williewonka Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Hi.. Basically asking for input as to any safe methods to totally get rid of a snail infestation without damaging the bacteria in the filter. I've used bleach to clean tanks and to make sure it doesn't travel from tank to tank but i'm sure that this would kill any bacteria that was in the filter also. Is there any method that will remove the snails from the tank and filter without hurting the media? And.. I know i'm going to get ppl telling me that the snails can be beneficial. I just don't like the looks of the little snails crawling around... if they were the big ones.. great.. but they're not. thanks. Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spcy Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Kribs / angels / and tinfoil barbs love little snails, but thats not an option with piranha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Are you over feeding or is there lots of algae in the tank? YOu usually dont' get a large population of snaill unless there is an excess of food for them to eat. If you are willing to add some fish to eat them loaches are great snail eaters. Clowns, zebras and yoyo loaches are all good choices and would take care of the problem in a couple days. Other wise you can just keep the tank clean and remove/limit any food(fish food,dead organic matter etc.) also remove as many as you can as frequently as you can. Setting a bait trap works well. Put a pice of zuchini or other veg on the gravel and remove it once the snails cover it. Then repeat untill the population is lowered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williewonka Posted December 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Thanks for the suggestions... Actually, the tanks will or can be empty. I was looking for something similar to bleach that might kill them off totally, but didn't want to have to have to cycle the tank again. I do have loaches and they are keeping them down, but not as far down as I would like. I am probably overfeeding, but tend to try and make sure they have enough.. will have to try cutting down. And no, the loaches aren't in with the piranha. That tank is one of the ones i've managed to keep clean.. (knock on wood..) Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretlaw Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Last time I had a lot of snails in my tank, I just went to Pisces, and bought a bottle of something especially use for killing snails. It is safe to the fish and plants. Also, it isn't that expensive. It works very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 If the tanks are going to be emptied and cleaned they should be ok. Once they are dried out the snails/snail eggs will die. You can always use bleach on the tanks if you wan to make extra sure. Just make sure you rinse well and let them dry(to evaporate the bleach). I bleach tanks all the time with no problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murmade Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 What about puffers? I don't have any real exp. with them myself, but i hear they love to crunch on little snails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2manytanks Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 What about puffers?I don't have any real exp. with them myself, but i hear they love to crunch on little snails! That's for sure. And you can hear them crunch from outside the tank too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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