Are Snails A Plus Or Minus For A Tanks Ammonia?

[Cory_Dad]

This doesn't relate directly to Corys, but this is where all my friends are (you are my friends, aren't you? ).

Are snails in a small tank that clean up all the uneaten food and poop out the waste a benefit or detriment to the tank in terms of keeping it healthy? I have my 10 gal with no gravel but an air stone, Aqua Clear 20 outside filter, and sponge filter plus Cabomba and java moss. I vacuum the poop every day but would I be further ahead to get rid of the snails (if that is even possible) then just need to vacuum up the fry poop and un-eaten food?

I must be a sick person to be worrying about snail poop...

 

[jollysue]

Different snails present different solutions and problems. I have only really controlled snails with snail eating fish. Withholding food will also do it, but eventually they come back.

I doubt that snail poo is any worse than uneaten food as a source of poor water quality and bacteria growth.

For any really indepth info on snails, there is a forum. Make new friends!

I wish I could have snail eaters in all my tanks along with BN, but Loaches and Botia like groups like Corys do, so that isn't going to happen.

There is also the science forum for comparisons of poo. ROFL