Stinky Snail

[Minni3]

I wasn't sure where to put this - the betta section or the snail section

Anyway, i read that snails make alot of waste and thus make the water stink REAL BAD. Is fortnightly partial water changes in a 3g tank enough? Or because of the snail's excessive waste - weekly partial water changes? I have no filter but I am using cycle. I am planning to get duck weed to help with the ammonia build up.

I live a busy lifestyle and changing the water once a week is hassle. Will the duck weed be enough to get rid of the ammonia produced by the snail. And will changing the water every two weeks be enough to control the smell. Thank you!

 

[poopsydrew]

Once every 2 weeks isnt near enough on a tank that size, IMO, neither are weekly water changes. Without a filter you should be doing very frequent water changes, plants or no plants. Duckweed will only go so far.

If your tank smells, theres a problem, simple as that. Your tank should not smell bad.

Im sorry but I cant possibly see how 1 water change per week can possibly be a hassle in a 3 g. I have over 19 tanks, go to college full time, and breed and raise fish and I change the water in all of my tanks (which are all much larger than 3 gallons with adequate filtration) AT LEAST 30 percent a week, and yes I have a life outside of that too.

Also, how hard can it be to spend 5-10 US dollars for a small internal box or sponge filter?

Im sure your betta and snail would really appreciate some clean and cycled water, why dont you spend the money that your throwing away on cycle towards a small filter? The price of one bottle of cycle would buy you a small sponge filter and a small airpump to run it.

Drew

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Minni3,

I completely agree with what poopsydrew just said.

If it's too much "hassle" for you to take proper care of the living creatures you own, perhaps it's time you thought about finding them new homes with someone who cares.

 

[Minni3]

but...I changed the water once a week when he was in his tiny 1 litre tank? And he hasn't gotten sick or anything...It's not like I don't care about him. I've spent most of my money on his new tank and heater and aerator - It'll just be a while until I can get the filter. I don't have a snail yet. I was thinking of getting one. But in the meantime I was wondering how much I should change his water. So don't get all angry at me because you were once new to this as well.

 

[Esfa]

in an unfiltered tank, i would say once a day. Get a cup, fill it with water from the tank, pour it into the sink. Do it a couple of times and then fill back up - done. 10 mins max. I cant see that beng much a hassle.

 

[poopsydrew]

but...I changed the water once a week when he was in his tiny 1 litre tank? And he hasn't gotten sick or anything...It's not like I don't care about him. I've spent most of my money on his new tank and heater and aerator - It'll just be a while until I can get the filter. I don't have a snail yet. I was thinking of getting one. But in the meantime I was wondering how much I should change his water. So don't get all angry at me because you were once new to this as well.

Minni,

I meant no offense by my original post, im sorry if you took it that way. Yes we were all new once, and thus you should be open to suggestions.

-Get a filter, they are dirt cheap, just look around.
-In the meantime do water changes 2-3 times a week, its not that much of a hassle.

You should put some thought into wether you are truly committed to keeping and caring for your fish and animals, I understand if your life is hectic, maybe then its best if you dont keep them at the moment if you cant keep up with adequate water changes or filtration. Just a thought. If you feel you can step it up and take care of it then by all means do

Drew

 

[Minni3]

but...I changed the water once a week when he was in his tiny 1 litre tank? And he hasn't gotten sick or anything...It's not like I don't care about him. I've spent most of my money on his new tank and heater and aerator - It'll just be a while until I can get the filter. I don't have a snail yet. I was thinking of getting one. But in the meantime I was wondering how much I should change his water. So don't get all angry at me because you were once new to this as well.

Minni,

I meant no offense by my original post, im sorry if you took it that way. Yes we were all new once, and thus you should be open to suggestions.

-Get a filter, they are dirt cheap, just look around.
-In the meantime do water changes 2-3 times a week, its not that much of a hassle.

You should put some thought into wether you are truly committed to keeping and caring for your fish and animals, I understand if your life is hectic, maybe then its best if you dont keep them at the moment if you cant keep up with adequate water changes or filtration. Just a thought. If you feel you can step it up and take care of it then by all means do

Drew

I got a filter today. I went to the local weekend markets near my house and had a look around. There was an old guy selling all these fish stuff like tanks, food, filters, ornaments, fake plants, real plants etc. I had a lovely time browsing and you guys would've aswell. Anyway I asked the guy if there was a filter that hung outside the tank or was small enough to be in a 3g tank and he recommended an undergravel filter that could be connected to my air pump. I assumed the filter would be sufficient because it suited goldfish well and goldfish are poop machines. The filter costed me AU$3.80, thats about US$2.00? It comes with wool and carbon.

Now comes a entirely different question, how does a filter work? Surely its not sucking up all the poop and I still have to siphon it out, so what exactly is it doing?

P.S. I added "cycle" to the tank when I installed my filter so that the bacteria can build up in the wool quicker.