A snail issue

[Oaken]

I bought snails from reef cleaners and two days before they got here I added a dead shrimp to the tank to help with my cycle. I'm going on week 6 of the cycle and tank was cycled at 4 weeks. I haven't added fish but was supposed to pick up my fish today.

I did a water change last night. And this morning there was 3 more I found dead.

Oddly enough most the snails I'm finding dead. Well 99% have been trochus the ceriths are so small I can5 really tell and most have dove under the sand and what not.

Should I do another water change? Any advice on this?

 

[stovenut]

let the tank finish cycling before you add any more livestock. be patient.

 

[Oaken]

let the tank finish cycling before you add any more livestock. be patient.

It was finished at 4 weeks I seeded it with a live rock and bacteria as well. It ran two weeks with no ammonia and I added that shrimp I believe caused the spike.


My real question is whether I should do another water change or not. Two in a week is a lot but don't know if it's needed to rid of the ammonia I did 50%

 

[moorjames]

before doing a water change- do you know the water parameters?

 

[Oaken]

before doing a water change- do you know the water parameters?

Yes ammonia .25
Nitrate 20
Ph 8.0
Dkh 9.8
Calc 460

 

[Oaken]

Yes ammonia .25
Nitrate 20
Ph 8.0
Dkh 9.8
Calc 460

Currently missing a nitrite test kit but all tests are api but dkh and calc are Hanna.

Got a salifert ammonia on the way

 

[rmorris_14]

Currently missing a nitrite test kit but all tests are api but dkh and calc are Hanna.

Got a salifert ammonia on the way

I dont think nitrite is a super important parameter in saltwater other than determining if you tank has cycled.

 

[stovenut]

How do you know your cycle is finished? Adding a raw shrimp will certainly impact your parameters especially in a brand new tank...perhaps causing a new cycle. Test your water daily and take your time. Snails are more sensitive to parameter changes. Start with a few hermit crabs rather than snails. Water changes usually are unnecessary until the tank settles in from its cycle.

 

[Oaken]

How do you know your cycle is finished? Adding a raw shrimp will certainly impact your parameters especially in a brand new tank...perhaps causing a new cycle. Test your water daily and take your time. Snails are more sensitive to parameter changes. Start with a few hermit crabs rather than snails. Water changes usually are unnecessary until the tank settles in from its cycle.

I tested it pretty much weekly watched the ugly phase come and go. Gave it two weeks of no parameter changes after that. I made the mistake thinking the bacteria needed some food or snails would and added that shrimp. Stupid mistake. I've set up reef tanks in the past but was out for 3 years almost

 

[rmorris_14]

I tested it pretty much weekly watched the ugly phase come and go. Gave it two weeks of no parameter changes after that. I made the mistake thinking the bacteria needed some food or snails would and added that shrimp. Stupid mistake. I've set up reef tanks in the past but was out for 3 years almost

Personally I wouldn't beat your self up about it. I had 6 Mexican turbos 5 nassarius and 8 blue leg hermits in a tank the same day I added bacteria. It even went through a pretty ugly bacteria bloom for a little over a week. This was in the beginning of January and all are still alive minus the hermits that cannibalized one another. I've seen other people post about how finicky trochus snails can be. Add the fact that they had to be shipped, and it might not have had everything to do with the water. Just my opinion.