Hey folks,
I noticed today that my Turbo snails keep throwing themselves onto their backs, as if they're dying, but they're still alive and moving! (This is unusual for my particular snails, and a number of them are doing it at the same time, in different areas of the tank). I have 3 large standard Turbo snails, and 3 small banded turbo snails, I observed the behavior in 2 of the large ones, and 1 of the banded ones. I've gone in to pick them up 3 times now. I just did a 10% water change (all the salt water I had made up), and have done weekly water changes since I started the system, without fail (tomorrow would be the usual water change day).
They’re just laying there “belly up”, not trying to correct themselves upright at all, but they’re still alive and wiggling a about a little.
Tank information:
System: Red Sea Reefer 170 G2+
Age: 4 months, 1 week
Salinity: 33.7ppt (now raised to 34ppt as that was a little lower than I want it, tested with digital Hannah tester)
Temp: 24.8c
Salifert tests:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 25ppm (fairly normal for my tank, usually goes between 10-25 during a week, and this is late in the week before a typical scheduled water change)
Phosphate: 0.25ppm (this was pretty elevated from previous test of 0.03ppm, which was consistent for a long time)
Calcium: 470
Magnesium: 1380
Alkalinity: 11.2
Tank runs on a 10w UV sterilizer (24/7), Skimmer and filter sock. I usually change the floss in the sock twice a week, but I forgot to do it a few days ago, so it was sitting holding nutrients for longer than usual.
I had also upped my feeding to twice a day (lunch time pellets, evening frozen mysis mix which includes garlic).
I'm thinking I've probably been over feeding, as there's also a slghtly increase in hair algae in my sand bed, although my critters have been keeping it at bay.
Is it possible the snails are dying due to the elevated phosphates? I'm still a newbie, so I don't really know the cause and effect of certain parameter spikes.
Photo of snail on it's "back" attached below:
I noticed today that my Turbo snails keep throwing themselves onto their backs, as if they're dying, but they're still alive and moving! (This is unusual for my particular snails, and a number of them are doing it at the same time, in different areas of the tank). I have 3 large standard Turbo snails, and 3 small banded turbo snails, I observed the behavior in 2 of the large ones, and 1 of the banded ones. I've gone in to pick them up 3 times now. I just did a 10% water change (all the salt water I had made up), and have done weekly water changes since I started the system, without fail (tomorrow would be the usual water change day).
They’re just laying there “belly up”, not trying to correct themselves upright at all, but they’re still alive and wiggling a about a little.
Tank information:
System: Red Sea Reefer 170 G2+
Age: 4 months, 1 week
Salinity: 33.7ppt (now raised to 34ppt as that was a little lower than I want it, tested with digital Hannah tester)
Temp: 24.8c
Salifert tests:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 25ppm (fairly normal for my tank, usually goes between 10-25 during a week, and this is late in the week before a typical scheduled water change)
Phosphate: 0.25ppm (this was pretty elevated from previous test of 0.03ppm, which was consistent for a long time)
Calcium: 470
Magnesium: 1380
Alkalinity: 11.2
Tank runs on a 10w UV sterilizer (24/7), Skimmer and filter sock. I usually change the floss in the sock twice a week, but I forgot to do it a few days ago, so it was sitting holding nutrients for longer than usual.
I had also upped my feeding to twice a day (lunch time pellets, evening frozen mysis mix which includes garlic).
I'm thinking I've probably been over feeding, as there's also a slghtly increase in hair algae in my sand bed, although my critters have been keeping it at bay.
Is it possible the snails are dying due to the elevated phosphates? I'm still a newbie, so I don't really know the cause and effect of certain parameter spikes.
Photo of snail on it's "back" attached below:
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