how many snails?

Nabob89 · 04/27/2006, 10:11 PM

How many snails/what type should I get for my 55-gallon reef tank? I will be having a shallow sand bed (about 1.5-2 in deep).....i was thinking of getting some turbos (10?).....banded trochus (8?)....Nassarius (4?)....and any other ones I would need to keep my tank clean....

stewymaroon · 04/27/2006, 10:17 PM

Not many, I have a thirty gallon with 4 turbos and they prety much do the job. But I also have like 40 blue legged hermits in there also.

Nabob89 · 04/27/2006, 10:42 PM

I'm not going to have any crabs in the tank....so I'll just get more snails to make up for that i guess.....

bertoni · 04/27/2006, 11:59 PM

That number of Nassarius vibex sounds reasonable. I'd cut the other numbers in half for starters. Too many snails and they starve to death.

Alaskan Reefer · 04/28/2006, 02:29 AM

Depending on how clean you keep the water, I'd go minimalist first as suggested by bertoni. Also add ceriths in quantity -- best all purpose snail IMO.

hopkisag1 · 04/28/2006, 08:55 AM

agreed not that many

Amphiprion · 04/28/2006, 08:58 AM

Since Nassid snails are either carrion eaters (meaty foods, decaying meaty foods) or predators, they will not do much except eat leftovers--but they are very good at it. Ceriths would be a good choice as far as keeping the sand cleaned and minimizing detritus. Worms and the like are very good at this, also. I agree about starting with smaller numbers.

bjonesjr1 · 04/28/2006, 09:36 AM

I only have 2 mexican turbo snails, 3 sand sifting snails, 7 astrea turbo snails, in my 55 gallon tank and they do fine... But I also have 10 blue legged hermit crabs, you did say that you didn't want any crabs right...

04/27/2006, 10:11 PM	#1
Nabob89 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 477	how many snails? How many snails/what type should I get for my 55-gallon reef tank? I will be having a shallow sand bed (about 1.5-2 in deep).....i was thinking of getting some turbos (10?).....banded trochus (8?)....Nassarius (4?)....and any other ones I would need to keep my tank clean....

04/27/2006, 10:17 PM	#2
stewymaroon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Crystal LAke IL Posts: 72	Not many, I have a thirty gallon with 4 turbos and they prety much do the job. But I also have like 40 blue legged hermits in there also. __________________ stewymaroon Current Tank Info: 75 gallon fish only, 29 gallon reef

04/27/2006, 11:59 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That number of Nassarius vibex sounds reasonable. I'd cut the other numbers in half for starters. Too many snails and they starve to death. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/28/2006, 02:29 AM	#5
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	Depending on how clean you keep the water, I'd go minimalist first as suggested by bertoni. Also add ceriths in quantity -- best all purpose snail IMO. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

04/28/2006, 08:58 AM	#7
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Since Nassid snails are either carrion eaters (meaty foods, decaying meaty foods) or predators, they will not do much except eat leftovers--but they are very good at it. Ceriths would be a good choice as far as keeping the sand cleaned and minimizing detritus. Worms and the like are very good at this, also. I agree about starting with smaller numbers. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

04/27/2006, 10:42 PM	#3
Nabob89 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 477	I'm not going to have any crabs in the tank....so I'll just get more snails to make up for that i guess.....

04/28/2006, 08:55 AM	#6
hopkisag1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 85	agreed not that many

04/28/2006, 09:36 AM	#8
bjonesjr1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 1,258	I only have 2 mexican turbo snails, 3 sand sifting snails, 7 astrea turbo snails, in my 55 gallon tank and they do fine... But I also have 10 blue legged hermit crabs, you did say that you didn't want any crabs right... __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: 75gal, LifeReef CLF1 Sump & SVS2-24 Skimmer