Snails

[titus]

Evening everyone, please could you help us?

New tank (Vision 180) is set up, cycled (fishlessly of course!) and we now have 2 small shoals thus far (harlequins and x-ray tetra)..... However we have had 2 possible problems:
1. firstly, algae....I think I read somewhere that to keep plants, you have your lamps on (with reflectors!) for 7 hrs on - 5 off, 7 on - which we did......followed by a huge algae outbreak. Lights are now down to 5 on, 7 off, 5 on......

The second problem is that after installing our plants from Greenline, lots started to look eaten. After a while, we thought we found the culprits - small snails - although whenever we saw them, they were almost always on the aquarium glass. This last week, we have found the real foes - caterpillar like creatures, who have a particular likeing for our vallisaria! Anyway, at our Pets at home yesterday, we were told by a keen enthusiast that snails are great as they eat all the algae - and he loves his snails!

Now bearing my point above, should I be leaving the snails in to help with the algae - or should I be ruthlessly removing them....

thought's please

PS piccies will follow - once my algae has gone and my plants look more presentable!!

 

[OohFeeshy]

find the pinned topic on Snails. Identify the type you have. Some are good, some are not. It depends on the speices.

 

[titus]

thanks for the pointer!
sadly I have Planorbids - hardest to get rid of, and may damage live plants - eek!

 

[Fiori]

I have a very similar situation to yours. I also have a Juwel 180 with plants from Greenline - and a snail infestation. I think you really have to give the plants a good wash when you get them, but too late for us now No caterpillars though.

Anyway I left the snails for a bit to see what would happen - they were everywhere eventually. Not a good idea - I have heard that they can cover the glass in really bad infestations. So I trained my angelfish to munch them when I squished them on the glass and pinged them in his direction. And then bought a couple of loaches, who are currently munching their way through them. Fortunately through all this I have'nt had an algae problem, probably cos the tank is heavily planted (no reflectors though and the lights on for 12 hours).

When I buy plants now I steep them in warm water with salt for a while and then give them a good scrub. So far so good. I definitely would get rid of the snails if they are the same as mine - small brown round things that will take over the world if given half a chance. Best of luck with your tank.

 

[Iron Man]

If these are malaysian trumpet snails (shells that spiral and "trumpet" out) then you have nothing to worry about. They will be very populous but they, most of the time, should only come out at night and the rest of the time dig down in your substrate, thus aerating it and eating fish poop and leftover flakes. They are also known to eat algae. I think they're very beneficial for the aquarium. Now if its the asexual type that eats algae and plants....I don't know what to tell you accept that in small numbers I don't hear a lot of complaints. Some people stick pieces of cucumber in there, leave them a few hrs (like overnight) and take out the multitude of snails that will be on it later. They just keep the numbers down and are happy.

Regarding those caterpillars....I would be getting rid of those, obviously.

Good luck.