snails are not cleaning the tank

[FRANK48]

i have about more than 6 snails in my 50 gallon tank and i don't know why but they aren't cleaning the algae

 

[DDenny]

How bad is the algae and what kind of algae? If you have a picture that can help figure out why. Also what kind of snails?

 

[Biokabe]

I guarantee you that they are (unless they're starving), but your tank may be producing more algae than six snails can consume.

I have probably 70 or more snails in my 72 gallon tank. 3 fighting conches, 1 zebra turbo, 3x Mexican turbo, 20+ Astrea, 15+ trochus, 30+ cerith snails, 3 cowries, 10+ nerites snails. In addition, I have two urchins, two emerald crabs, and untold numbers of chitons and algae-eating Asterina starfish.

Even with all that, I still get some film algae on my glass (though my rocks are more or less clean).

 

[FRANK48]

How bad is the algae and what kind of algae? If you have a picture that can help figure out why. Also what kind of snails?

i think its slime algae, it's all over the rocks and sand. i have 6 turbo snails and a nerite snail, a trochus snail and a astrea snail plus a couple different hermit crabs

 

[DDenny]

If its Cyano more flow and manual removal when cleaning the tank. Not many(if any snails will eat cyano). Here is what reefcleaners says about cyano. Nutrient management is the key.

"Cyano" as it is commonly referred to is one or more species of cyanobatceria. It occurs commonly in almost every reef tank at some point, and is caused or encouraged by a number of reasons including:

• Available nutrients - Especially phosphates and iron in this case.
• Low flow/Dead Zone - Cyano prefers growing in low flow areas.
• Warmer Water - Cyano tends to grow faster in warmer water than in cooler water.
• Low Alkalinity- While not a cause, higher alkalinity tends to discourage cyano growth.
• Possible "contaminated" water source like tap water, that has nutrients fueling the outbreak.

Manual Removal: Wipe glass with mag float, light toothbrush hardier corals and the rocks. Cyano on the sand can sometimes be pulled off as a mat and discarded. You should use a net or a siphon to remove the cyano dislodged by the toothbrush. Don't be discouraged if it comes right back, cyano grows fast and is extremely efficient at consuming nutrients.On the bright side, it should die off once nutrients are managed.

Increase water changes to 30% a week with a high quality water source, such as distilled or RO/DI water.Be aggressive about removing any rotting organics in your tank that may be contributing to its growth.

Starving it out: Use a phosban reactor, or granulated ferric oxide to remove excess phosphates in the system. Check to make sure you are not feeding any foods that are particularly phosphate rich. Almost all foods when converted by animals will add to the tank's phosphates levels, but prepared foods like seasoned nori, liquified foods, gels and low quality fish meals tend to be higher in phosphates than other foods. Such feedings should be suspended or stopped if possible until the outbreak is under control.

Chaeto and other macroalgae will help maintain parameters to keep cyano from forming, but because cyano is an epiphyte, (can grow on other life forms), it may starve your desirable algae from light. During an outbreak make sure to keep you macro clean so it can receive light and survive the ordeal.Chemical products exist to remove it, make sure to take into account for possible hypoxia issues.

 

[FRANK48]

If its Cyano more flow and manual removal when cleaning the tank. Not many(if any snails will eat cyano). Here is what reefcleaners says about cyano. Nutrient management is the key.

"Cyano" as it is commonly referred to is one or more species of cyanobatceria. It occurs commonly in almost every reef tank at some point, and is caused or encouraged by a number of reasons including:

• Available nutrients - Especially phosphates and iron in this case.
• Low flow/Dead Zone - Cyano prefers growing in low flow areas.
• Warmer Water - Cyano tends to grow faster in warmer water than in cooler water.
• Low Alkalinity- While not a cause, higher alkalinity tends to discourage cyano growth.
• Possible "contaminated" water source like tap water, that has nutrients fueling the outbreak.

Manual Removal: Wipe glass with mag float, light toothbrush hardier corals and the rocks. Cyano on the sand can sometimes be pulled off as a mat and discarded. You should use a net or a siphon to remove the cyano dislodged by the toothbrush. Don't be discouraged if it comes right back, cyano grows fast and is extremely efficient at consuming nutrients.On the bright side, it should die off once nutrients are managed.

Increase water changes to 30% a week with a high quality water source, such as distilled or RO/DI water.Be aggressive about removing any rotting organics in your tank that may be contributing to its growth.

Starving it out: Use a phosban reactor, or granulated ferric oxide to remove excess phosphates in the system. Check to make sure you are not feeding any foods that are particularly phosphate rich. Almost all foods when converted by animals will add to the tank's phosphates levels, but prepared foods like seasoned nori, liquified foods, gels and low quality fish meals tend to be higher in phosphates than other foods. Such feedings should be suspended or stopped if possible until the outbreak is under control.

Chaeto and other macroalgae will help maintain parameters to keep cyano from forming, but because cyano is an epiphyte, (can grow on other life forms), it may starve your desirable algae from light. During an outbreak make sure to keep you macro clean so it can receive light and survive the ordeal.Chemical products exist to remove it, make sure to take into account for possible hypoxia issues.

thanks the algae is brown if it helps

 

[schuby]

How old is your tank? A pic would be very helpful for us.

 

[FRANK48]

How old is your tank? A pic would be very helpful for us.

i can't take a pic but the tank is a couple months old

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Im assuming that your tank is new? You are going through the "uglies" and I don't recommend aiming for a crystal clear tank. As things stabilize and diatoms die off then things will look better. Keep up with water changes, add a few more snails and just wait it out.

 

[FRANK48]

Im assuming that your tank is new? You are going through the "uglies" and I don't recommend aiming for a crystal clear tank. As things stabilize and diatoms die off then things will look better. Keep up with water changes, add a few more snails and just wait it out.

is there anything that would help speed it up?

 

[DDenny]

thanks the algae is brown if it helps

Could be Dinos in that case. Here is the complee guide from reefcleaners take a look and ID your Algae.

Reef Cleaners

A good guide to identify most of the nuisance algae that plagues the hobby. Complete with pictures and suggested treatments

www.reefcleaners.org

 

[Biokabe]

i think its slime algae, it's all over the rocks and sand. i have 6 turbo snails and a nerite snail, a trochus snail and a astrea snail plus a couple different hermit crabs

Is it a red, slimy mat that covers everything?

If so, that's not algae, that's either cyanobacteria (most likely) or dinoflagellates (less likely, needs a microscope analysis to say for sure). Basically nothing eats cyanobacteria - the only way to get rid of it is to treat it with something like Chemiclean, or to eliminate the root causes of it and gradually starve it out. Same thing with dinos - they persist because nothing will eat them.

If you don't have a skimmer on your tank, I would not recommend using Chemiclean. Even if you do, use it with caution. I personally have never had any problems with it, but some people have reported coral deaths after using it.

Overall, your best bet is to attack the underlying cause, which you can do simply by continuing to keep up with good maintenance. Regular water changes, balancing out how much you feed, making sure that you have enough 'mouths' in your tank to consume as much of what you feed as possible. You might also need to occasionally remove the algae manually.

 

[FRANK48]

Is it a red, slimy mat that covers everything?

If so, that's not algae, that's either cyanobacteria (most likely) or dinoflagellates (less likely, needs a microscope analysis to say for sure). Basically nothing eats cyanobacteria - the only way to get rid of it is to treat it with something like Chemiclean, or to eliminate the root causes of it and gradually starve it out. Same thing with dinos - they persist because nothing will eat them.

If you don't have a skimmer on your tank, I would not recommend using Chemiclean. Even if you do, use it with caution. I personally have never had any problems with it, but some people have reported coral deaths after using it.

Overall, your best bet is to attack the underlying cause, which you can do simply by continuing to keep up with good maintenance. Regular water changes, balancing out how much you feed, making sure that you have enough 'mouths' in your tank to consume as much of what you feed as possible. You might also need to occasionally remove the algae manually.

no it's brown and green that covers all the sand and rocks with bubbles

 

[Biokabe]

no it's brown and green that covers all the sand and rocks with bubbles

Still possibly cyano (some strains are more green), but if it's bubbly and slimy it's more likely dinos.

 

[FRANK48]

Still possibly cyano (some strains are more green), but if it's bubbly and slimy it's more likely dinos.

yes it is quite slimy

 

[attiland]

Still possibly cyano (some strains are more green), but if it's bubbly and slimy it's more likely dinos.

Both cyano and Dinos and even diatoms produce bubbles.
I would say get a microscope to ID it. Super experienced people get it wrong by just looking at it.
without proper ID you will just experiment on your tank if you try to treat it.

 

[FRANK48]

Both cyano and Dinos and even diatoms produce bubbles.
I would say get a microscope to ID it. Super experienced people get it wrong by just looking at it.
without proper ID you will just experiment on your tank if you try to treat it.

if it is diatoms how do i get rid of it?

 

[FRANK48]

Both cyano and Dinos and even diatoms produce bubbles.
I would say get a microscope to ID it. Super experienced people get it wrong by just looking at it.
without proper ID you will just experiment on your tank if you try to treat it.

also the algae is slime a film on top of the rocks and sand

 

[kloverguy]

IME, I was overfeeding my fish during the first 6 months of my tank and my snails (4 trochus and 1 conch) were getting very lazy at cleaning algae because the leftover food was readily available for them. I slowed down the feeding a little bit and within a couple of days the snails burst into action!

 

[FRANK48]

IME, I was overfeeding my fish during the first 6 months of my tank and my snails (4 trochus and 1 conch) were getting very lazy at cleaning algae because the leftover food was readily available for them. I slowed down the feeding a little bit and within a couple of days the snails burst into action!

thanks i'll try that