Mystery: Both Cleaner Shrimp Die at The Same Time

[Centity]

I was hoping to get some feedback about cleaner shrimp. I had 2 similarly sized adult cleaner shrimp that were awesome. 1 was in the tank for about a year and the other perhaps 8 months now. They always traveled together and mated producing eggs and getting plenty of food. They attempt to clean the fish in the tank but the fish usually won't have any of it. This morning I found one of the shrimp in the center of the tank picked apart and I immediately thought that my green spotted puffer was responsible (been in the tank 1.5 years now). The puffer is generally very docile and does not even harm tiny hermit crabs crawling around the tank. All other fish are community fish with the exception of the Blue spotted Jawfish that never bothered them either. Shortly after the other cleaner shrimp died as well (unless it was dead all along and just looked alive in the morning). They were behaving normally yesterday and relaxing in their favorite cave. :sad2:

They used to molt 1 or 2 times a month and I used to supplement iodine, but stopped about a month or two ago. They ate plenty of food and showed no negative signs. My other life appears to be ok... I'm looking to see if my peppermint shrimp is still alive but haven't seen it yet.

I tested the water and found that everything was in order except my Calcium readings were abnormally high... strange given that I do not dose calcium and have tons of Halimeda in the tank. I don't currently have an alkalinity test kit so I assume that my alkalinity is out of whack because of the calcium. Ph is at 8.4. Can a shrimp become stressed if its partner dies and die itself? I'm starting to think that my puffer had nothing to do with killing the cleaner but might have picked at him once he died. Any ideas?

 

[Centity]

The adult peppermint shrimp and 1.5" ghost shrimp remain alive and demonstrate no visible signs of stress at this time.

 

[Centity]

My corals are now suffering too. It appears that one of my larger ricordeas shriveled up and is starting to melt away. The other ricordea appear less extended than usual, but seem ok. Generally the polyps (Zoas aside) are appearing to be less extended and there appears to be something wrong with the water and I don't know what. I did a minor water change today with my 4/5 chamber rodi system, but am worrying that the addition would make conditions worse if there's something wrong with this RODI kit. Could this be due to magnesium deficiency/DKH problems? Which corals are generally the first to exhibit signs and does anyone have any other ideas on what's going on here? Its painful to watch.

Edit: I also want to note that the corals looked fine about 36 - 48 hours ago and that this degradation happened over a very short period of time.

 

[jr973]

check for ammonia

 

[Dre]

Alot of notes but not much to go on. In my experience when corals melt away very quickly something is too high. More so when pH, Alk and temperature is too high IME.You haven't mentioned salinity either. I would do another water change 25-30% Asap. And here are a few questions: What are you dosing? What type of salt mix do you use? Test kit type and experation date, What is the Temperature ,ph, alk ,calcium and Salinity? Oh, and list your livestock.

 

[Centity]

Ammonia nitrites and nitrates are at 0, salinity at 1.026, temperature was 80-84 at the time (I can't be 100% sure), and unfortunately as I mentioned I don't have the ability to test DKH currently which sounds like it may be low, but my calcium levels are very high. I used to dose calcium hydroxide and magnesium chloride mix, but stopped about 6 months ago.

Lifestock includes some ocellaris, smaller gobies, blue spotted jawfish, green spotted puffer, mandarin goby, and chromis. I do have some stinging corals as well.

 

[LatinP]

temperature was 80-84 at the time

Did the temp jump up in a short period or is it always this temp in your tank?

 

[Dre]

Ammonia nitrites and nitrates are at 0, salinity at 1.026, temperature was 80-84 at the time (I can't be 100% sure), and unfortunately as I mentioned I don't have the ability to test DKH currently which sounds like it may be low, but my calcium levels are very high. I used to dose calcium hydroxide and magnesium chloride mix, but stopped about 6 months ago.

Lifestock includes some ocellaris, smaller gobies, blue spotted jawfish, green spotted puffer, mandarin goby, and chromis. I do have some stinging corals as well.

You cannot assume something is high or low. And what is the calcium exactly? You haven't named the corals you have and the kind of salt mix you use. Temerature 84 and salinity 1.026 is on the high side. You will have low oxygen issues with those numbers. Again i think you should do another water change 25-30% and target 1.023-1.024 at 78-82 degrees. I'm assuming you don't have SPS.

 

[Centity]

Did the temp jump up in a short period or is it always this temp in your tank?

It probably jumped since it was a hot day and I didn't have the ACs on. The water is now around 84 and I'm hoping to get an LED upgrade this coming week that should lower the temperature.

 

[Centity]

You cannot assume something is high or low. And what is the calcium exactly? You haven't named the corals you have and the kind of salt mix you use. Temerature 84 and salinity 1.026 is on the high side. You will have low oxygen issues with those numbers. Again i think you should do another water change 25-30% and target 1.023-1.024 at 78-82 degrees. I'm assuming you don't have SPS.

Calcium is around 600 ppm at this time, but it is tough to get a reliable reading with my API test kit. I have a few small acropora currently. Instant OceanReef Crystals Reef Salt is what I use and I recently opened the last bag. I have changed the water yesterday and the salinity is now at 1.025, but there appears to be no improvement currently in the condition of my corals. I am suspecting that it may be due to this heat.

 

[Centity]

You haven't named the corals you have.

I have a few small acropora, chalice, blue cesp., green star polyps, assorted mushrooms, duncans, chilli coral, star polyps, frogspawn, euphyllia gab., various zoas/pallys/buttons, a few sponges, several acan, anthellia. That's about it off the top of my head.

 

[NanoAquatic]

Probably sudden temperature rise or drop. It's extremely hot during the day now and it drops during the night or when you turn on the a/c.

 

[Josh]

Sounds like high alk to me, rics will do that.

 

[coralboy]

Check the salt level, I know it is a big problem with inverts, they die very easily with salinity changes.

 

[aqob]

U need to check your alk levels sometimes elevated calcium can drive down your alk.

 

[Centity]

It turned out to be nitrates.