Nitrate Level - could this be the problem with my snails.

[RLIrwin]

I have a 10 gal tank with two clownfish, 3 astrea snails (two have died in the
last two weeks), 3 hermit crabs, and about 5lbs of live rock. Amonia and
nitrite is 0, PH - 8.4, Kh - 10, Calcium - 500. This has all been very stable
for the last 5-6 months (aquarium was set up in September). Nitrate went from
2.5-5 to 10. The only thing that I changed is my test kit (the red sea kit
that I got with the tank ran out and the fish store suggested the aquarium
pharmaceuticals). Is it possible that the test kits do not measure the same?
Which is likely to be more accurate? And bottom line is a nitrate of level of
10 a problem? Is it possibly what killed the snails? If not the nitrate, any
other suggestions? If the nitrate is too low, are water changes the solution?
I currently change about 20% every other week.

Thanks

[kim gross]

What is your salinity, how long have you had the snails?

That is not to bad of a nitrate level, it is a little high for a reef
tank but it is not out of line.

kim


RLIrwin wrote:
> I have a 10 gal tank with two clownfish, 3 astrea snails (two have died in the
> last two weeks), 3 hermit crabs, and about 5lbs of live rock. Amonia and
> nitrite is 0, PH - 8.4, Kh - 10, Calcium - 500. This has all been very stable
> for the last 5-6 months (aquarium was set up in September). Nitrate went from
> 2.5-5 to 10. The only thing that I changed is my test kit (the red sea kit
> that I got with the tank ran out and the fish store suggested the aquarium
> pharmaceuticals). Is it possible that the test kits do not measure the same?
> Which is likely to be more accurate? And bottom line is a nitrate of level of
> 10 a problem? Is it possibly what killed the snails? If not the nitrate, any
> other suggestions? If the nitrate is too low, are water changes the solution?
> I currently change about 20% every other week.
>
> Thanks

[RLIrwin]

Salinity is 1.025. Actually, I've had two since about Thanksgiving. The ones
that have died all came together from a different source about 2 months ago. I
suppose that could be it, but if there was something wrong when I bought them I
think I would have noticed a problem before.

[RLIrwin]

What types of snails are the most hardy?