Looking for the right snail

[kelly528]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRoss

vaygirl, thats diatom algae........turn the lights off for an hour during the day to break the growth cycle for it.

I thought poor lighting contributed to brown algae?

[vaygirl]

Christina: I had read that before about the diatoms. My tank is just now at 2 months and I know that gunk showed up from cycling. The snails TOTALLY chewed it up.

It was actually really neat to watch. At first every surface of every fake plant and most of the gravel was covered and then these squiggly lines showed up here and there. Then I finally saw one working on one big leaf. Took him about a day to clean it. Then he moved on to the next, and the next. Then I saw another. They saved each and every live plant from it too.

The two of them have been seen having a nooner a couple times, so I know I'm doomed. :P The diatoms have almost completely been eradicated. Once it's completely gone, they're out of there. I think. Is it wrong to be too kind hearted? lol. I don't know if I can boot them. They did such good work. I had read that shrimp will eat their eggs, so I'll have to look to Big Ole' Bertha to do her job if I have cute snail weakness!

I'll try the light thing too in the afternoon I guess. There are still a few areas that I can't get with the scrubby magnet thingie, like behind the heater and the intake on the filter.

Edit: I just switched out my light to a 15 watt blue and red FloraSun plant light. Before that I had a greenish 15 watt (5500k) TropicSun light in there.

[ChristinaRoss]

kelly........it can also be there because of being a new tank, excess nutrients, not enough water changes, changing the lighting schedule to an hour or two off break a day, can interupt its growth but plants will still use the stored energy from the lights to continue to grow. its to help halt growth.

vaygirl, as far as the snails go, look up and under all around the tank rim, it seems snails like to lay eggs there. fish and shrimp more than likely will not be able to get to them. also, you could just scrape them off and throw them away. i wouldnt recommend flushing them.

[vaygirl]

No flushing, check! Someone recommended squishing them and leaving them as a snack for the fish. Can't do it. Just can't.

[ChristinaRoss]

ew, i couldnt do that either, just put them in a napkin and throw them out

[Calmwaters]

I squished one once and then felt so guilty about it that I never did it again. Luckly so far they have not taken over my tank.

[ChristinaRoss]

most dont usually take over the tank unless its overfed