Guest Evelyn January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 (edited) We usually get our saltwater from place A...but place A was not in the schedule and we were definitely due for a water change. So, we decided to go to place B for saltwater because of availability. The salinity of place B's water was 1.18 and place A is usually 1.24. We did your water change (30 gallons for a 72 gallon tank) and noticed that Fred, our fire shrimp, didn't make it. We checked the salinity of the tank this morning and it is at 1.2 now. All our other parameters are okie dokie. So, was his death due to the salinity difference? Edited January 22, 2008 by Evelyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeltwayBandit January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 It is entirely plausible. Inverts are more susceptible to low salinity than fish. It could have been the change in salinity, and not necessarily the low salinity that did him in. Again, inverts are more susceptible to fast changes in water chemistry than vertebrates. Hard to say which one, but everything else being the same I would bet that the water change was responsible for his demise. BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Evelyn January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 Here's another thing...we also have 3 pepermints and 1 cleaner...why did Fred not make it and the others did? He's the biggest of all the shrimps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason the filter freak January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 also did you bring the new water to temp before doing a water change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Evelyn January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 also did you bring the new water to temp before doing a water change Yes we did...we used portable heaters and heating pads, then tested the temp with a thermometer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanman January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 We usually get our saltwater from place A...but place A was not in the schedule and we were definitely due for a water change. So, we decided to go to place B for saltwater because of availability. The salinity of place B's water was 1.18 and place A is usually 1.24. We did your water change (30 gallons for a 72 gallon tank) and noticed that Fred, our fire shrimp, didn't make it. We checked the salinity of the tank this morning and it is at 1.2 now. All our other parameters are okie dokie. So, was his death due to the salinity difference? That's almost a 50% water change. Seems like a pretty big, sudden change. I always measured water that I got from a store. Why? I once got plain RO/DI water when I thought I was getting saltwater. Imagine the salinity swing THAT could cause. Of course, now I make my own. bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Evelyn January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 We do a 30 gallon water change weekly...and this past time, we were a little off schedule... We plan on making our own water once we move into our new house next month...but this was a temporary solution...didn't want to lose any of the guys...oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanman January 22, 2008 Share January 22, 2008 We do a 30 gallon water change weekly...and this past time, we were a little off schedule... We plan on making our own water once we move into our new house next month...but this was a temporary solution...didn't want to lose any of the guys...oh well. Well... I don't know what kind of filtration you have - live rock? Sandbed? Skimmer? But generally speaking, you don't need to change more than 10-20%/week to keep things happy. Of course, if you have none of the above - 30 gallons might be needed to reduce nitrates. My fire shrimp has survived some fine swings in everything in my nano. With only 24-gallons, and being a newcomer to the hobby - I've had that water all over the spectrum. Right now, I'm guessing I need to clean the foam filter - green hair algae is starting to cover the plastic parts again. So I can't say a fire shrimp is 'sensitive' - but maybe yours just wasn't all that healthy; or maybe he was OLD... bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grav January 23, 2008 Share January 23, 2008 With rocks and sand, I'd bet that is a 50% water change. I wouldn't do more than 10g at a time in a 72. Yes a swing in SG like that could be the cause, but there could be other factors too: PH, ALK... IMHO Fred is a bit more delicate than the peppermints and skunks, but not much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelin315 January 23, 2008 Share January 23, 2008 Another factor is that you may have induced a molt by lowering the salinity and if it's too close in time to a previous molt, that can lead to death in any crustacean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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