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the snails you're referring to are malaysian livebearers or trumpet snails (cone shaped). They burrow in the substrate when the lights are on and come out when the lights are off. They don't damage plants. I have them in both my 20gal and 70 gal planted tanks. I really regret introducing them, it's impossible to control the population. I literally have 1000s of them.
As for keeping the substrate stirred, I don't know how much it benefits the plants, but you can always do a careful gravel vac once in a while.
So I would go with a strong NO!

I've debated in my head over and again. I'm fortunate that I have evaded snails in my 20 long for over 2 years. Not a single one. I always treate incoming plants with an alum soak to prevent it and I can say the stuff works well.

I keep wondering if there is a positive purpose to having a certain type of snail in the tank with regards to substrate and keeping it stirred.

Yes or no?

I say get them, they do a great job of cleaning up the tank, i've got them in both my tanks... i must admit i dnt know why so many ppl find them unsightly... the big ones i think look great... granted when youve got hundreds of little ones crawling up the walls of ur tank it looks a bit un tidy, but not ugly :%):%):%)

I second Heidi...just let me know....any one want them...we have more than enough to go around.

Not just yet

Again Diane, I say, if you want some email me, and you can have them in a jiffy...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

I have that book by Diana Walstad. I've stuck my nose in it many times. Some of it sound convential and some of it unconventional, like her take on substrates and the use of soil. I'm not clear on why she feels its ok to allow the gases and anaerobic bacteria to build with the use of soil. I always thought the aim was to not get these things, but she counters that. I guess I'm on the fence.

It is a good book tho.

I like them in my tank. There are some places so packed full of plants that I cannot gravel vac there. I feel, but am not positive that the MTS do help keep things stirred in theses spots. It only makes sense that they do.

I control the population buy not over feeding the tank. I go days sometimes without feeding them.

As Jamie is the one taking care of the tank wile I'm in Atlanta I'm sure I'll come home to find a population explosion of MTS.

But it's ok she means well. She just cannot resist watching the rams go after the live foods we feed. They are like little parhana.

well somewhat off topic, but do kuli loaches eat snails??

i ask this because maybe i could just get some snails, let them multiply and my loaches would have an endless buffet

well, depends on alot of factors - stocking, and feeding being the big ones.

I accidentally overfed in my 5 and currently its a little cloudy, but our 20 at the moment is pretty much crystal clear.

We've noticed a definite war when it comes to hair algae and another form - one increases, the other decreases etc etc.

If you're interested in such a thing, i'd recommend the ecology of the planted aquarium by diana walsted (or something like that - can't get up and find the book at the moment)

my husband's been doing this kind of thing for about 4 years now - its interesting to experiment.

If you want any more info - feel free to email me or whatever

How clear is the water? I've always wondered without filtration if the water gets murky.

in our 20 we've got kulhi loaches, cherry barbs and a couple danios with some (alot) MTS and some blackworms. Plants include bamboo, rotala indica and crypts

in the 5 we've got 3 gertrudae rainbows, 1 threadfin, 3 amano shrimp with java fern (windelov), rotala indica, crypt balansae, amazon sward, and red tiger lotus.

all the plants provide the filtration.

Really? No filtration? I've pondered that for a planted betta tank.

i'd treat with pennies, but i've got amano shrimp in there also, and no other places to put them.

but in our 20 we've got alot of MTS that reach a limit depending on available food... when the algae goes up, so does the snail population.

but, neither tank has any form of external filtration - only the plants

in my 10 i found the opposite to be true. the pond snails were outcompeting the mts to the point where i just dosed the tank with pennies in the filter. now i have mts back in the 10g again and the only thing they compete with are the few black worms that somehow survived the copper treatment

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Hmmmm now why havent my MTS wiped out the plant eating snails (I've been told ramshorn) in my 20 They're both in there, and I even help out by crushing them when I can find them...fishies sure love them .

^_^



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"The rain is falling down like silence in a shroud"

i've got MTS in my 5 gal planted. Also introduced were some pest snails (pond).

I've not had an out of control problem with either. in the five, the MTS compete with the amano shrimp. The MTS also eat the pond snail eggs

Thanks for the perspectives. I knew I would get some pro and some con.

Keep them coming as I sort through my thoughts.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 04-Feb-2005 11:40

MTS

Actually the best thing that ever happened to me in fishkeeping was to get MTS on my very first plants. I didnt end up with pest snails till years later (thanks tim).

All I can say is I love mine, they don't harm the plants and I do find them just as amusing ...well as a snail can be . On occasion I'll make sure they get some fresh peas.

^_^ [hr width='40%']
"The rain is falling down like silence in a shroud"

Last edited by Babelfish at 04-Feb-2005 11:23

completely agree with Sin regarding the yo-yos. like with so many things in aquaria, it's all about finding a balance. i originally added 30 or so snails to my tank with 4 yo-yos. i know the yo-yos eat them because i see empty snail shells every so often. But i know the MTS stil breed because i see tiny ones on the driftwood and plants etc. They're breeding faster than the yo-yos can eat them, but just enough to replenish the polulation.

i think they're cool, anyway. Especially if you have thinner leaved plants like vals, where a lot of algae eaters cant really maneuver properly to clean the leaves, MTS can do the job since they're so small. just my 2 cents

Last edited by nowherman6 at 04-Feb-2005 11:16

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Back in the saddle!