First Planted Tank - Snail Alert!

[spidey]

I got my first plants for my new aquarium at the weekend, one bunched Anacharis, and two bunches of something else - can someone tell me what it is from the picture, please?

Anyway, they're for my new Betta tank, a 30L. I kept the plants in cold water whilst I waited for some sealant to dry (I hadn't realised I would have to be using the sealant for some fixtures when I bought the plants), and then realised I shouldn't have. But anyway, they've been alright - I think - in my (fishless) cycling tank, but going a little brown. I read up and saw that this can happen initially (I give them 10W of light 12 hours a day, and some liquid aquarium plant food), so I was just watching and waiting. However! I came home today to find lots of little holes in my unidentified plant, plus what looks like droppings, and an itty-bitty snail (it's the blurry spot under the top left leaf)! I couldn't get a very good picture of the situation, but here goes:

What should I do? I assume I should be getting rid of the snail(s), but what is the best way? Thanks for any help in advance!

Tracey

 

[Mikaila31]

That's about 8 gallons I think. You said 10watts, but what type of lights are you using?

The other plant looks like H. polysperma and the snail should not bother anything. So its up to you, but normally by the time you notice one there are normally more. IMO plants and snails normally go hand in hand, except for those who work really hard to keep snails out of their tanks.

 

[spidey]

That's about 8 gallons I think. You said 10watts, but what type of lights are you using?

Yes, that's about right, and I realise I don't get my 2W per gallon, but read that that doesn't always matter, and the LFS fella said they the plants would be ok with low light, I asked specifically before I bought any, I also mentioned that my light is halogen!

Tracey

 

[spidey]

That's about 8 gallons I think. You said 10watts, but what type of lights are you using?

The other plant looks like H. polysperma and the snail should not bother anything. So its up to you, but normally by the time you notice one there are normally more. IMO plants and snails normally go hand in hand, except for those who work really hard to keep snails out of their tanks.

Thank you for the plant identification Hmm, so you really think I should do nothing about the snails? Although I know they will potentially (definitely?) grow to numbers that are a bit much, will they totally polish off my plants, or does a kind of balance come into effect so that you don't have mostly eaten plants all the time? Thank you.

Tracey

 

[Mikaila31]

Halogen? I don't know much of anything about those lights, except that my little desk lamp uses one. They are the little tiny bulbs that have two pins or are cone shaped right?

As far as the 2wpg rule goes it only works with T8 florescents I believe. Different types of light will produce for light per watt compared to others. Your tank is quite small and cuz of that they don't follow the wpg rule. I forget why that is, I just know they do. Small tanks need much more light compared to larger tanks.

Also what fertilizer are you using?

Most snails don't eat plants. I don't know what kind you have, but I've got a couple different types running round my tank. I've never had any problems with plants getting eaten. Though the snails do still multiply into large numbers. I may be biased though I spent lots of time trying to get rid of them. In the end I decided it was a lost cause and learned not to care about them one way or the other.

 

[spidey]

Halogen? I don't know much of anything about those lights, except that my little desk lamp uses one. They are the little tiny bulbs that have two pins or are cone shaped right?

As far as the 2wpg rule goes it only works with T8 florescents I believe. Different types of light will produce for light per watt compared to others. Your tank is quite small and cuz of that they don't follow the wpg rule. I forget why that is, I just know they do. Small tanks need much more light compared to larger tanks.

Also what fertilizer are you using?

Yep that's the light type, it came in-built, my tank was orinally this kit:

http/www.rocketaquatics.co.uk/rena-aqua-...rium-p-539.html

And my fertilizer is PlantAmin:

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=483

I just put the recommended 'starter' dosage in.

Tracey

 

[spidey]

Most snails don't eat plants. I don't know what kind you have, but I've got a couple different types running round my tank. I've never had any problems with plants getting eaten. Though the snails do still multiply into large numbers. I may be biased though I spent lots of time trying to get rid of them. In the end I decided it was a lost cause and learned not to care about them one way or the other.

Hmm, maybe I'm seeing mainly droppings actually then - I mistook a lot of them for eaten bits of the plant at first - would that make sense? Not sure what snail type it is at the mo as it's so teeny, must have been an egg on the plants I bought!

Tracey

 

[spidey]

Hmm, maybe I'm seeing mainly droppings actually then - I mistook a lot of them for eaten bits of the plant at first - would that make sense? Not sure what snail type it is at the mo as it's so teeny, must have been an egg on the plants I bought!

Hmm, I had another look - no, there are definite nibbled bits, so the plant is definitely being eaten.

 

[Mikaila31]

Well your light really confuses me. A 10w 12v halogen? Anyway I would suggest that you just care for the plant like normally. If they are droppings on the leaves they should fall off if you move the plant. The fertilizer you are using is more or less a trace fertilizer, I suggest getting another kind that doses nitrogen and use both of them.

Also their is a snail Identification thing pinned in the inverts section.

If you still have issues with the plants after that, I would suggest that it would be the lighting in the tank.

 

[spidey]

Well your light really confuses me. A 10w 12v halogen? Anyway I would suggest that you just care for the plant like normally. If they are droppings on the leaves they should fall off if you move the plant. The fertilizer you are using is more or less a trace fertilizer, I suggest getting another kind that doses nitrogen and use both of them.

Also their is a snail Identification thing pinned in the inverts section.

If you still have issues with the plants after that, I would suggest that it would be the lighting in the tank.

Ok, I'll take all of that on board - thanks again for your help, it's really appreciated. I'll have to show you all my tank once it's all taken care of and stocked!

 

[aaronnorth]

with the low light you wont need to dose nitrogen, your plants will probably get enough from your fish & food. Just carry on the dose you are doing.

as for the snails, it depends on the specie but most only eat dead/ rotting leaves,

if your plants die, then it will be for insufficient light, you have low light, plus it is a small tank so it means you need more light to get to the same level as a larger tank.

 

[llanelliturk2010]

That's about 8 gallons I think. You said 10watts, but what type of lights are you using?

The other plant looks like H. polysperma and the snail should not bother anything. So its up to you, but normally by the time you notice one there are normally more. IMO plants and snails normally go hand in hand, except for those who work really hard to keep snails out of their tanks.

get clown loaches mate they will thrive on the snails they are fantastic snail eaters

 

[dayzofspeed]

That's about 8 gallons I think. You said 10watts, but what type of lights are you using?

The other plant looks like H. polysperma and the snail should not bother anything. So its up to you, but normally by the time you notice one there are normally more. IMO plants and snails normally go hand in hand, except for those who work really hard to keep snails out of their tanks.

get clown loaches mate they will thrive on the snails they are fantastic snail eaters

you cant put clown loaches in a small tank and i certainly wouldnt worry about 1 snail, if the snail isnt wanted then just crush it, do not catch it and release it if you keep it and your snail population gets out of hand assassin snails will sort them out, and if the assassins breed you can always sell them

 

[RadaR]

Anyway, they're for my new Betta tank, a 30L.

get clown loaches mate they will thrive on the snails they are fantastic snail eaters