the test kit is a strip with multiple tests on it, there is a pot of
25 and i have been testing quite frequently lately, so they are only a
few weeks old.
I think that the falling kh and ph are real, after a waterchange the
values are normal, and as i test during the next week the kh slowly
drops, and once it reaches 3 or 4 then the ph starts to drop too, then
if i let it go on, i come downstairs one morning to dead fish (i guess
the ph drops further during the hight due to the respiration of the
plants).

the question is why is it happening.

the tank is not over stocked, i dont think i overfeed, i do a partial
waterchange every week, the tap water is reasonble, and it is stable
over a week or more if left in a glass.

The only thing which is out of the ordinary is the number of these
snails in the gravel, there are hundreds of them. I have a lot of
bottom feeders so much of the food ends up on the substrate, which is
why i suppose the snails get anything to eat. The guy in the lfs
thinks the number of snails could be taking my modest stocking level
up to the limit, both in terms of C02 emmitted, and of amonia
produced- both of these thinks produce acid. I am declairing war on
the snails, and if it turns out not to be their fault, then they can
form a terrorist cell in the uk and side with all of the other
needlessly persecuted populations of the world.....i think this is
beginning to get to me!!!


chris