Snails

[newenglandreef]

What's the concensus (if there is a concensus) on the use of snails to control algea? I see all these people with crystal clear tanks--mine is pretty new with some nitrate levels--but I rarely see snails in the tanks. Just trying to control my glass algea... Thanks as always...

Stan

[Mthomp]

I love snails. more so then crabs

[newenglandreef]

they keep the glass clean? how many for a 36 gallon bow do you think?

[Mthomp]

I wouldnt go so far as to say they keep the glass clean. i have to do that myself. but one day my power heads or return will be covered in algae, ill wake up the next morning and they will look like i just pulled them out of the box. they def help control it. as far as how many i guess that depends on the age of your tank, i mean you dont want to get too many too where they run out of food.

[newenglandreef]

I wouldnt go so far as to say they keep the glass clean. i have to do that myself. but one day my power heads or return will be covered in algae, ill wake up the next morning and they will look like i just pulled them out of the box. they def help control it. as far as how many i guess that depends on the age of your tank, i mean you dont want to get too many too where they run out of food.

I just picked up four turbo snails from Petco. I'm pretty sure one actually smiled at me when I dropped him on the glass. There's a bunch of algea in there. Tanks's only about 3 months old... So going through typical nitrate spikes and algea bloom. I've got a small problem with buying more and more coral that I'm trying to control.

[MonopolyBag]

They help control it. I usually do a few large ones. And rest small.

Stay away form species that do not flip over and die when they land on their back (astreas)

I would do like 5-6 small ones and 2-3 large turbo snails in the 36g.

Maybe like 4 hermit crabs. They all help clean up, but remember they are organisms too and add a bioload to your tank.