Reefcleaner package dwindling

  • Thread starter Thread starter Doob
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users None

Doob

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 18, 2015
Messages
600
Reaction score
222
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Good day all. I ordered a reef cleaner package a few weeks ago. It was the 37 gallon "cube" package, which includes around 80 animals. There were 5 that never came to, and after 5 days in the DT I removed them. 4 ceriths and a nassarious. Since then they seem to be thriving, other than the nassarious. Ive had to remove 2 more and I have an additional 2 lined up front and center because I feel they're gone too. I always give them at least 3 days without movement before I pull them. I'm noticing a couple nassarious' shells have turned black, one being one of the guys front and center.

I'm aware that this species does not feed on algae, so after loosing the second 2 my first thought was starvation, so I began overfeeding the tank. Its a young tank but it can handle excess food decaying, at least more than dead snails decaying I'm sure. GHA has began popping up in small patches all over the rocks, im attributing this to the overfeeding.

All other livestock is thriving. By that I mean all fish and shrimp are eating well and active. The other snail species don't seem to be dying, though the cerith and dwarf cerith are burrowers so maybe I just don't know. The nerite snails are NOT active, and spend most of their time in the top corner of the tank, but I've read that this is normal. If they weren't attached so well I'd be worried about them too.

So could it just be not enough food? Does the black shell mean anything? Am I overthinking this? Could my shrimp be eating them?

Other inhabitants include:
Firefish
Blue Chromis
Fire Shrimp

Tank is a JBJ 45 set up in march, build thread here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/another-jbj-45-build.236534/

Parameters as of yesterday morning are:
SG - 1.025
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 1.5
PH - 7.9
Ca - 460
ALK - 9.5dKH
 
The Nass. Species are scavengers and so food would probably be their biggest problem if your water parameters are good. They will eventually come to an equilibrium of what the tank can support/keep alive.

Its common to buy a clean up crew and lose a good amount of it until it balances out with what the tank can support.

Just keep your water parameters good, if you tinker too much you could really make your water parameters swing and that could be more problematic than losing some of your clean up crew.
 
As mentioned, snails will die until equilibrium is met. Its not for everyone, but I like keeping some hermit crabs as well as snails. From I have noticed they will only go after dead or dieing snails but they do make short work of them when they are dead. Crabs get a bad rep I think. I have never seen mine attack anything that is healthy and thriving
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

New Posts

Back
Top