2 weeks ago and they all died. I was hoping they were molting, but yesterday the last body drifted out and it wasn't a clear shell. I have a 35 gallon tank, so it is easy to keep track of my critters. Everyone else is great, starfish, emerald crab, hermit crabs, snails, 3 pajama cardinals, and watchman goby.
All my tests are coming out good. Temp around 77.5. Salts at 1.025.
I went on vacation for a week recently. My friend was doing water top offs and didn't add enough. My salt got to 1.026. Any ideas....they really are dead. I held on to the "molting" idea for awhile. But they are all gone.

 

[TheTodd]

What are your parameters - ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and how do you test?

 

[AbsoluteFaye]

Do you use tap water for top offs? A lot of times there are copper traces in it and that'll surely kill shrimp quick. Sorry about your losses.

 

[chenzo9999]

+1 for tap water (I am surprised we can survive drinking it!)

 

[Kristy3693]

Nope, I use RODI water I buy at the LFS. and I buy the premade saltwater for my changes from them too.
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5
Phos 0/.03
Alk in meg/L is 2.85
Ph, in morning was 8, evening 8.3

Alk and phos test kits are by salifert.
The ammonia, trites, trates is with the API saltwater master kit.

All kits are less than a month old, and I have my LFS double check. They also said my calcium was fine. (I don't have that kit)

My tank is about 6 weeks old, I got my shrimp at the end of my diatom bloom. Had a little apstasia, so got the peppermints. Really bummed about my cleaner too! I cycled fast (2 1/2, 3wks), I had 30 lbs of live sand and 30 lbs of live rock.

Thank you everyone for your help!!! So appreciated!

 

[Kristy3693]

Do you use tap water for top offs? A lot of times there are copper traces in it and that'll surely kill shrimp quick. Sorry about your losses.

Thanks for the condolence. :0)

 

[Kristy3693]

Any ideas?

 

[chenzo9999]

I would get a copper test kit.

The live rock you have may have once been in a system that was treated or something. But, that is the only thing I can think of.

 

[Kristy3693]

Thank you, I will get one!