Need advice on snails

[RJG2015]

I have an established 90 g reef tank. Over the past week I discovered a massive spike in these little snails. (Dozens and dozens)

When I switch out my filter sock in my sump, there were at least 20-30 inside.

I’m not sure if having these in my tank is a good or bad thing. (See pic)

I’ve always had around 6-8 large snails to help clean. Just never seen many small ones.

Pls share your thoughts / advice.

-If they are a positive thing that will improve / increase my cleaning of live rock and sand, let me know.

-If they are a negative and I need to minimize or get rid of them, what suggestions such as certain fish that could start eating and clearing them out?

Currently, only have a few fish:

Large Tomato Clown
A few different Tang species
Damsel

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[MnFish1]

I have an established 90 g reef tank. Over the past week I discovered a massive spike in these little snails. (Dozens and dozens)

When I switch out my filter sock in my sump, there were at least 20-30 inside.

I’m not sure if having these in my tank is a good or bad thing. (See pic)

I’ve always had around 6-8 large snails to help clean. Just never seen many small ones.

Pls share your thoughts / advice.

-If they are a positive thing that will improve / increase my cleaning of live rock and sand, let me know.

-If they are a negative and I need to minimize or get rid of them, what suggestions such as certain fish that could start eating and clearing them out?

Currently, only have a few fish:

Large Tomato Clown
A few different Tang species
Damsel

Thanks in advance for your help!

With the blue light its hard to see the true number - however - I would say - its probably snails multiplying in your tank. This is more a symptom of a healthy tank than a problem. I would not worry about them. There are many fish that will actively eat snails - harlequin tusk, for example (but many more). Do you think you might be overfeeding?

 

[RJG2015]

Very possible that I’m over feeding the fish. I’ll thin out feeding.

It sounds like your comment about being healthy means I shouldn’t worry too much. Is there any downside to having too many snails other than if they grow in size just the visual, correct?

 

[MnFish1]

Very possible that I’m over feeding the fish. I’ll thin out feeding.

It sounds like your comment about being healthy means I shouldn’t worry too much. Is there any downside to having too many snails other than if they grow in size just the visual, correct?

no not really - many snails means they have something to eat - (suggesting that you might be overfeeding) maybe not.

 

[EricR]

Pictures are pretty unclear but they have snorkels and shells shaped like nassarius, which most would consider good. (Other, predatory types of whelks most wouldn't want)
*I thought nassarius didn't reproduce well in home tanks but if that's what you've got going on, I'd say that's good

Pull a couple out into small container of water for better pictures in white light.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Pull a couple out into small container of water for better pictures in white light.

+1 for white light pics of one or two or the snails - pics of the top, bottom, and both sides are the most important; it's good if you can include part of the flesh of the snail as well (particularly the proboscis - the "trunk" - and the foot/mantle).