Dying snails

[reefamily]

Guys, In the past two weeks, some 6-8 of my Astrea snails are dead. This particular tank has been set for over an year, and the snails were then bought.

I am not sure what is killing my snails. Or is it that the life span of the snails are over already?

Tank parameters are Temp = 76 F ph = 8.1 sp gravit - 1.023 ammonia, nitrate and nitrites zero. calcium = 400 ppm

i have done no changes to the aquarium, except introduced a maxima clam, some trochus snails. all the corals look healthy and i have no fishes to pick on them.

any help is appreciated.
oh yes, increased the light intensity too.

 

[NaH2O]

Have your parameters changed at all? It doesn't sound like it, but I wanted to ask. It could be that they may not have enough food to sustain them. What size tank, and approx. how many snails total do you have?

 

[Illusion]

Ok since I have been Reading lately... Do you have any sort of Algae Growth.. Some as brown slimy type of stuff.. Could be Dinoflagettes... I have been reading that they are poisonous to clean up crews and cause them to just mysteriously die off... The algae is a slime type algae that grows on the rock and tank walls and usually has air bubbles attached to it..

James

 

[NaH2O]

James - good thought. Dinos can be nasty, often referred to as snot algae because of its appearance. I unfortunately experienced a Red Tide (dinoflagellates) one year....never want to do that again. Here is a post I found very informative: Single Post - Cyno or Dinos?

 

[lizardarm]

thanks for posting that link there nikki.
good, interesting stuff.

 

[reefamily]

Thanks Nikki, that was it, I think they had less food..
Couple of weeks back, I had added more snails.
I have already removed some snails to the other aquarium.