Puffer eating all snails!

[Richard498]

I can't keep snails because my puffer eats them as soon as i put them in. Same with shrimp, emerald crabs. Is there another cleaner i could choose that my puffer won't eat? I have a 75 gallon display and 30 gallon sump. My nitrates are off the charts even with 50% water changes weekly. I'm forced to succumb to chemicals i think. Thought of building a seclusion tank for new snails so i could directly stick them on the walls... anyone have a similar experience? My tank is over a year old. Can't keep coals because they die, tank looks bad always. Siphon weekly, added new sand and brown grew on top the next day. Rocks have brown hair again which i got rid of for about a week I'm afraid my problem is the puffer since he devours my cleanup crews! Any suggestions?

 

[psirex]

Stop adding sand......


What are your other nutrient export methods?

 

[spidercrab]

No that's not the case. cleanup crews don't lower nitrates. You have to cut feeding and buy some macro algae to consume it along with water changes. I

 

[Sm51498]

Yeah, you don't need clean up, you need nutrient export.

 

[melypr1985]

I agree. It sounds like you need better nutrient export. Water changes alone arn't cutting it, so a refugium and skimmer are probably the next steps. (if you already have a skimmer, it might be time to look at upgrading this)

 

[pugcrush]

You're battling a losing battle. Sorry, you won't be able to teach the puffer a veggie diet. +1 on the nutrient export. What skimmer do you have? Get a different fish selection if you want to slow down on putting food in the tank. Puffers can be pigs & as you can see not invert safe, so they'd be last on the list.

 

[Richard498]

I have a top of the line skimmer, but haven't had macro algae in the sump in a while. When i tried last, it got consumed by red cyano. So my sump is empty right now. I'll try adding a huge amount of chaeto to the refugium. So don't add more live sand?

 

[Richard498]

 

[psirex]

What else is in the tank outside of the puffer?

 

[melypr1985]

I have a top of the line skimmer, but haven't had macro algae in the sump in a while. When i tried last, it got consumed by red cyano. So my sump is empty right now. I'll try adding a huge amount of chaeto to the refugium. So don't add more live sand?

If you have any trouble with the cheato try calerpa. I have fern calerpa and it grows like mad.

 

[Richard498]

Besides the puffer, just 4 damsels and a couple blennies now. I've lost so much

Are the caulerpa good for nutrient export?

 

[melypr1985]

Are the caulerpa good for nutrient export?

Yes. It's done a great job for me. I keep it in the refugiums at the store as well. Can't complain and it grows fast which means faster uptake of nutrients. Or at least it should anyway. I'm no botanist

 

[psirex]

No more sand better to add live rock.... also might want to cutback on feeding

 

[Jen_h]

I use urchins....have a few fish who also like to eat inverts. I have a black long spine urchin and 4 pin cushion urchins. They'll help but like everyone else suggested definitely need better nutrient export! I have a heavily stocked 180. Bio pellets and high capacity gfo work wonders for me!

 

[Richard498]

Thank you

 

[Stigigemla]

The puffer will eat the urchin.

 

[Richard498]

Update, i removed the puffer, same problem. Turns out a damsel was the culprit. Removed them and I'm seeing snails come out that i didn't know i had. Tank is doing great now!

Tunze giveaway link:
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/309214/