Inverts slowly disappearing

[MombasaLionfish]

I had for small brown crabs that were filter feeders all of them disappeared. I thought it was because of my giant hermit crab so I put him in the sump. Then I got two pitho crabs and they have disappeared. The crabs I have in the tank look healthy about five small hermits a porcelain crab and my giant hermit crab in the sump. Also this could be completely unrelated but most of my snail are laying on the ground open not moving much and definitely not helping with the GHA.

 

[BloopFish]

Small brown crabs that were filter feeders? Brown porcelain crabs? Pitho crabs also often bury themselves, so they might just be hidden. You should test your water parameters, something might be wrong with your water from the description of the snails. Heavy metals or maybe ammonia or nitrite, Also do you keep any fish? Do you have adequate oxygenation, either a powerhead breaking the surface, an overflow, a skimmer, etc? What is the size of the tank? Was the addition of the snail recent? When exactly did you add them and when did you notice this symptom?

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Ok that is a lot of questions let me try and answer all of them.

Small brown crabs that were filter feeders? Brown porcelain crabs?

I am pretty sure they were but they were not labeled at the store and we just called them hidey hole crabs because they like to live under my rock sculpture and in holes. They also picked on my white porcelain crab who has not been picked on in a while.

Pitho crabs also often bury themselves, so they might just be hidden

That's what I was thinking but I see the female at least every night then I thought maybe she molted and is just hiding out.

You should test your water parameters, something might be wrong with your water from the description of the snails

Ok that is a good idea I will do that.

Heavy metals or maybe ammonia or nitrite,

Not sure how metals could have gotten into my tank.

, Also do you keep any fish?

Yes five and I also have some corals. Two maroon clownfish three domino damsels one brain coral and several zoas. Oh and I have a feather duster.

Do you have adequate oxygenation, either a powerhead breaking the surface, an overflow, a skimmer, etc?

Yes three power heads one skimmer running full time and an overflow.

What is the size of the tank?

60gl not including the sump which is 35ish gl.

Was the addition of the snail recent?

A month or so ago and they were slowly disappearing from the start mainly because my giant hermit ate them.

When exactly did you add them and when did you notice this symptom?

Also I got them before I got the skimmer. I got the skimmer around christmas so maybe I got the snails a month before that.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Thank you for helping. Do you need any pictures of stuff?

 

[Salt & Peper]

Some pictures wouldn't hurt. Your water parameters would help. I may have missed it but how old is the tank they could all be starving and did in a hole out of sight.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Some pictures wouldn't hurt. Your water parameters would help. I may have missed it but how old is the tank they could all be starving and did in a hole out of sight.

The tank is a little over a year old. Pithos definitely aren't starving because I saw them eating GHA several times and there is still loads of that. The small brown crabs maybe but they eat the same stuff as the white porcelain crab which is still fine. Oh and pictures of what? Also thank you for helping.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

It has been a busy week but I can check the parameters soon.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Parameter are fine except phosphate which is at 0.25. I spotted a molt of a pitho crab and I unbured a pitho crab I am still missing one pitho the four brown crabs several snails and a serpent starfish keeps getting smaller and smaller. My theory with the pithos is this: I don't usually see the male because he is always burreid but I usually see the female. I think the female molted and is hiding that is why I have not seen her lately. More snails have disappeared and several of the hydroids that look like tentacles are appearing. I forgot what type of hydroid it was.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Pictures coming soon as long as I do not forget.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Here is the pitho I found.

 

[Krully]

I think you have bigger problems than a few crabs disappearing.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

The algea?

 

[Krully]

Yeah you have an insane amount of hair algae, your readings are low because the algae is eating everything up imo. Some folks will have better advice than me but I'd suggest scrubing the rocks in a bucket with fresh saltwater and getting things back on track. Although that is off-topic so sorry, that snail problem might be one in the end since you'll need them to help control the algae.

Also I believe the algae will lower oxygen in the tank but since your fish are fine I don't think that's the issue there. You do have way more GHA than your CUC can handle.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

I cannot scrub them off all of them have corals on them. I have scrubbed them with a toothbrush while still in the water. I am planning on getting a lawnmower blenny. Is that a good idea. I got a skimmer about a month ago and it has definitely helped but not enuf.

 

[calvertc425]

Get a sea hare lawnmower Benny will not help imo

 

[motortrendz]

What are your actual parameters besides fine lol. Bc obviously with that much algae overtaking your tank it's not fine... not trying to be mean. Just trying to help.

What test kits are you using? Usually when some says .25 on po4 they're using an api test.
What's your salinity, nitrate,alkalinity, magnesium?
What kind of water are you using? Rodi? Self made or store bought?
What kind of lighting as well?

I think your disappearing crabs and dying snails could be from other elements that can also be casuing your hair algae.

A lawnmower blenny would not be able to put a dent in this, manual removal as much a possible, if the rocks are a le to be removed I'd remove them and scrub them and get some hydrogen peroxide and give them a bath to help kill back the algae. But if you dont fix the underlying problem then it will just come back.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

+1 on thee sea hare. Your giant hermit crab was definately killing things (ask me how I know). Now that he's out of the tank we can try to figure out what else is killing things...

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Also, we need a pic of that hermit!

 

[MombasaLionfish]

+1 on thee sea hare. Your giant hermit crab was definately killing things (ask me how I know). Now that he's out of the tank we can try to figure out what else is killing things...

He is in the sump for that reason.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

+1 on thee sea hare. Your giant hermit crab was definately killing things (ask me how I know). Now that he's out of the tank we can try to figure out what else is killing things...

Ok no lawnmower. What kind of sea hare?