Inverts Dying?

[peesa]

Hi

All tank levels are at the correct levels but our inverts seem to be dying. Two cleaner shrimps have disappeared and we can no longer find them, and they are never seen to eat etc. One of our two fire shrimps was looking a very peaky pink colour as opposed to its usual vibrant red and has now disappeared too.

All we can assume is they have died - no sign of them at eating times and no little attenas can be seen pecking out from rock.

We also have a blue/red lobster and fear he may be dead also.

Does anyone know what could have caused these sudden changes and deaths of our shrimps and lobster??

Fish and corals all still seem healthy and happy and are eating well.

As i said all levels are correct there has been no sudden changes in tank levels.

any ideas??

Also if it is the case that these shimps and lobster are dead how do we get them out/find them? do we have to dismantle rock to find them?

 

[Chac]

Have you tested for Copper

Breaking down your Liverock to get the bodys out would casue more problems than it would solve

 

[peesa]

Hey Chac,

What is the test for copper?? How do I do that. We only use RO water so there should be no copper levels in that
Do you think we should change the carbon in our filter??

 

[Chac]

If the tank has been treated using any copper based medicine EVER then this will has caused the deaths

A Copper test will be available from you LFS

 

[peesa]

If the tank has been treated using any copper based medicine EVER then this will has caused the deaths

A Copper test will be available from you LFS

No we have never had to use any medicines as yet so i can see how there could be copper in the tank. Im going give the filter a clean just incase anyway.

Do you recommend i get a copper testing kit anyway even though we have never knowingly added copper to our tank

 

[SkiFletch]

Do you test the TDS of your RO water? If its always around 2-5ppm or less before you add it then there shouldnt be a way for copper to get in, but it might not hurt to have it tested anyways. Take a sample to your LFS and ask them if they'll do it. Other possibilities include predation, unknown chemical/toxin, or exceptionally low iodine. Whate are the other tankmates? How often are water changes performed?