SUDS: Sudden Urchin Death Syndrome

[maxsmart]

I had two pincushion urchins, both did REALLY well in my tank for months before one of them suddenly died, one whole segment at a time, over the course of about 1 day. I actually saw the little white tentacles (between the spines) disintegrate on one segment. It took like 1 minute, shortly thereafter the spines from that segment followed. I *have* been noticing that my SG was creeping down over the past months, but it is only around 1.024, still around the acceptable range for a reef tank. (I'm trying to slooowly bring it back up to 1.026)
I also noticed that two of my cleaner clams have died. (they either died and were eaten by the pepermint shrimp, or the pepermint shrimp killed them - they're starting to get VERY aggressive)
I've done water tests, same results as always (immeasurable levels of trites, trates, ammonia).
One thing I saw that concerned me was a gash taken out of my cucumber. I noticed (away from the gash) a tiny snail. Could it be a parasitic snail that kills inverts?
(don't worry - the cucumber, Demeter, healed within 2 days

)

 

[fishkid13]

That stinks. I have neverheard of a killer/rampaging snail but their is always the oppurunty. I seems like your water is fine. What other things do you have in your tank?

 

[maxsmart]

Originally Posted by fishkid13
http:///forum/post/3073689
That stinks. I have neverheard of a killer/rampaging snail but their is always the oppurunty. I seems like your water is fine. What other things do you have in your tank?
The snail was TINY. Like, if you put 5 of them in a row, it would be like a grain of rice.
I also have:
a $*$*-load of live rock;
2-4 inch argonite sand/crushed coral bed
T5 lighting
sump/fuge with macro
tons of macro in the display tank (many varieties)
Feather dusters (big and tiny)
cleaner clams
sea cucumber
velvet nudibranch
sea hare
perc clowns (2)
lawnmower blenny
green mandarin dragonet
frogspawn coral
torch coral
zoos
peppermint shrimp (5)
cleaner shrimp (1-2) (one may have died recently!)
emerald crabs (2-5)
decorator crab (0-1)
anemone shrimp (0-1)
porcelain crab (0-1)
margarita snails (4-12)
astrea snails (4-15)
narcisus snail (1)
nerite snails (4)

 

[ophiura]

Urchin deaths are often due to water parameters - what is your alk, calcium, pH?

 

[maxsmart]

Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/3074028
Urchin deaths are often due to water parameters - what is your alk, calcium, pH?
My alk is "ideal" (I use a bufering agent). My pH is on the low side of 'ideal'. I don't have a calcium test, but I do weekly 5-7% water changes, and add just enough calcium suplement to keep the purple coraline growing. (I guess you could call that a 'test') Sorry I sound like an idiot without the numbers, but I am not where I can get at the chart right now. I've always assumed API's idea of 'ideal' should be pretty good, esp since it matches my drip-test kit by another manufacturer. So, I never memorized the numbers. I really want digital meters for all of this, but they're crazy expensive, so I do the annoying make-sure-the-color-is-in-the-right-range tests.
You'd think with bad water parameters, I wouldn't have a prospering torch or frogspawn.
Oh, I also have mushroom corals coming out the ears. I forgot to mention those. A few green ricordia, and about a 100-200 red mushrooms. (ricordea are new, give them time)

 

[ophiura]

Do you use a buffering agent without testing? It is good to know the exact value. What is "perfect" for fish can be fatal for inverts. So it is kind of important to know I think.
Seastars, urchins, etc can die in otherwise healthy tanks - they are much more sensitive than many other inverts are.

 

[maxsmart]

Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/3074564
Do you use a buffering agent without testing? It is good to know the exact value. What is "perfect" for fish can be fatal for inverts. So it is kind of important to know I think.
Seastars, urchins, etc can die in otherwise healthy tanks - they are much more sensitive than many other inverts are.
No, I don't test for calcium. I do test for alk and pH.

 

[fishkid13]

Originally Posted by MaxSmart
http:///forum/post/3075038
No, I don't test for calcium. I do test for alk and pH.
I didn't test for calcium but I just got one of the match-the-color-one for $18. Sad thing is I still don't test for it.

 

[gratefulhippie]

He probably simply starved to death. Is your tank over 100 gallons?

 

[maxsmart]

If they eat algae as this and other websites claim, I assure you he did not die from starvation. My velvet nudibranch kicked the bucket last night too, fortunately I saw him before he could disintegrate. That brings me up to 3-4 invert deaths in a week: cleaner clam, nudibranch, urchin confirmed dead. One of the cleaner shrimp unaccounted for.
I got a calcium test since every time I post about anything, everyone insists my method of tracking calcium using coraline doesn't work. My calcium is 480.
Oh, and I use RODI water (ppm=0) for my weekly water changes.