[DanMan36]

These guys are eating all my snails!!! I don't have any pictures but they have a curved body....Im not sure what there called.... but im thinking about getting a Niger or something to take care of them...Any suggestions ? Do star fish eat snails ? When i was taking a snail out i noticed a Bristle Star fish on him? Maybe they don't have enough food in there for them so there eating the snails ?

[weez1959]

What you saw (with a curved body) is probably an amphipod, they don't kill snails, they just clean up when something dies, same with the starfish (assuming you mean the tiny ones that hitched a ride on your rock). Probably your snails are dying and they are just cleaning up. How long have you had the snails and how were they aclimated. Snails are very delicate when it comes to acclimating.

[DanMan36]

Originally Posted by weez1959

What you saw (with a curved body) is probably an amphipod, they don't kill snails, they just clean up when something dies, same with the starfish (assuming you mean the tiny ones that hitched a ride on your rock). Probably your snails are dying and they are just cleaning up. How long have you had the snails and how were they aclimated. Snails are very delicate when it comes to acclimating.

I've had the snails for 3-4 months, i just kinda through them in....At first they were pretty active but for the last month they haven't been. I also haven't done any tests since i began the hobby in Jan/08, one thing that might of caused the snails to get that way is my salt ? It wen't from 23 to 19 over the last 1-2 months because i didn't have salt(backordered). I have it at 23 right now, so maybe that will help ? Everything else looks fine, star fish are in like every second rock, Bugs are everywhere, fish looks great, and my rocks look really good as well.

[weez1959]

More than likely the problem is the salt fluctuations, they don't like that much and if they died all your bugs cleaned it up for you.

[TimH07]

Originally Posted by DanMan36

I've had the snails for 3-4 months, i just kinda through them in....At first they were pretty active but for the last month they haven't been. I also haven't done any tests since i began the hobby in Jan/08, one thing that might of caused the snails to get that way is my salt ? It wen't from 23 to 19 over the last 1-2 months because i didn't have salt(backordered). I have it at 23 right now, so maybe that will help ? Everything else looks fine, star fish are in like every second rock, Bugs are everywhere, fish looks great, and my rocks look really good as well.

23 or 19 what?

SG should be 1.026/35ppt

[DanMan36]

Originally Posted by TimH07

23 or 19 what?

SG should be 1.026/35ppt

What do you mean "23 or 19 what" ? You know what i am talking about....Isn't 1.026sp a little bit high ? I was told 1.023sp....

[TimH07]

Originally Posted by DanMan36

What do you mean "23 or 19 what" ? You know what i am talking about....Isn't 1.026sp a little bit high ? I was told 1.023sp....

if you mean 19 as in 1.019 and 23 as in 1.023 SG then thats on the side of really low, natural sea water is normaly at 1.026, below 1.020 inverts start to have problems generaly.

[DanMan36]

Originally Posted by TimH07

if you mean 19 as in 1.019 and 23 as in 1.023 SG then thats on the side of really low, natural sea water is normaly at 1.026, below 1.020 inverts start to have problems generaly.

Is there fish/inverts/coral/shrimp ect that don't like it that high ? Hmm maybe i'll take your advice if it won't harm anything in my tank. Thanks

[weez1959]

Fish can handle it but the rest can't, they all prefer 1.025-26

but go slow bring it up over 2-3 days if you're at 19 right now...

[TimH07]

Here are two very helpful articles for you.

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Randy Holmes-Farley - Chemistry In The Aquarium