Alternatives for Snails in a CO2 injected tank?

[MoFish]

Hi All,

I purchased some ramshorn snails for the high tech CO2 injected tank and all seemed fine and they've even had a bunch of offspring but then the big ones started to die and I couldnt figure out why. My shrimps were fine and breeding and my fish seem to be fine, nitrogen levels are in check too.

Long story short I figured out it's probably because im injecting CO2 and my pH is probably lower than what is optimal for them. My tap water hardness is ~140, but in my tank it ranges between 220-270 depending on time after water change. I have seryu stone in the tank so this is also affecting my TDS. In hindsight I should have researched if the conditions were correct in my tank for snails.

Aside from my snails, I'm stocking a load of neocaradina and 3 amanos in my 60L (50cm) tank as clean-up crew.

Are there any alternatives to snails for use as clean-up crew?

 

[hypnogogia]

Are there any alternatives to snails for use as clean-up crew?

Yes, shrimps. However, what is your pH, GH and KH?

 

[MoFish]

Yes, shrimps. However, what is your pH, GH and KH?

My CO2 turned off about 3 hours ago and currently my pH is 7.0 - 6.8. I don't have a KH test kit currently but my GH is 10. my current shrimp seem to be doing fine and i've had them in for almost 3months now.

 

[Miniandy]

I have a tub, plant storage and a shrimp breeding, that has a ph of around 5.5 to 6 and is full of ramshorn snails. It's so full of snails that it's spotless, no algea whatsoever, and incidentally probably not ideal for shrimp breeding. Never mind.

It was a happy accident, I introduced them with plants and boom. The only thing I do feed them with leaves, algea wafers and shrimp/fish foods. Their lifespan will be shortened by the ph, but that hasn't stopped them breeding profusely. The 45l tub must have c. 500 snails inc babies.

Could feeding be a problem? I suspect ph is not, at least in the short term.

 

[MoFish]

I have a tub, plant storage and a shrimp breeding, that has a ph of around 5.5 to 6 and is full of ramshorn snails. It's so full of snails that it's spotless, no algea whatsoever, and incidentally probably not ideal for shrimp breeding. Never mind.

It was a happy accident, I introduced them with plants and boom. The only thing I do feed them with leaves, algea wafers and shrimp/fish foods. Their lifespan will be shortened by the ph, but that hasn't stopped them breeding profusely. The 45l tub must have c. 500 snails inc babies.

Could feeding be a problem? I suspect ph is not, at least in the short term.

Ah maybe there is some hope then!

I try to be very careful with over feeding so I also thought that starvation could be another cause. I put in some blanched spinach leaves in and my shrimps swarmed it but the snails seem uninterested so far.

 

[nijat11]

I have CO2 injected tank with RO water. To ensure that snails are healthy I reminiralize water to 4dgh. I have ramsorns, mts, nerite, nerite horn. I think i have around 500 snails in 800 liter tank and I should say this guys are amazing and keeping my tank clean and healthy.

 

[MoFish]

Yes, shrimps. However, what is your pH, GH and KH?

Re-checked my pH just before CO2 turns off and I'm at around 6.4. Not as low as i thought to be fair.

 

[hypnogogia]

Re-checked my pH just before CO2 turns off and I'm at around 6.4. Not as low as i thought to be fair.

Ok, so not so acidic then, and as you’ve seen above if you get the GH right and they’ll thrive and breed. I think you also need to determine your kh as I’d suggest a kh of 4 for your snails.