Inverts dying

[rangermonroe]

What would cause mu inverts to start dying at the rate of one per week.
3 weeks ago I noticed theat my blood red shrimp was awol.
2 weeks ago, my cbs died and last week the lobster was dead in the AM.
No nitrates and all other stuff is in range, could it be lack of Iodine? Its been a month since a water change, but 'trates are at 2ppm, so I have not been in a hurry to do one.
Any thoughts?

 

[hookedonreefs]

Coul dbe a ton of things. What are all your levels? Are you sure your tank is copper clean? Give us more info. on the status of your tank.

 

[rangermonroe]

amm, nitrite,o
trates 2ppm,
calcium, 420
8.2 ph
water tests out good, and its not all my inverts, I still have a ton of snails and crabs, these three that died were purchased about the same time. How long do they typically live?

 

[hookedonreefs]

They can live for years. They don't look like they're being killed and eaten right? How often do you feed, and how much - maybe they starved (I doubt it but who knows) I can't really think of other things. The only other thing is too short of an acclimation or a recent sal. change from top off water.
HTH
Hooked

 

[rangermonroe]

nope on both. and I haven't done a water change recently, so I cannot put my finger on anything that has changed recently...My lfs suggested the iodine, I just wanted a second opinion.

 

[hookedonreefs]

It COULD be iodine, but I doubt it. If you really want to know, just get and iodine test kit.

 

[rangermonroe]

my lfs doesnt even sell them. I think that I'll monitor the situation for a little while.
I have several other shrimp in there and I'll get worried if they start croaking.
Thanks for the input H'onreefs

 

[hookedonreefs]

No problem. Just remember that iodine can be very toxic to reef tanks if overdosed. So, if you're thinking of getting it to dose, buy a test kit first (I think they sell them here)
GL
Hooked

 

[rangermonroe]

Yeah they do , but I'm just gonna dump a in quart or two and see if that fixes the problem

I dosed a teaspoon the other day( the recommended ammounnt for my tank) , but normally I don't because I believe that monst if not all of the minerals and stuff should be present in the salt mix. With normal water changes, those trace elements should be replaced as a by product of the water change. But a s I stated earlier, it's been at least a month, and even though the nitrates are still really low, I'm overdue for a "trace element refresher".
Thanks again.
$23.99 for the test kit here.