Snail Help?

wolffam

wolffam

Member
I have a 55 gallon tank w/1 Yello Tang and few pieces of LR. Lighting is (1) 03 Actinic & (1) 20,000K Coralife Flourescent lamp. Tank has been running for 3 months. Brown algae growing on glass. Water turn over is 6.18 times / hour. My problem is this, my snails when first put in the tank will climb all over the glass. After about 48 - 72 hours they will drop from the glass to the bottom and died, or have died before dropping. I have lost all (5) total, LFS replaced the first (2) sold me. Water test OK for A,Ni,Na,PH. No other test ran. Any suggestions, I need some snails to help control the algae, but want to solve my problem first. I hate to know that I'm missing sometihing and not giving them the best chance of survival.
 
wolffam

wolffam

Member
No phosphate test done. Need to purchase test.
Acclimation, 15 min float, (remove 1/4 water from bag, add 1/4 to bag, 15 min wait), repeat 3 x times
 
kappadoku

kappadoku

Member
Do ya think the tank has EVER been treated with copper? Once a tank has been treated with copper, it can never be used to house inverts.
 
wolffam

wolffam

Member
Alkalinity is 8.2
Tank has never been treated for copper since I have had it.
History of tank. Tank was owned and maintained by LFS. Thirteen years ago I bought the tank and livestock from them. Maintained the tank without problems for 8 years. Sold the livestock and moved. Tank has been in the house, but empty until recently when I set it back up in Dec. 00
 
kappadoku

kappadoku

Member
Sorry for accusing you of not knowing the history of the rank.
The only other things I can think of is...
  • Try a different breed of snails from a different store. Turbos tend to be hardier than astreas.
    Check phosphates and some other trace minerals, like calcium. Snails do need good calcium levels.
HTH!
 
wolffam

wolffam

Member
No apololgy needed. I appreciate all the help on this subject. I now have other things to look for. Was not aware that snails needed calcium. Will perform these test and make neccessary adjustment to provide an enviroment that will be thriving for all tank inhabitants.
 
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