Anyone put snail in overflow box?

[jpc763]

I clean my overflow box about every 2 weeks as part of my maintainence program. Yesterday my wife asked why I don't put a snail in there to help keep it clean between maintainence. I told her that the snail could get sucked up in u-tube. But it got me thinking...

Does anyone put snail(s) in their overflow box? Any issues with it?
I was thinking about maybe 1 turbo. Big enough to be strong, but small enough not to clog the U-Tube should it get sucked up.

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by jpc763
I clean my overflow box about every 2 weeks as part of my maintainence program. Yesterday my wife asked why I don't put a snail in there to help keep it clean between maintainence. I told her that the snail could get sucked up in u-tube. But it got me thinking...

Does anyone put snail(s) in their overflow box? Any issues with it?
I was thinking about maybe 1 turbo. Big enough to be strong, but small enough not to clog the U-Tube should it get sucked up.
Mine just end up in there.
Mc

 

[itom37]

I'm guessing you want it to eat algae? To me it seems that since algae eats extra nutrients and what not that you'd probably like do get rid of (hence the purpose of macro algae in a sump/refugium) wouldn't you prefer to leave it alone and let it do some biological cleaning? Obviously if it's an eyesore it's another issue, but in the overflow, I don't see the harm.

 

[renogaw]

i'd be too afraid to have the snail clog up the ubend.
it is a nice haven for pods, leave them be

 

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by itom37
I'm guessing you want it to eat algae? To me it seems that since algae eats extra nutrients and what not that you'd probably like do get rid of (hence the purpose of macro algae in a sump/refugium) wouldn't you prefer to leave it alone and let it do some biological cleaning? Obviously if it's an eyesore it's another issue, but in the overflow, I don't see the harm.
It is an eyesore and I figure that since the snails are there to keep the glass and substrait clean, why not extend their job into the overflow box? Just don't want them to die as a result of me not asking around.

 

[reefkprz]

mine climb in and out of the OFB on their own. but they are small enough to fit between the teeth of the box.

 

[tarball]

Originally Posted by jpc763
I clean my overflow box about every 2 weeks as part of my maintainence program. Yesterday my wife asked why I don't put a snail in there to help keep it clean between maintainence. I told her that the snail could get sucked up in u-tube. But it got me thinking...

Does anyone put snail(s) in their overflow box? Any issues with it?
I was thinking about maybe 1 turbo. Big enough to be strong, but small enough not to clog the U-Tube should it get sucked up.
I take the largest Mexican turbo I have an put him in the overflow. I've done it 2 times with now problems. As a matter of fact, did it last week. Takes 2 or 3 days for him to clean the overflow out.
Boy is he stuffed afterwards.

 

[earlybird]

I use a turkey baster and tooth brush and blast and scrub when I magfloat the glass takes a few minutes but I don't have any growth in there and I don't need to take it out that often.

 

[lexluethar]

On the same topic... has anyone place hermits or snails in a HOB filter? I have filter floss on mine and i have to change it out every few weeks b/c of food particles caught in the filter floss - could adding some hermits cut down on this? If i don't change out the filter the food will break down and raise my nitrates.
I have a good filter system so most of my extra food gets sucked into the HOB filter.
Again, not trying to hijack the thread, i felt it was related.

 

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by Tarball
I take the largest Mexican turbo I have an put him in the overflow. I've done it 2 times with now problems. As a matter of fact, did it last week. Takes 2 or 3 days for him to clean the overflow out.
Boy is he stuffed afterwards.
So I tried this twice. The first time, he finished cleaning out the box overnight and I found him in the back chamber. I pulled him out and put him back in the DT. I put him back in the overflow box last night. This morning, the tank "sounded" funny. I went to investigate and the sump was very low on water. I looked around and found the Mexican turbo stuck in my U Tube! I got him out and all is well (no water on the floor or burned out pumps). No more snails in the overflow box!