bumblebee snails

[kathywithbirds]

So the 37's been up for a few days, no ammonia or nitrites to speak of, nitrates are around 10. Thinking maybe I had enough stuff from the 5g that broke to avoid a complete cycle? Dunno.

In the meantime, I threw in two bumblebee snails. There should be enough algae on a number of rocks to sustain them.

I also have what I hope will be a "pod house." I threw a bunch of rubble from the 5g together in a corner of the tank, there are some pods there already. I noticed the 6-line wrasse loves to cruise the rocks looking for stuff to pick.

 

[Frankie]

Sounds good Kathy! I have a few bumblebee snails in my tank also. There cool when they come out.

 

[cheeks69]

Just an FYI Bumble Bee snails are carnivorous not herbivorous which can be a problem in the reef tank, I removed all of mine from the tank.

 

[kathywithbirds]

Are they good for getting detritus off the bottom? That's what I wanted them for, there's some food the fish don't get, I figured 2 in a 37 gallon was fine.
I'm trying to get together a nice mix of cleaners. I don't have any coral right now, just LR and a couple hitchhiker featherdusters. Hermits are herbivores, right?

 

[Frankie]

Wow i never knew that! what are they after Robert? Are corals safe?

 

[cheeks69]

Wow i never knew that! what are they after Robert? Are corals safe?

Ron Shimek doesn't recommend them in reef setups and although never seen any damage from these snails I didn't want to take a chance

BTW Kathy hermits are omnivores so they'll eat their veggies and any meaty leftovers.

 

[kathywithbirds]

Thanks! Also just found this page:

Clean Up Crews - Reef Hobbyist Online Magazine

good info on which snails to get!

 

[caitrina]

Clean Up Crew; The Short Version by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph. D.



There is also this article,Clean Up Crew; The Short Version by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph. D.

which I found earlier this morning when I was looking for answers to my red slime/algae problem.