Need expert opinion on Gastropod problem

[Maoiwowie]

I am experiencing serious problems on my way to completing my 400G reef tank. This is not my first but will be my last project as far as aquaria. My main symptom to the problem is that i can keep any gastropod alive, these include 2 Queen conch, Astrea, Margarita and bumblebee snails (usually die within hours of introduction. Physical failure appears to occur during acclimation while slowly mixing tank water with shipping water. They just start to freeze). What does survive and thrive are my fish, P. Asfur, Queen Angel, Blueface Angel (in 50 gallon refugium, even 400 gallon wont hold 3 large Angels. He will eventually find his way to my 150 gallon that is being slowly transferred to the 400.), Potter's Angel, Clown Tang, Vlamingi Tang, True percula pr, Negripes Clown pair, small shoal of green chromis', and a small shoal of Highfin cardinals, 3 scarlet shrimp, many hermit crabs, microfauna including featherdusters, a toadstool leather frag (from 150 gal), a brain coral (from 150 gal), and a newly introduced Maxima (life expectency undetermined). Hardware include PS (Euroreef) UV, Calcium Reactor, DSB over a plenum in a 50 gallon sump, 2x250 10K Ushio, 4 x175 12K. I also use regular Kent Mag, Iodine and strontium supplements.

I must confess the following. I started the tank with freshwater straight from the tap 9 weeks ago, but use RO for top off and changes. Uncured live rock was cured in the display tank...needless to say this wasnt a pleseant experience for the eyes and the nose especially in the living room. A knock-off brand salt called "Nautilus" was initially mixed but i now have switched to Tropic Marin (only one water change in). The salesman assured me it was "just like Instant Ocean." Other deviations from my past include using Rubbermaid tubs for both sump and refugium, and some "Black/Moon" sand for aesthetics. Also used white and clear silicon from home depot to help seal pvc piping (but have used successfully in the past.)

I have run a polyfilter and have seen no tell tale signs for chemical toxins...the filter changes from white to beige to brown. PH seems normal 8.2 to 8.4. Tempertaure 80. Eventually i hope to complete the tank with SPS, but will remain patient along the way. What toxic conditions might i have with this tank? Even the dreaded C. retrogemma introduced from the live rock transferred from my 150 gallon tank cant survive. I do believe i may still have some small ammonium levels, but nothing the polyfilter has detected. What gives? What should i do?

Sincerely,

D.

 

[GSchiemer]

I'm surprised the ONLY problem your having is keeping snails alive. If I read your post correctly, you started the tank 9 weeks ago with raw rock, tap water and salt of unknown quality. It takes approximately 6 weeks for raw rock to cure and even then it can't handle any significant bioload. I suspect that you still have residual ammonia and/or nitrite that simply hasn't killed the fish yet but is toxic to some lower invertebrates. You're moving much too fast and will probably experience more serious problems in the near future.

By the way, some of your fish will pick at snails (e.g., the Queen Angel) and are inappropriate in an aquarium containing corals and clams.

Lastly, polyfilters, like most ionic exchange resins, aren't particularly effective in salt water. I'd suggest using a good grade of activated carbon instead.

Good luck; you're going to need it.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

I am sure you are aware of your "questionable" actions since you confessed to it. It is very difficult what is the problem since there are many possibilities... snail is particular sensitive to heavy metal (Cu in particular), and nutrient in the water (A/N/N). I doubt that the C. retrogemma problem is related, BTW.

Too bad it is such a big tank. Otherwise, the best thing to do in this early stage is to drain and remix the water.

Try to mix a small amount of the salt water with tap and the Nautilus salt and use it to acclaim newly arrived snail and see if you observed the same problem. If it is the case, then it is the water, otherwise, it is something else on your confession. Good luck.

 

[Maoiwowie]

Thanks for your quick replies...yeah i too am surprised at my smooth fish transfer. These fish were in my 150 gallon for about a year and the angels were promised a bigger tank. Yeah, I know the angels are suspect invert killers, but these guys have been in my full blown 150 gal reef for a year so far with no permanent damage. I like to keep SPS' which the fish seem uninterested in. My tridacnas are the same except for the new one introduced this week. I can see that i have been quick to introduce this many fish, and would have my answer if the fish were showing signs of stress. But they arent. They seem to be thriving in such a big tank with much swimming room for the tangs and clear territory lines that each fish group happily keep, only to venture away when time to feed. The Vlamingi tang is a true treat to watch in such a big tank. They eat from my hand and follow me around the tank (complete 360 degree view with all plumbing and wires running through a dry "overflow" chamber in the middle of the tank). In my 12 years of keeping reefs, the clean-up crew was always the first to be introduced and never have i seen hermits live but the snails die. If its not my other deviations (rubbermaid sump, Moon Sand, etc) and is in fact an Ammonia/Nitrate problem...do i just wait this out if i dont do a complete water change? If its the salt, would slow water changes over the months ahead rectify the problem? My Caulerpa in the refugium is even growing...just wait it out eh? More CURED live rock? There is no obvious gastropod problem that i am missing like a chemical imbalance that can be tested and corrected? I sincerely appreciate your ideas so please share them with me. Oh yeah, i do use carbon regularly.

Regards,

D.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't add anything to that tank for awhile. In fact, I wouldn't have put in those fish in so soon all at once either. I don't know if it's more of a stress to put some of them back in the 150 or to just leave them all in. That's an enormous amount of bioload to have in an aquarium, even of that size, after just 9 weeks.

 

[JennM]

Please post your water parameters, that would be a good place to start.

Also, the silicone you used - brand name and type?

I know that GE Silicone I is aquarium safe but if it has any sort of mildew resistor in it, it's toxic.

Tropic Marin salt is nowhere near Instant Ocean - Tropic Marin is much higher quality. Can't speak for Nautilus - never heard of it.

I'd also have the water tested for copper, just in case, and I'd probably run a Kent Metal Sponge just in case too - if there's residual iron, copper, lead or any other nasty, that will nab it.

Since everybody else scolded you for moving so fast on the fish load, I'll let that go Still, posting of parameters would be a good way to rule ammonia/nitrite in or out.

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

I had a similar problem whe I started my new system 200+ gallons. I did a 100% water change. I did not want to do it, but it made everything nice.

Let us know what happens.