Oil_Fan

So I get home from work and notice one my astraea snails was tipped over and had become a meal for one of my emerald crabs. Then I notice the light for my macro algae in my sump isn't on. It's sitting in the sump. Not good!! I had placed the light above the sump using velcro.

The problem is apparently the moisture caused the glue on the velcro strip to let loose. In drops the light and low levels of electricity was flowing through my tank. The light is a small low power (9 watts) flourescent light from Home Depot. Both of astaea snails are now dead. My nastrius snails are not happy but are still alive. Same with my fire shrimp. My male emerald crab if fine but I haven't seen the female that I have...not that's too unusual as she hides pretty good.

So yeah...another mistake on my behalf and my tank pays for it... The good news I keep learning more... *sigh*

KittieKat

lol.. the best way to learn is through experience! sorry about ur snails tho

sirdarksol

That's too bad, but at least it was only a couple of inhabitants. There was a potential for much worse harm there (even a fire).

Oil_Fan

An update.

Things are getting worse for my inverts. I've lost another snail. One of my nassarius. I have seen 2 out of the other 3 that I have left and they seem to be moving ok but we'll see.

My emerald crabs are in rough shape. The male is currently on his back flopping around like he's trying to flip himself over. My wife reached in with the back end of the net and he grabbed on and she got him on his feet but then he'd be back on his back. I'm not not very hopeful at this point of him surviving the night. I'd be tempted to euthanize him but would hate to do that if he has a chance of making it. The female is still MIA.

My fire shrimp....This is one that I'm not sure on. He's hanging from one of my rock but hasn't moved much, if at all in the last couple of hours. His shell on the upper part of body is a lot paler, almost pink instead of bright red.

Ironically, my 2 fish in there are doing fine. No sign of stress or anything being wrong. My clown and chromis are happily swimming around like nothing is wrong.

Now for my biggest problem. If I loose my crabs, I also loose the one thing in the tank that will eat other dead animals. I'm also worried about loosing so much in small amount of time and what that will do to the stability of my tank.

Oil_Fan

Another update:

The fire shrimp didn't make it. I just pulled him out.

The male emerald crab will be lucky to survive the next couple of hours. He's not doing well. He's not moving much now but is still alive. I don't work tomorrow as I have an appointment with an eye retina specialist so I can stay up for a bit more.

agsansoo

I've heard of stories like this before. I do know invertebratesare more sensitive to electrical shock. Same story with powerheads leaking electricity !

sirdarksol

Is there any chance that copper got into the tank? Or some other toxin
It seems odd that critters that were doing well immediately after the "jolt" are now getting sick and dying.

Hope things go better and everyone who's still alive makes it.

Oil_Fan

I wouldn't know where any copper would come from. I don't put any medicines in my main tank.

I thought my last nassarius snails was dead and I picked him and he started moving. Maybe there's hope for him. He's now made it over 48 hours since this happened. He won't bury himself in the sand but at least he's still alive.

I also bought a couple of new emerald crabs today and hopefully they can take care of things if something else dies.