Fire shrimp died

[Walter White]

Question what might cause a fire shrimp to suddenly die? (I know a million things right) No predators, had plenty of meaty foods and was eating well. chemistry all good except a recent calcium spike brought on by too much aipasia-x I think.

He molted a week ago was the only other thing. Dumb rookie question I know but could a purple death paly kill a shrimp like that or make it sick? I noticed he was hanging out in it one day a couple days ago eating a piece of frozen food that fell onto the paly.

 

[Wicked Color]

Suck balls! That happens, dont get too caught up in the why, or how, if the corals look good everything is fine.

 

[Walter White]

Corals were not happy about the calcium spike and drop in alk but after two water changes look much better. Zoas Still not completely open yet but the lps and sps seem fine now.

 

[Wicked Color]

The Alk swings are hard on shrimp and crabs.

 

[chrislorentz]

R you sure it is not just a molt?

 

[dv3]

agree on the alk swing ...shrimp are sensitive to everything ...damn things are lucky to make six months in any of my tanks

 

[Walter White]

R you sure it is not just a molt?

Yes I'm sure he just molted a week ago. Was still very fleshy when I pulled out the pieces the hemits left behind.

 

[Walter White]

Anyone know for sure wht the primary ingredient in Aiptasia-X is? Its got to be Calcium Hydroxide and if thats the case I would have probably dosed 50 times my typical kalk top off or more. I can blame no one but myself but if kalk is the main ingredient then they should be very careful in there instructions on how much to use. the instructions say to treat as many aiptasia as possible with no mention of factoring in water volume, PH, alk, or CA.

 

[Wicked Color]

Yup, calcium hydroxide.

 

[Walter White]

Side of the box says "Does not effect water chmistry" Thats a crock. As I said though my own fault. I knew better.

 

[dv3]

i would call em ....might get something out of it

 

[Walter White]

So I just tried a little experiment. I tested a fresh batch of sea water made yesterday for ALK and CA as a control. For the test using 5ml test vials. ALK DKH measured at 10 and CA at 460ppm. I then used the same 5ml test vials of the control water and added 1 tiny drop of aptasia-x using the tip of a platic tooth pick to each vial shook and allow to sit for 10 minutes. I then tested for both alk and CA. Both measured off the charts! In fact I would have probably wasted the entire contents of the test reagent to get a measurement at all.

Now I realize the instruction on the aiptasia -x say to turn all pumps off and leave them off for 15 minutes after application. This is most likely to keep the product from blowing around the tank but at some point after you turn the pumps back on it will dissolve into solution. I am no chemist and perhaps there are some flaws in this simple test but the water chemistry DID in fact change and it changed allot. Perhaps the ratio of product to water in not a completely realistic comparison but still it clearly states on the side of the box that it "will not affect water chemistry" this has got to be false.

No serious damage was done (yet) but what do you guys think? Should I contact the company and complain? The way they have the instructions stated depending on how much aiptasia you have to treat you could really nuke your tank! What if someone is using the product on a 12 or even 8 gallon nano, based on my observations treating any more than one or two small pests at once could cause a serious problem. The instruction clearly state to treat as many pests as you can at one time.

Personally I will never use this product again unless it just during a cycling period of live rock and I have added no live stock.

 

[mdrumm]

let's not rule out suicide...what were its actions prior to death? Were there any notes left in the tank? Did the shrimp have life insurance? Maybe it was homicide.

 

[Walter White]

Objection! Defense is misdirecting the jury to the fact that regardless of whether the shrimp died of suicide, natural causes or other wise. The product clearly states that it does not change water chemistry when it does. lol

Seriously though, obviously the shrimps death could be completely unrelated. every coral in my tank reacting as they did, that's another story but still no way to prove that. Bottom line i believe the statement made on the product packaging that it will not change water chemistry is false.

And now you know why I'm not an attorney, all my clients would lose.

 

[miwoodar]

KA, sucks to hear that your shrimp said goodbye. How long had he been a resident of your tank?

agree on the alk swing ...shrimp are sensitive to everything ...damn things are lucky to make six months in any of my tanks

It occurred to me yesterday as I was preparing for my tank renovation just how little I have in this hobby. It was a sad realization. I set up my first reef tank nearly 15 years ago and I don't have a single fish or coral from any of my early tanks. To be fair, I moved a lot back then (college) and I did sell all of my tanks at one point. The fact remains though, nothing has been with me from the start. I guess I did get back a few pieces of rock from my first reef a few years ago....apparently I can keep rock. I'm a friggin rock star. At least rocks can't commit suicide like your shrimp!

 

[Walter White]

The shrimp was in for about 3 weeks maybe not long the tank has only been up and running for a couple months now. If you ever make it up my way I could give you some nice frags to ger started again and show you the bigger tank that has been revised for the 10th time now. the same one you were helping me with almost three years ago. I think you will be impressed with whats been done this go around. The nano is my practice tank while I finish the 200 in wall.

 

[dv3]

No serious damage was done (yet) but what do you guys think? Should I contact the company and complain?

mosdef ...i would anyhow what do you have to lose ...either way if they have good customer service they will do something for you or if not tell them to f-off and don't bother coming to reefstock next year because you will stand in front of their both and tell everyone your story ....wait is that where you got the stuff?...lol
if you got it from a online store i would call them and complain as well

the directions should be more clear especially now that more people are keeping smaller tanks

 

[bsharpe]

agree on the alk swing ...shrimp are sensitive to everything ...damn things are lucky to make six months in any of my tanks

You have to talk nice to them

 

[Mini T]

Did you drink it's blood like red dawn? Your suppose to do that with your first kill.

 

[Walter White]

Did you drink it's blood like red dawn? Your suppose to do that with your first kill.

no but I did blend up the little bits left over and and snorted it though the aiptasia-x applicator. I will remember to drink the blood next time.